Millions of state pensioners could be in for a financial uplift exceeding £5,000 if they live with certain health conditions. There are 48 conditions that qualify for support – the full list is provided below.
Elderly folks grappling with long-term illnesses, disabilities or physical or mental health issues may not realise they could be eligible for support through Attendance Allowance, which isn’t means-tested.
This benefit can offer either £72.65 (lower rate) or £108.55 (higher rate) each week. Typically paid every four weeks, this equates to either £290.60 or £434.20 per pay period – a total of £5,644.60 over the 2024/25 financial year.
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This makes it significantly more valuable than the one-off annual Winter Fuel Payment, providing an extra £5,314 in financial aid. The DWP has listed 48 conditions for which support is available, as reported by Devon Live.
However, if you’re over 66 and on a low income, it’s vital to check your entitlement to Pension Credit, which is worth roughly £4,200 annually and can provide access to other support, including help with housing costs, Council Tax and Winter Fuel Payments. To quickly check eligibility for Pension Credit, older individuals, or their friends and family, can use the online Pension Credit calculator on GOV, reports Lancs Live.
Pensioners are being encouraged to ring the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234, open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, to make a claim. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has disclosed that as of May 2024, over 1.6 million people above State Pension age were receiving additional financial aid through Attendance Allowance.
You don’t need to have a carer to make a claim
(Image: Getty Images)
If you require extra support due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, it’s advised to check the official eligibility guidance for Attendance Allowance on the GOV. UK website.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit designed to help with extra costs if you have a severe physical or mental disability or illness that makes self-care difficult – although it does not cover mobility needs. You don’t need to have a carer to make a claim.
Health conditions supported by Attendance Allowance
- Diabetes Mellitus
- Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- Frailty
- Neurological Diseases
- Multiple Allergy Syndrome
- Hyperkinetic Syndrome
- Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
- Hearing Disorders
- Severely Mentally impaired
- Heart Disease
- Arthritis
- Haemodialysis
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Alcohol and Drug Abuse
- Deaf/Blind
- Metabolic Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Haemophilia
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Parkinsons Disease
- Motor Neurone Disease
- Learning Difficulties
- Double Amputee
- Psychoneurosis
- AIDS
- Epilepsy
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Personality Disorder
- Chronic Pain Syndromes
- Dementia
- Multi System Disorders
- Asthma
- Visual Disorders and Diseases
- Skin Disease
- Psychosis
- Behavioural Disorder
- Spondylosis
- Bowel and Stomach Disease
- Back Pain
- Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
- Blood Disorders
- Renal Disorders
- Cerebrovascular Disease
- Trauma to Limbs
- Malignant Disease
- Peripheral vascular Disease