More than one million people beyond State Pension age living with health conditions may be failing to claim up to £5,740 annually, based on figures from MoneySavingExpert (MSE.com) and Policy in Practice. The consumer platform, established by Martin Lewis, indicates that Attendance Allowance ranks among the most under-utilised benefits, with approximately 1.1 million people potentially missing out on a collective £5.2 billion each year.

Prior to this advice, MSE.com introduced an extensive digital resource on Attendance Allowance, which has since generated numerous success stories.

Nevertheless, in the most recent MSE newsletter, the expert panel notes the tax-free, non-means-tested payment remains “still massively under-claimed” and has refreshed its guidance to outline “who is eligible and how to claim the right way”.

The dedicated section on MSE.com breaks down everything required regarding Attendance Allowance, featuring footage from the Martin Lewis Money Show in which the finance expert encourages more elderly people to apply for the support.

There’s also encouraging testimony from savers who have made successful applications – either for themselves or relatives.

Christine reached out to the team via email and shared: “I applied for Attendance Allowance for my husband and today the first payment was made (even before a letter arrived telling us! ). He’s entitled to the upper limit, which is even more than we could’ve hoped for.

“At the same time, I optimistically applied for a blue badge for him too and again, confirmation of this being approved arrived today! Without the advice on the MSE email we would not have even been aware of being eligible. THANK YOU MSE team.”

Attendance Allowance explained

Over 1.7 million people beyond State Pension age throughout Great Britain, including 155,000 across Scotland, are presently in receipt of up to £441 monthly via Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP).

Both Attendance Allowance and PADP are awarded independently of the State Pension and other entitlements, offering supplementary financial assistance for elderly people living with a disability, chronic illness, or physical or mental health challenges.

Neither Attendance Allowance nor PADP are subject to means-testing and are valued at either £73.90 for the lower tier or £110.40 for the higher tier weekly, and since the benefit is typically disbursed every four weeks, this equates to either £295.60 or £441.60 per payment cycle.

Consequently, pensioners could potentially boost their 2025/26 income by up to £5,740 to assist with additional costs through one of these disability benefits.

The amount received for Attendance Allowance or PADP is determined by the degree of support required. The benefit aims to assist those of State Pension age with everyday living expenditure stemming from their condition, which can also enable them to maintain independence in their own residence for an extended period.

It’s crucial to note that neither Attendance Allowance nor PADP come with a mobility component.

More information on how to claim PIP or ADP can be found here.