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State pensioners could get an extra £407 a month if they live with diabetes
As levels of obesity rise across Great Britain, the cases of diabetes are rising.
Diabetes UK said that now, 4.3 million people have been diagnosed with diabetes, however, another 85,000 are living with it but have not been diagnosed. It has been estimated that a further 2.4 million people are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that by the end of August last year, some 17,249 older people were receiving Attendance Allowance payments for diabetes. The benefit entitles claimants to either £68.10 or £101.75 a week.
READ MORE: DWP Carer’s Allowance rules and how holiday abroad may affect benefits
The money is paid out every four weeks totalling either £272.40 or £407. According to the Daily Record, thousands of people who live with diabetes aren’t aware they could claim for extra support from the DWP.
Number of people claiming Attendance Allowance for diabetes:
- Scotland: 1,278
- England: 14,839
- Wales: 1,018
- Living abroad: 116
- Total: 17,249
Diabetes conditions supported through Attendance Allowance
- Diabetes mellitus Type 1 (insulin dependent)
- Diabetes mellitus Type 2 (non insulin dependent)
- Diabetes mellitus (category unknown)
If you, or an older family member, have diabetes and not claiming Attendance Allowance, it may be worth checking their eligibility. Below is everything you need to know about Attendance Allowance including payment rates, eligibility and how to make a claim.
What is attendance allowance and how much is it?
Attendance allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.
It does not cover mobility needs but the other benefits you get can increase if you get attendance allowance. Attendance allowance is not means-tested – what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.The lower rate is given if you have frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. The higher rate is given if you have help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.
Both the lower and higher rates increased on April 10 for 2023/24 after the DWP uplifted most benefits in line with September’s CPI inflation figure. The new rates are as follows:
- Higher rate: £101.75 (up from £92.40)
- Lower rate: £68.10 (up from £61.85)
Who can claim Attendance Allowance?
You can claim Attendance Allowance once you reach the state pension age, which is currently 66. You must also have been a resident of Great Britain (England, Scotland, or Wales) for the last two years and be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands.
If all this applies to you, like said before you must also have an illness or disability which requires you to need support.
Contrary to popular belief, there is no set condition which makes you eligible for Attendance Allowance – this is because it is dependent on the care/support you need to manage day-to-day life. This can help with getting washed and dressed, help with medical treatment, go to the toilet, help with mealtimes, or help because you get confused.
You should also claim if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have:
Attendance Allowance main disabling conditions
Medical conditions are sourced from information recorded on the DWP’s Attendance Allowance computer system. The DWP says that where more than one condition is present the main disabling condition is reported on.
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.
Conditions supported through Attendance Allowance:
- Arthritis
- Spondylosis
- Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
- Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
- Trauma to Limbs
- Blindness
- Deafness
- Heart disease
- Chest disease
- 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
- Behavioural 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
- Severely Mentally impaired
- Double Amputee
- Deaf/Blind
- Haemodialysis
- Frailty
- Total Parenteral Nutrition
- AIDS
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
- Infectious diseases: Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis
- Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – Malaria
- Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Cognitive disorder – other / precise diagnosis not specified
- Terminally ill
How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?
The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include:
How to make a new 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.
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