The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show that at the end of August 2022, more than 1.4 million people over State Pension age were receiving additional weekly financial support through Attendance Allowance. Following the annual uprating in April, the benefit is now worth either £68.10 or £101.75 each week.
Of the overall total, some 25,279 people living in Scotland are also in receipt of the tax-free benefit that is designed to support older people with daily living expenses and can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer.
While the most common disabling condition is arthritis (404,369 claimants), there are also 82,319 older people getting support for more than 20 ‘Respiratory Disorders and Diseases’, including more than 9,000 living in Scotland. This umbrella category covers a wide range of conditions including asthma, chronic bronchitis, pneumonia, emphysema and sleep apnoea.
