Over 500,000 people receive either £295.60 or £441.40 each pay period through Attendance Allowance for arthritis-related conditions.
Over 500,000 people receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week through Attendance Allowance support (Image: Getty)
State pensioners suffering from a common condition could claim up to £441 each month thanks to a tax-free benefit. New figures from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) show more than half a million people across the UK are now receiving Attendance Allowance support for arthritis, making it the most-claimed health condition by people over state pension age.
Arthritis is a common condition that causes joint pain, stiffness, and inflammation, affecting millions in the UK and worldwide. The most common types are osteoarthritis, a degenerative condition where joint cartilage breaks down, and rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system attacks the joints. Symptoms include pain, tenderness, swelling and reduced movement. The Attendance Allowance support for arthritis is a tax-free benefit which is not affected by savings or income. Those on the lower rate will receive £295.60 every pay period, while those on the higher rate will receive £441.40.
The Attendance Allowance can contribute towards paying for help getting dressed, bathing or showering (Image: Getty)
Across Britain, an estimated 20 million people have arthritis or similar conditions that affect the joints, so if you are living with arthritis, back, joint, muscle or chronic pain, you could be eligible for support from the DWP through the benefit.
The Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself – it does not cover mobility needs.
You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to make a claim. You should apply for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night – even if you do not currently receive that help. This can include, for example, help getting dressed, bathing or showering or getting in and out of bed.
You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, such as if they take you a long time, you experience pain, or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on.
You could receive £73.90 if you need help during the day or at night or £110.40 if you need help during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill. The benefit is paid every four weeks, which means you could receive either £295.60 or £441.40 every pay period.
The Attendance Allowance will not affect your State Pension (Image: Getty)
You can spend the money however you like, such as paying for taxis, a cleaner or gardener, or helping towards bills. It could help you stay independent in your own home for longer.
The Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so there is no limit, no matter how much you have in savings. You will also be exempt from the Benefit Cap, so the money will not be taken away from any other benefits you receive. It will also not affect your State Pension, and you can even claim it if you are still working and earning money.
To make a claim, you will need to complete a claim form when you apply. Help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice for those who need it. A Citizens Advice online guide is also available here for those who would prefer to fill in the form themselves. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the GOV.UK website.
For the nearly 47,000 older people in Scotland currently receiving the allowance, it is important to be aware that new claims have now been replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) – full details can be found here.
