DWP payment of £434 due if you have one of 57 health conditions

People with certain health conditions are being urged to check their eligibility for a crucial support payment this month. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has identified 57 medical conditions that can make you eligible for a monthly payment of £434.

The DWP offers Attendance Allowance to those with a disability severe enough to require someone else’s help for care. The amount you receive depends on the level of care you need because of your disability.

If you are physically or mentally disabled or of State Pension age or over, you may qualify for this payment. Like other benefits, attendance allowance increased in April.

Wales Online reports that the government announced last November that state benefits would rise by 6.7% from 8 April. To get the latest money information delivered straight to your inbox twice a week, sign up to our newsletter here, Wales Online reports.

That means from April 2024, if you qualify, you’ll have more money in your pocket. Here’s everything you need to know about attendance allowance, including how to apply and how much you could get.

What is attendance allowance?

Attendance allowance is a benefit provided if your disability is severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It is paid at two different rates and the amount you receive depends on the level of extra care you need.

Attendance allowance is not determined by your income or savings and does not cover mobility needs. However, other benefits you receive may increase if you receive attendance allowance.

The lower rate is offered if you need frequent assistance or constant supervision during the day or supervision at night. The higher rate is allocated if you need help or supervision both day and night, or if a medical professional has indicated that your life expectancy may be less than 12 months.

In April 2024, both rates rose by 6.7% after the DWP adjusted most benefits in line with September’s CPI inflation figure.

What health problems could make you eligible for attendance allowance?

The DWP has a list of common health problems that could mean you can get Attendance Allowance. They are as follows:

• Arthritis
• Spondylosis
• Back pain – other/unspecified precise diagnosis
• Diseases of the muscles, bones or joints
• Limb trauma
• Visual disorders and diseases
• Hearing disorders
• Heart disease
• Respiratory disorders and diseases
• Asthma
• Cystic fibrosis
• Cerebrovascular disease
• Peripheral vascular disease
• Epilepsy
• Neurological diseases
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Motor neurone disease
• Chronic pain syndromes
• Diabetes mellitus
• Metabolic disease
• Traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
• Major trauma other than traumatic paraplegia/tetraplegia
• Learning difficulties
• Psychosis
• Psychoneurosis
• Personality disorder
• Dementia
• Behavioral disorder
• Alcohol and drug abuse
• Hyperkinetic syndrome
• Renal disorders
• Inflammatory bowel disease
• Diseases of the intestine and stomach
• Blood disorders
• Hemophilia
• Multi-system disorders
• Multiple allergy syndrome
• Skin disease
• Malignant disease
• Severe mental impairments
• Double amputee
• deaf mute
• hemodialysis
• fragility
• Total parenteral nutrition
• AIDS
• Infectious diseases: viral disease – Covid-19
• Infectious diseases: viral disease – precise diagnosis is not specified
• Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – tuberculosis
• Infectious diseases: bacterial disease – precise diagnosis is not specified
• Infectious diseases: protozoan disease – malaria
• Infectious diseases: protozoal disease – other/precise diagnosis is not specified
• Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
• Cognitive impairment – other/specific diagnosis not specified
• Terminally ill
• Unknown

How can I claim attendance allowance?

To claim attendance allowance by post, click here. You will receive notes with a form that will guide you on how to complete it.

Send the form to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. No postcode or stamp required.

You can call the Attendance Allowance helpline to request a copy of the form in different formats, such as braille, large print or audio CD. The helpline number is 0800 731 0122 and is open between 8am and 6pm.

Find out everything you need to know about attendance allowance here.