DWP has published 57 health conditions that could help qualify you for Attendance Allowance, a benefit for over-pension age people who need help with personal care
The benefit is paid to people over the State Pension age who need help or supervision with personal care due to illness or disability(Image: Flavia Morlachetti via Getty Images)
The Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ) has confirmed the 57 health conditions that could entitle you to an additional £110 per week in Attendance Allowance. This benefit is provided to individuals over the State Pension age who require assistance or supervision with personal care due to illness or disability.
The benefit is not means-tested – meaning your earnings or savings will not impact the amount you receive. It is a non-contributory benefit awarded to older people with a disability or health condition serious enough that they might require someone to help care for them.
However, you do not need to have someone caring for you to make a claim.
You will be eligible for Attendance Allowance if you:
Have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health conditionThe disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise youYou have needed that help for at least 6 months
There were 1,876,682 cases of entitlement of Attendance Allowance across the country as of May 2025 – the latest data released by the DWP. This represents an increase of 37,364 compared to November 2024 when there were 1,839,318 cases, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Rates of Attendance Allowance are due to rise by 3.8 percent in April 2026. Each year DWP benefits increase in line with the inflation rate from the previous September – last year this was confirmed as being 3.8 percent, according to the consumer price index.
Rates of Attendance Allowance payments depend on the level of help you need, broken down into a lower rate of payment and a higher rate of payment, both paid weekly. The lower rate is awarded to those who require frequent help or supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
The higher rate is awarded to those who require help or supervision throughout both the day and night, or a medical professional has confirmed they’re nearing the end of life.
Below is the full list of 57 health conditions that qualified claimants for Attendance Allowance payments as of May 2025 – when the data was last published by the government. The number of cases of entitlement for each condition is also listed, based on the main disabling condition of entitlement.
Main Disabling Conditions:
Arthritis – 541,802Dementia – 215,523Heart Disease – 137,134Respiratory Disorders and Diseases – 115,188Unknown – 114,965Disease of the Muscles, Bones or Joints – 97,365Back Pain – other / unspecified – 83,360Cerebrovascular Disease – 82,105Malignant Disease – 65,675Visual Disorders and Diseases – 55,187Terminally ill – 50,087Parkinson’s Disease – 49,817Neurological Diseases – 40,827Cognitive disorder – other / unspecified – 25,533Renal Disorders – 23,473Trauma to Limbs – 23,389Diabetes Mellitus – 22,290Spondylosis – 21,876Psychosis – 16,693Psychoneurosis – 13,164Hearing Disorders – 10,513Multi-System Disorders – 9,334Peripheral Vascular Disease – 8,191Bowel and Stomach Disease – 7,898Asthma – 7,518Chronic Pain Syndromes – 6,663Epilepsy – 3,807Multiple Sclerosis – 3,730Skin Disease – 3,611Frailty – 2,759Inflammatory Bowel Disease – 2,658Alcohol and Drug Abuse – 2,373Major Trauma (non-paraplegic/tetraplegic) – 2,269Metabolic Disease – 2,188Learning Difficulties – 1,613Blood Disorders – 1,590Behavioural Disorder – 861Infectious diseases: Viral disease – COVID-19 – 840Motor Neurone Disease – 788Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia – 603Haemodialysis – 331Personality Disorder – 210Infectious diseases – other / unspecified – 153AIDS – 138Haemophilia – 127Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis – 123Cystic Fibrosis – 119Multiple Allergy Syndrome – 88Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease (unspecified) – 47Infectious diseases: Viral disease (unspecified) – 46Hyperkinetic Syndrome – 33Severely Mentally ImpairedDouble AmputeeDeaf/BlindTotal Parenteral NutritionInfectious diseases: Protozoal disease – MalariaInfectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / unspecifiedTotal – 1,876,682
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