Attendance Allowance is one of the most valuable and most overlooked benefits for older people. If you are over State Pension age and need help looking after yourself because of an illness or disability, it can put extra money in your pocket, and unlike many benefits it is not means-tested. This guide explains who can claim Attendance Allowance, the 2026/27 rates, and how to apply.
What Attendance Allowance is
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental health condition or disability. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings make no difference to what you receive, and you do not need to have anyone actually providing the care; what matters is that you reasonably need help. It is paid every four weeks directly into your account.
The 2026/27 rates
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance. For 2026/27, the lower rate is £76.70 a week and the higher rate is £114.60 a week. You get the lower rate if you need help or supervision during the day or at night, and the higher rate if you need help both during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill. Over a year, the higher rate is worth almost £5,960, all tax-free and paid on top of your other income.
Who can claim
To claim, you must be over State Pension age and have needed help with personal care or supervision for at least six months because of your condition, although this qualifying period is waived if you are terminally ill. Help with personal care covers things like washing, dressing, eating, taking medication, getting in and out of bed and using the toilet, while supervision means needing someone to keep an eye on you to stay safe. You do not need a diagnosis of a specific illness; it is the help you need that counts.
It is based on the help you need
A key point is that Attendance Allowance is about the help you reasonably need, not the help you currently get. Many people miss out because they manage alone, or because a relative helps without being paid, and they assume they do not qualify. If you would benefit from help with personal care or supervision, even if you currently struggle on without it, you may still be entitled. This is why it is always worth checking.
There is no mobility component
Unlike PIP, Attendance Allowance does not have a mobility component, so it does not help specifically with getting around, and it does not give access to the Motability Scheme. It is focused on care and supervision needs. If you have mobility difficulties and reached State Pension age, this is simply how the benefit is structured, though other help with transport may be available separately.
How to claim
You claim Attendance Allowance using a claim form, which asks in detail about the help you need with various tasks, day and night. As with other disability benefits, detail matters: describe your difficulties fully, give examples, explain what happens on bad days, and mention any aids you use and any risks you face. Your award is usually backdated to the date the DWP received your form, so submitting it promptly can mean a larger first payment.
How it can boost your Pension Credit
One of the most valuable things about Attendance Allowance is its knock-on effect. Because it is not counted as income, it does not reduce your other benefits, and claiming it can actually increase your Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, by triggering a severe disability addition in the calculation. So an Attendance Allowance award can be worth even more than the headline rate, which is another reason not to overlook it.
What else it can unlock
An Attendance Allowance award can also help you qualify for other support. It can mean someone who cares for you is able to claim a carer's benefit, it can lead to a council tax reduction, and it can act as a passport to other help for older and disabled people. When you apply for other support, mention that you receive Attendance Allowance, as it is often a qualifying benefit.
If you live in Scotland
In Scotland, Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, delivered by Social Security Scotland. It plays the same role and pays equivalent rates, but is administered separately, with its own application process. If you live in Scotland, apply through Social Security Scotland rather than the DWP, and the same general advice about describing your needs fully applies.
The two rates in more detail
The difference between the two rates comes down to when you need help. The lower rate is for people who need frequent help or supervision during the day, or help or someone to watch over them at night, but not both. The higher rate is for people who need help or supervision both day and night. People who are terminally ill receive the higher rate automatically under special rules, without the usual qualifying period, and the claim is fast-tracked.
Attendance Allowance and care homes
If you move into a care home and your care is paid for by the local authority, your Attendance Allowance usually stops after a period, because the care is being funded for you. If you pay for your own care home fees, however, you can normally keep receiving Attendance Allowance. The rules around care homes can be confusing, so if you or a relative are moving into care, it is worth getting advice so you do not lose money you are entitled to or miss a benefit you could claim.
Why so many people miss out
Attendance Allowance is widely under-claimed, often because people do not realise it exists, assume it is means-tested, or feel they are managing and do not want to make a fuss. Because it is not means-tested and is based on the help you reasonably need rather than the help you get, far more older people qualify than claim. If you or an older relative struggle with daily tasks, it is well worth looking into.
Helping an older relative claim
Many Attendance Allowance claims are made with the help of a family member, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you are helping an older relative, you can fill in the form on their behalf with their permission, drawing on what you see of the help they need day to day. Older people often play down their difficulties, so an honest account from someone who knows them well can make sure the form reflects reality. Just make sure the description is accurate and based on their real needs.
In short
Attendance Allowance is tax-free, ignores your income and savings, and is based on the help you reasonably need rather than the help you get. If you are over State Pension age and struggle with daily tasks, it is well worth claiming.
Where to get help
Filling in the Attendance Allowance form well makes a real difference, and free help is available from Citizens Advice, Age UK and local advice services. They can help you describe your needs in the way the form looks for, and check what else you might be entitled to. For the means-tested top-up that Attendance Allowance can boost, see our guide to Pension Credit.
Related guides: Attendance Allowance and care homes, claiming Attendance Allowance for dementia, conditions that qualify for Attendance Allowance, Attendance Allowance vs PIP and Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland.
