Overview
- The benefit for people over State Pension age is paid at two weekly rates of £73.90 or £110.40 in 2025/26, usually every four weeks (£295.60 or £441.60).
- Official data show nearly 1.7 million people receive Attendance Allowance, with a DWP list of 48 linked health conditions and arthritis the largest group.
- The DWP is testing a restricted online claim service that accepts only a limited number of applications each week on desktop or laptop, with postal and helpline routes unchanged.
- Claimants are reminded to report specified changes such as hospital stays, altered care needs, long trips abroad, or updated details, with guidance warning of penalties for failing to do so.
- Many awards run for long fixed periods, reported at five years or more for over a third of claimants, with renewals required for fixed-term awards and fast‑track rules in place for terminal illness; Scotland is migrating to Pension Age Disability Payment.