Anyone with arthritis or back pain who is of state pension age may be eligible for an additional £6,000 annually

Attendance Allowance is being claimed by thousands of people for arthritis and back pain, regardless of their savings amount

We go over the eligibility requirements.

British citizens who are of state pension age and have one of dozens of common conditions may be eligible to receive hundreds of pounds per month as a special allowance.

If you are over the state pension age and have a disability or health condition that is severe enough that you require assistance with care, Attendance Allowance can help with additional expenses.

The amount you receive is determined by the degree of care you require due to your illness or disability, and it is paid at either 73point 90 or 110point 40 per week.

This implies that if you are of state pension age or older and have a physical, mental, or health condition, you may receive up to 5,740.80 annually to assist with personal support.

The allowance is not subject to a means test. It makes no difference how much you receive from the state pension, how much you have saved, or how much you have in other pensions. You do not need someone to look after you in order to make a claim, but it does not cover mobility needs.

The allowance for common health issues is already being claimed by thousands of people.

For instance, according to the most recent data from the Department for Work and Pensions, 80,354 British citizens of state pension age are claiming Attendance Allowance for back pain.

The largest percentage of claims, 524,072, are for arthritis.

Spondylosis, a general term for age-related wear and tear on the spinal disks in your neck, is the reason why another 20,868 state pensioners are requesting assistance.

"Your income and savings are not taken into account when determining whether you qualify for the Attendance Allowance because it is not a means-tested benefit," stated David Samson, benefits expert at the anti-poverty charity Turn2Us.

Additionally, you won't lose any other income if you claim your attendance allowance. If granted, you might also be eligible for additional benefits, like Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, or Pension Credit, or you might be eligible for an increase in those benefits, depending on your circumstances.

Is Attendance Allowance available to me?

If you have reached state pension age and your illness or disability is severe enough that you require assistance with self-care or supervision, and you have required that assistance for at least six months, you are eligible to receive Attendance Allowance.

If you are nearing the end of your life, you will be eligible under different rules, which will result in a faster and higher rate of payment.

Unless you are serving in the armed forces and have been in the country for at least two of the previous three years, you must be in the country when you make your claim.

Attendance Allowance is not available to you if you currently receive Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

Only in cases where it is unclear how your disability or health condition affects you will you need to attend an assessment to determine your eligibility.

How to submit an attendance allowance claim.

Applications for Attendance Allowance can be submitted by mail or online.

Applying requires the following.

You cannot apply online if you are an appointee or have power of attorney for the person attempting to claim. Your National Insurance number, address, and contact information; details of the disability or health condition for which you require additional assistance; and the details of your general practitioner's office or medical center; and, if you are currently residing in a care home, hospital, or hospice, details of your care facility.

Applying by mail can be done by printing and mailing the Attendance Allowance claim form or by calling the helpline at 0800 731 0122, which is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Next, forward the filled-out form to DWP Attendance Allowance, Freepost.

The envelope only needs to have the freepost address written on it; neither a postcode nor a stamp are required.

Within three weeks of submitting your claim, you will receive a text or letter outlining the anticipated time of decision. You'll receive a letter outlining the decision once it's made.

Your first payment date will be specified in the decision letter if you are granted Attendance Allowance. Your claim will begin to be processed on the day you submit your online application. In the event that you print and mail the form, your claim will begin on the day it is received by the Department for Work and Pensions.

You can get assistance applying for Attendance Allowance from certain charities, such as Turn2Us, Age UK, and Mencap. By getting in touch with them directly, you can have a free conversation with them about the procedure.