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NEARLY 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE OVER STATE PENSION AGE ARE CLAIMING ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE. 13:55, 03 Jun 2025 Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? The latest figures from the

Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of August 2024, nearly 1.7 million older people were claiming Attendance Allowance, including 150,000 living in Scotland. The

tax-free benefit is not means-tested and worth either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) each week during the 2025/26 financial year. Attendance Allowance is usually paid every

four weeks, this amounts to either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period - some £5,740.80 during the 2025/26 financial year. How much someone receives depends on the level of support needed

and the benefit is designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses which can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. It’s important to be aware

there is no mobility component attached to Attendance Allowance. NUMBER OF ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE CLAIMANTS - AUGUST 2024 The number of older people receiving payments includes: * SCOTLAND -

149,997 * ENGLAND - 1,406,281 * WALES - 110,047 * LIVING ABROAD - 5,912 * TOTAL - 1,672,590 SUPPORT FOR PEOPLE WITH HEALTH CONDITIONS The benefit supports people with a disability, long-term

illness and mental or physical health issues. Article continues below The list of conditions supported through Attendance Allowance is long, but the most common disabling condition - an

umbrella term used by the DWP - is arthritis, which provides support for 483,376 people across Great Britain, including 44,455 in Scotland. It’s important to note that this list is not a

checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night

due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance on the GOV.UK website here. THE FIGURES BELOW SHOW THE PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE

CLAIMING FOR HEALTH ISSUES RELATED TO THESE 48 CONDITIONS: * Arthritis - 47% * Spondylosis - 48% * Back Pain - Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified - 43% * Disease Of The Muscles, Bones

or Joints - 40% * Trauma to Limbs - 36% * Visual Disorders and Diseases - 41% * Hearing Disorders - 42% * Heart Disease - 50% * Respiratory Disorders and Diseases - 33% * Asthma - 47% *

Cystic Fibrosis - 27% * Cerebrovascular Disease - 42% * Peripheral vascular Disease - 41% * Epilepsy - 44% * Neurological Diseases - 50% * Multiple Sclerosis - 52% * Parkinsons - 30% * Motor

Neurone Disease - 32% * Chronic Pain Syndromes - 39% * Diabetes Mellitus - 39% * Metabolic Disease - 38% * Traumatic Paraplegia - 54% * Major Trauma Other than Traumatic/Paraplegia - 45% *

Learning Difficulties - 48% * Psychosis - 44% * Psychoneurosis - 38% * Personality Disorder - 48% * Dementia - 20% * Behavioral Disorder - 28% * Alcohol and Drug Abuse - 37% * Hyperkinetic

Syndrome - 27% * Renal Disorders - 26% * Inflammatory Bowel Disease - 42% * Bowel and Stomach Disease - 37% * Blood Disorders - 39% * Haemophilia - 39% * Multi System Disorders - 41% *

Multiple Allergy Syndrome - 44% * Skin Disease - 37% * Malignant Disease - 35% * Haemodialysis - 22% * Frailty - 100% * AIDS - 47% * Coronavirus covid-19 - 1% * Viral disease - precise

diagnosis not specified - 13% * Tuberculosis - 53% * Bacterial disease - precise diagnosis not specified - 43% * Cognitive disorder (other) - 22% It's important to note there are

special rules for people with a terminal illness, to help speed up their application - full details on GOV.UK here. Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including

the main health conditions being claimed, eligibility and how to make a claim. WHAT IS ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE? 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. Older people living in 17 council areas across Scotland can no longer claim Attendance Allowance and need to claim the new devolved, Pension Age Disability Payment. The benefit

follows the same eligibility criteria and payment award scale as DWP, but is administered and delivered by Social Security Scotland. PADP is set to rollout nationwide across Scotland on

April 22. Full details on the benefit can be found on MYGOV.SCOT here. WHO CAN 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 don’t currently get that help. THIS MIGHT INCLUDE: * Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed,

eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet * Help to stay safe You should also apply if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for

example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance isn’t just for people with a physical disability or

illness. YOU SHOULD ALSO CLAIM IF YOU NEED HELP OR SUPERVISION THROUGHOUT THE DAY OR NIGHT AND HAVE: * a mental health condition * learning difficulties * a sensory condition - if you are

deaf or visually impaired HOW MUCH COULD I GET ON ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE? You could receive either £73.90 (lower rate) or £110.40 (higher rate) each week. This amounts to either £295.60 or

£441.60 every pay period. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. THIS MIGHT INCLUDE: * paying for taxis * helping

towards bills * paying for a cleaner or gardener CAN I CLAIM ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE EVEN IF I HAVE SAVINGS AND OTHER INCOME? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it

doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you

won't have money taken away from any other benefits. WILL ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE AFFECT MY STATE PENSION? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if

you're still working and earning money. HOW DOES ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE AFFECT OTHER BENEFITS? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: *

Extra Pension Credit * Housing Benefit Reduction * Council Tax Reduction HOW DO I MAKE A CLAIM? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might

seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the

Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the GOV.UK website here. WHAT HAPPENS

IF I AM ABOUT TO REACH STATE PENSION AGE? If you are thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming Personal Independence

Payment (PIP) straight away - you may be able to get more money. WHO CANNOT CLAIM ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE? You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP

or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead. Find out more about

Attendance Allowance on the GOV.UK website here. GET THE LATEST RECORD MONEY NEWS Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State

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