Participation Allowance is a benefit provided by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision due to an illness, disability or mental health condition. Successful claims can result in payments of either £72.65 or £108.55 per week, depending on the level of support needed.
These payments are made every four weeks and are worth £290.60 or £434.20 respectively. This additional income can be used as the recipient sees fit to meet their needs and maintain independence in their own home – it doesn’t necessarily have to be spent on a carer.
This tax-free benefit, specifically designed to help older people, will not affect any other Government support you receive. The charity Independent Age has produced a factsheet to guide new applicants through the application process, along with seven key tips for completing the form. According to the latest DWP figures from November 2023, there were 1,571,519 people claiming the benefit across the UK, and 140,716 in Scotland.
It is worth noting that the Participation Allowance is not means-tested, so unlike Pension Credit, pension earnings or savings will not be taken into account, the Daily Record reported.
Tips for filling out the Participation Allowance application form
Independent Age advises: “The decision maker will use your application form to determine whether you are eligible for Attendance Allowance, so it is important to provide as much detail as possible.”
Everyone filling out the form is advised to:
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Explain how your condition affects your daily life and what personal tasks you have difficulty with.
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Answer all questions and give examples if you can
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Indicate the time it will take you to complete certain tasks and how much help you will need for these tasks, even if no one is there to help you.
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Explain how your needs change and how bad your challenges might be if some days are better than others
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Talk about things you avoid doing because they’re difficult for you; for example, bending over and reaching to put on and take off socks is difficult, even when sitting.
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Explain what happens if you don’t get the care you need, especially if it puts you at risk of falling or makes it difficult to manage the situation.
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Send supporting information if you can, for example from your carer, GP or counsellor.
For further help and guidance you can visit the Independent Age website here or contact them on 0800 319 6789. Here is a brief overview of the benefit to help you decide whether you or a loved one should apply.
What is the Participation Fee?
Participation Allowance is intended to cover additional costs if you have a disability, physical or mental health problem or illness serious enough to make it difficult for you to care for yourself; it does not cover your mobility needs.
You do not need a caregiver to make a request.
Who is eligible?
If you are disabled or ill and require assistance or supervision during the day or occasionally at night, you are advised to apply for Attendance Allowance, even if you do not currently receive this support.
This may include:
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Assistance with personal care needs such as dressing, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering, and using the toilet.
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Support to ensure your safety.
You should also consider applying if you experience difficulties with your personal tasks, for example if they are time consuming, cause pain or if you require physical support such as a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance is not just for people with physical disabilities or illnesses.
You should also consider applying if you need assistance or supervision during the day or night for the following reasons:
Basic disqualifying conditions for Participation Allowance
The main opt-out conditions for Attendance Allowance are based on data from the DWP’s Attendance Allowance computer system. The DWP states that when more than one condition exists, the primary opt-out condition is reported.
It’s important to understand that this is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, but rather a guide to the types of conditions supported. If you need additional support, day or night, due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should refer to the official eligibility guide on the GOV.UK website here .
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Arthritis
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Spondylosis
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Back pain
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Muscle, Bone or Joint Diseases
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Trauma to limbs
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Visual Disorders and Diseases
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Hearing Disorders
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Heart disease
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Respiratory Disorders and Diseases
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Asthma
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Cystic fibrosis
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Cerebrovascular Disease
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Peripheral vascular disease
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Epilepsy
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Neurological Diseases
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Multiple sclerosis
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Parkinson’s disease
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Motor Neuron Disease
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Chronic Pain Syndromes
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Diabetes
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Metabolic Disease
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Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
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Major Trauma Other Than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
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Learning the challenges
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Psychosis
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Psychoneurosis
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Personality disorder
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Dementia
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Behavioral Disorder
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Alcohol and Drug Addiction
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Hyperkinetic Syndrome
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Kidney Disorders
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Inflammatory bowel disease
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Intestinal and Stomach Diseases
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Blood diseases
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Hemophilia
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Multisystem Disorders
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Multiple Allergy Syndrome
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Skin disease
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Malignant disease
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Severely mentally retarded
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Double Amputee
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Deaf blind
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Hemodialysis
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Weakness
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Total Parenteral Nutrition
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AIDS
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Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
How much can I receive with Participation Allowance?
You could be entitled to £72.65 if you need help during the day or at night, £108.55 if you need help both during the day and at night, or if you have a terminal illness. The benefit is paid every four weeks, meaning you could receive £290.60 or £434.20 each pay period.
You can use the money as you wish and maintain your independence in your home for longer.
These may include:
Can I claim Participation Allowance even if I have savings and other income?
Yes, the Participation Allowance is not income tested, so your other income or savings won’t affect it – there’s no cap. It’s also tax free and you’ll be exempt from the Benefit Cap, so no money will be deducted from any other benefits.
Will Participation Allowance affect my State Pension?
No, this will not affect your State Pension and you can claim it even if you are still working and earning money.
How does the Participation Allowance affect other benefits?
If you receive Participation Allowance, your other benefits may increase, including:
How can I make a request?
When you apply for Attendance Allowance you will need to fill in a long claim form. It may 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 prefer to do this yourself, you can follow Citizens Advice’s guide on how to complete your application form here . Full details of how to receive your application form by post or by phone can be found on the GOV.UK website here .
What happens if I’m about to reach State Pension age?
If you are thinking of claiming Participation Allowance when you reach retirement age, it may be better to claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP) straight away as you may be able to get more money.
Who cannot benefit from Participation Allowance?
If you already receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to cover the costs of your care, you will not be eligible for Participation Allowance. If you apply for Participation Allowance while you are receiving DLA, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will usually reassess your DLA award.
Once the current award ends, you can renew your PIP or DLA if you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful, you can then apply for Attendance Allowance.
For more information about Attendance Allowance, visit the GOV.UK website here.