If you’re a bit more seasoned—say, you’ve seen a few more winters—and you’re over 66, this is your golden ticket. Attendance Allowance is like the older, wiser sibling of PIP. It’s for people who need help with care or supervision because of their arthritis. You could get up to £108.55 a week, and it’s not means-tested, meaning it doesn’t care if you own a house or have a secret savings account.
Attendance Allowance for Arthritis - Can You Claim? (2026 Guide)
Even if you think “oh, I manage fine,” think again. Do you need someone to remind you to take your medication? Or to help you in the bath when your hips lock up? That counts. It’s basically the government saying, “Here’s some cash so you can pay someone to bring you a cuppa in bed.”
What about Universal Credit?
Now, Universal Credit isn’t just for the unemployed—it’s also for people who can’t work because of health conditions. If your arthritis has forced you to stop working or cut your hours, you might be eligible for the Limited Capability for Work element. This adds an extra £390.79 a month to your standard allowance. That’s not pocket change—that’s a decent holiday, or a few months of takeaway deliveries.
But here’s the twist: you have to go through a Work Capability Assessment. It sounds scary, but it’s basically a chat where you explain why your knees sound like a bag of crisps when you bend them. Be brutally honest. If you can’t stand for more than 15 minutes, mention it. If your fingers swell up after typing for ten minutes, mention that too.
Arthritis Disability Benefits Uk at Henry Storms blog
