Attendance Allowance: Rates, Eligibility & How to Claim
Millions of people over 66 are missing out on Attendance Allowance every year, simply because they don’t know it exists or assume they won’t qualify. Here’s what it is and how to claim it.
If someone you love is getting older and finding daily life harder to manage, the last thing you want is to discover there was financial help available that nobody told you about.
Attendance Allowance is exactly that kind of help. It is a tax-free, non-means-tested weekly payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental condition. From April 2026, it is worth either £76.70 or £114.60 per week, and it does not matter how much money you have. Your income and savings are not taken into account at all.
Around 1.1 million eligible pensioners in Great Britain are not claiming it, according to research from MoneySavingExpert and Policy in Practice. That is over £5 billion a year going unclaimed, often because people assume they will not qualify, or simply do not know it exists.
This guide covers everything you need to know: what Attendance Allowance is, who can get it, how much it is worth, and how to apply without getting lost in the process.
What Is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a weekly cash payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is designed to help with the extra costs that come with needing care or supervision in later life. Those costs are easy to underestimate: taxis to appointments, adapted equipment, meals you cannot prepare yourself, extra heating, or simply having someone around to help. They add up fast.
The money does not have to be spent on formal care. There is no audit, no receipts required. You can use it however it helps most.
There is also no requirement to already be receiving care. Eligibility is based on what you need, not what you currently get. Many people who live alone and manage day to day still qualify, because the question being asked is: would you benefit from help or supervision because of your condition? If the answer is yes, it is worth applying.
One note for Scottish readers: Attendance Allowance has been replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Disability Payment, administered by Social Security Scotland. The eligibility criteria and payment levels are broadly the same, but the application goes through a different system.
Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance?
There are four things you need to qualify.
You must be State Pension age or older
State Pension age is currently 66 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. If you are under 66 and have a disability or health condition, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the benefit to look at instead.
If you made a successful PIP claim in the year before turning 66, you can usually keep receiving it after your birthday until that award ends. You can then move across to Attendance Allowance when the time comes.
You must have a physical or mental health condition
There is no set list of qualifying conditions. What matters is not the diagnosis but how the condition affects your life day to day. People claim Attendance Allowance for dementia, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, diabetes, sight or hearing loss, mental health conditions, and many others.
Two people with the same diagnosis can qualify for different rates, or one may not qualify at all. The assessment is always personal, always based on care needs rather than the condition itself.
You must need help with personal care or supervision
Personal care includes things like:
- Getting washed, bathed or dressed
- Eating and drinking
- Getting in and out of bed
- Using the toilet
- Taking medication
- Moving around safely
Supervision means needing someone to watch over you to keep you or others safe. This applies if you have memory loss and might leave the gas on, if you experience seizures, if your behaviour can put you at risk, or if you need someone available during the night.
You do not need to already be receiving this help. What matters is that you need it.
You must have had these needs for at least six months
Your care or supervision needs must have been present for at least six months. You can apply before that point and any successful award will be backdated once the threshold is reached. You also do not need a formal diagnosis to apply: if you have been struggling for six months, that is enough.
The six-month rule does not apply if you are terminally ill and not expected to live beyond 12 months. In that situation, you automatically receive the higher rate, and the process is significantly faster.
Residency requirements
You need to have been living in Great Britain for at least two of the previous three years. The two years do not need to be continuous. If you are terminally ill, this test is waived entirely.
How Much Is Attendance Allowance Worth?
There are two rates for 2026/27:
Lower rate: £76.70 per week (£3,988 per year)
For people who need help or supervision during the day OR at night, but not both.
Higher rate: £114.60 per week (£5,959 per year)
For people who need help or supervision during the day AND at night, or who are terminally ill.
The rates go up every April, broadly in line with inflation. Payment is made every four weeks, directly into a bank or building society account. If you are no longer able to manage your own affairs, it can be paid to an appointee or someone with Power of Attorney.
Attendance Allowance in a Care Home
Whether you can claim while living in a care home comes down to one question: who is paying for the care?
If you are self-funding (paying your own care home fees without local authority support), you can claim Attendance Allowance and keep receiving it for as long as you remain self-funded. If you were already getting it before moving in, it does not stop automatically.
If your care is funded wholly or partly by your local authority, you cannot usually claim. The benefit is designed to help cover the cost of care, and in that situation the council is covering those costs on your behalf.
If you go into hospital, Attendance Allowance pauses after 28 days and resumes from the day you leave.
Understanding how Attendance Allowance fits into the bigger picture of care funding, means testing and local authority support is genuinely worth doing early. Our guide to Care Home Costs UK: A Complete Breakdown covers the full picture, including capital thresholds, deferred payment agreements and what to do when savings start to run low.
What Else Can Attendance Allowance Unlock?
Getting Attendance Allowance can open the door to other support that is not automatically offered. Once an award is confirmed, it is worth checking each of the following.
Pension Credit: If you already receive Pension Credit, you may now qualify for an extra amount called the Severe Disability Premium, worth around £82.90 per week. If you are not on Pension Credit but your weekly income is below roughly £230 (or £350 as a couple), you may now be eligible for it.
