A million pensioners are believed to be missing out on Attendance Allowance – a non-means-tested benefit worth up to £441 per month.

Pensioners living with these 48 common health conditions such as arthritis, heart disease, or dementia could be missing out on thousands of pounds in financial support each year, experts have warned.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) recently revealed that nearly 1.7 million people over State Pension age are claiming Attendance Allowance, a tax-free benefit designed to help cover the extra costs of living with a long-term illness or disability. In Scotland, it's also called Pension Age Disability Payment.

Despite the significant financial help on offer — up to £110.40 per week or £441.60 every four weeks — pension specialists say many people still don’t realise they qualify.

Money Saving Expert founder Martin Lewis has been campaigning to get more people to see if they are eligible.

"For many older people who are ill or start to face mental or physical disability, life doesn't just get tougher, it gets costlier too," he says.

"Add to that the fact people's conditions can make it more difficult to spend the time and energy needed to research possible help. That's why 18 months ago we launched our Attendance Allowance (AA) guide and awareness campaign, and successes have flooded in since. Yet it still remains massively underclaimed, with potentially a million eligible pensioners missing out (source: Policy in Practice).

"So whether it's you or someone close to you who may qualify, take 2mins to read what the team and I have put below, starting with some inspiration on the domino effect Attendance Allowance can have (in this case for lower-income pensioners)."

The list of conditions that qualify for Attendance Allowance includes 48 common illnesses and disorders. These range from arthritis, back pain and frailty to serious neurological conditions like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis. Mental health conditions, visual and hearing impairments, and cognitive disorders such as dementia are also included.

Spencer Churchill Claims Advice deals with this issue. Their spokesperson says: “Conditions like arthritis, heart disease, dementia, and Parkinson’s are among the most commonly supported under Attendance Allowance — yet too many older people assume they won’t qualify or worry that having savings will disqualify them. That’s simply not the case.

“We regularly speak with pensioners who’ve struggled in silence for years, not realising they were missing out on thousands of pounds annually.

“A successful claim for Attendance Allowance can be life-changing — easing financial pressure and helping people maintain independence in their own homes.”

The list of conditions, according to Spencer Churchill Claims, includes:

  • Arthritis
  • Spondylosis
  • Back Pain - Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
  • Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
  • Trauma to Limbs
  • Visual Disorders and Diseases
  • Hearing Disorders
  • Heart Disease
  • Respiratory Disorders and DiseasesAsthma
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Cerebrovascular Disease
  • Peripheral Vascular Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Neurological Diseases
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinsons
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Chronic Pain Syndromes
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Metabolic Disease
  • Traumatic Paraplegia
  • Major Trauma Other than Traumatic/Paraplegia
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Psychosis
  • Psychoneurosis
  • Personality Disorder
  • Dementia
  • Behavioral Disorder
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  • Hyperkinetic Syndrome
  • Renal Disorders
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Bowel and Stomach Disease
  • Blood Disorders
  • Haemophilia
  • Multi System Disorders
  • Multiple Allergy Syndrome
  • Skin Disease
  • Malignant Disease
  • Haemodialysis Frailty
  • AIDS
  • Coronavirus covid-19
  • Viral disease - precise diagnosis not specified
  • Tuberculosis
  • Bacterial disease - precise diagnosis not specified
  • Cognitive disorder (other)

How to claim

You can apply for Attendance Allowance online here at Gov.uk or by post. Or, if you're in Scotland apply here.

To apply, you’ll need:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your address and contact details
  • details of the disability or health condition that you need extra help for
  • details of your GP surgery or medical centre
  • details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you’re currently staying in one

Recommended reading:

Is my pension too high for Attendance Allowance?

Unlike many other benefits, Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning it is available regardless of a person’s income, savings, or assets. It also doesn’t affect a person’s State Pension, and claiming it may boost entitlement to other financial help, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.

This is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit that can make a real difference to someone’s quality of life. Whether you need help during the day, at night, or both — if your condition affects your ability to care for yourself, it’s worth checking your eligibility.

Many eligible people either don’t apply or are put off by the lengthy claim form — but support is available through organisations like Citizens Advice, and the potential rewards are considerable.