If you or someone you know is of State Pension age and living with one of nine common health conditions, Attendance Allowance health conditions guidance from the UK Government could point to a cash payment of up to £114.60 a week. That is worth £5,959.20 over a full year, and it comes from the DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) specifically to help with extra daily living costs.
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. You do not have to have worked a certain number of years or paid a set amount of National Insurance to qualify. What matters is the level of care or supervision you need because of a physical or mental condition.
How the two rates work
The benefit pays at two rates during the 2026-2027 tax year, as reported by The Express. The lower rate sits at £76.70 a week (£3,988.40 a year) and covers those who need frequent help or constant supervision either during the day or at night. The higher rate of £114.60 a week applies when someone needs help or supervision throughout the day and night, or when a medical professional has confirmed they are nearing the end of their life.
Those rates are worth knowing in context: according to Attendance Allowance, both rates increased by 3.8% in April 2026, confirmed by the DWP. That uplift means the money now goes a bit further for those relying on it to cover care-related costs.
In Scotland, the equivalent benefit is Pension Age Disability Payment, and the same two-rate structure applies.
Attendance Allowance health conditions: the nine on the DWP list
There is no definitive checklist of qualifying conditions. The DWP assesses every application individually. What it does do is list common disabling conditions in its Disability Living Allowance computer system, and nine of those conditions regularly appear among claimants. Having one of them does not automatically mean you qualify, but it is a strong reason to apply and find out.
Arthritis covers a range of joint problems including osteoarthritis, gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Pain, swelling and stiffness can make everyday movement genuinely difficult.
Back pain, particularly in the lower back, is one of the most common reasons people struggle with daily tasks. In some cases it is caused by ankylosing spondylitis, a form of arthritis.
Heart disease covers a wide range of conditions including coronary artery disease, aortic disease, stroke and peripheral arterial disease. The impact on day-to-day function can be severe.
Asthma is a lifelong condition affecting breathing. Symptoms range from mild to severe, and while many people manage with an inhaler, some require additional treatment that limits what they can do unaided.
Dementia is a syndrome linked to declining brain function. It affects memory, thinking speed, language and movement, and can make routine daily activities progressively harder to manage independently.
Hearing disorders, including partial or total hearing loss, become more common with age. In some cases the cause is treatable, but ongoing hearing loss that affects daily life can support an Attendance Allowance claim.
Visual disorders can range from difficulty reading or watching television to problems seeing clearly at night. Where vision loss makes everyday tasks genuinely difficult, eligibility for DWP support may follow.
Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive brain disorder affecting movement, balance and coordination. The main symptoms include tremors, slow movement and muscle stiffness, and the condition develops over many years.
Motor Neurone Disease damages nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing muscles to weaken and eventually stop working. While adults of any age can be affected, it usually occurs in those over 50 and currently has no cure.
How to find out if you are eligible
The DWP emphasises that every case is assessed on its own circumstances, so a diagnosis alone does not confirm entitlement. The best step is to make a claim and let the assessment process run. Information on how to apply is available directly from the NHS, and the eligibility criteria are clear: if you need help with personal care or supervision because of a health condition, and you are of State Pension age, Attendance Allowance health conditions guidance suggests it is worth applying.
With both rates having risen 3.8% in April 2026, the higher payment now stands at its current level of £114.60 a week. For anyone managing one of these nine conditions on a fixed pension income, that could make a real difference to daily life.