Housing Benefit: If you rent your home, Attendance Allowance can increase the Housing Benefit you receive.
Council Tax Reduction: If you or your partner are severely mentally impaired, Attendance Allowance can support an application for a Council Tax discount worth between 25% and 100% of your bill.
Blue Badge: Attendance Allowance does not automatically qualify you for a Blue Badge, but it can support an application if your mobility is also affected.
Disabled Person’s Railcard: Your award letter is all you need to apply. The railcard gives you and a companion a third off train travel and costs £20 for a year or £54 for three years.
Carer’s Allowance: If someone cares for you for 35 or more hours a week and earns less than £196 per week after tax, they may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance, worth £83.30 per week. For more detail on how this interacts with other benefits, Carers UK has a clear breakdown. One thing to check first: if you receive the Severe Disability Premium as part of your Pension Credit, your carer claiming Carer’s Allowance can affect that premium. Get advice from a benefits specialist before making that decision.
How to Apply for Attendance Allowance: Step by Step
The application involves completing form AA1, a detailed paper form about your condition and care needs. Most claims are decided on the form alone. A face-to-face medical assessment is uncommon.
Step 1: Call first, even if you are not ready
Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). The date of your call is recorded by the DWP. As long as you return the completed form within six weeks, any successful award is backdated to that call date rather than the date your form arrives. That can mean several weeks of extra payment, so it is worth making the call before you do anything else.
You can also apply online via GOV.UK if you prefer, but be aware there is no save function: you have to complete it in one go. The online route also means your claim starts from the date the form is received, not from when you called.
If you are in Northern Ireland, contact the Disability and Carers Service on 0800 587 0912.
Step 2: Get your paperwork together
Before you sit down with the form, gather:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your GP’s name and surgery address
- Details of your medication, with a prescription list if you have one
- Names and details of any other health professionals seen in the last 12 months
- Supporting letters from your GP or consultants, if available
- Your care plan, if you have one
- Any appointment letters or hospital record numbers
Step 3: Fill in the form as if the assessor knows nothing about your condition
They do not. The person reading your form is not a medical expert in your condition. Do not assume they will fill in the gaps. Be specific about what you struggle with, how long tasks take, whether you need reminders or physical help, and what your worst days look like.
Keeping a brief diary in the week or two before completing the form is genuinely useful. It gives you real examples to draw on rather than trying to summarise months of experience from memory.
A supporting statement from someone who helps you, whether a carer, family member or friend, can strengthen the application. Age UK recommends including one where possible.
Step 4: Send the form
Post your completed form to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance (England and Wales). No stamp or postcode needed. Keep a copy before it goes.
Step 5: Wait for the decision
You should receive an acknowledgement within three weeks. Most decisions are made within 40 working days. If nothing has arrived after eight weeks, call 0800 731 0122. A successful claim is backdated to your start date.
What If Your Claim Is Refused?
A rejection is not always the end. Many refused claims succeed on review, often because the original form did not fully capture how the condition affects daily life.
Mandatory Reconsideration: You can ask the DWP to look at the decision again. This must be requested within one month of the decision letter. A different caseworker reviews everything from scratch. If you have new evidence from a GP or consultant, include it now.
First-tier Tribunal: If the Mandatory Reconsideration still goes against you, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. It is free, and appeal success rates are meaningful. Getting support from a benefits adviser for this stage is strongly recommended.
Free help is available from:
- Age UK: 0800 678 1602 (8am to 7pm, 365 days a year)
- Citizens Advice: 0800 144 8848 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
- Independent Age: 0800 319 6789 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested weekly payment for people in England, Wales and Northern Ireland who are at State Pension age (66 or over) and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental condition. From April 2026, it is paid at £76.70 per week (lower rate) or £114.60 per week (higher rate).
Does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?
In most cases, no. It does not reduce other benefits and can actually increase some, including Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. It also exempts you from the benefit cap. If you currently receive means-tested benefits, it is worth a quick check with a benefits adviser before applying, as there are a small number of situations where the interaction needs careful thought.
Do I have to spend it on care?
No. You can spend it however it helps. Bills, transport, equipment, food: there is no requirement to use it in any particular way.
Can I claim if I live in a care home?
Yes, but only if you are paying for your own care. If your care is funded wholly or partly by your local authority, you cannot usually claim. Self-funders can claim and keep receiving it throughout their stay.
Can I claim if I do not have a carer?
Yes. Eligibility is based on the help you need, not the help you currently receive. If your condition means you would benefit from care or supervision, you can claim even if you are currently managing without it.
How long does it take to get a decision?
Most decisions arrive within 40 working days. You should get an acknowledgement within three weeks of submitting your form. If nothing has arrived after eight weeks, call 0800 731 0122.
Is it taxable?
No. Attendance Allowance is entirely tax-free and is not counted as income for means-tested benefits.
What if my claim was refused before?
You can apply again, particularly if your needs have increased or your original form did not fully reflect your situation. Getting help from Age UK or Citizens Advice when filling in the form can make a real difference to the outcome.
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