Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27 — How Much You'll Receive

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition and you’re State Pension age or over. It’s not means-tested — your income and savings don’t matter.

Here are the rates for 2026/27.

Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27

Which Rate Do You Get?

Lower Rate: £72.65/week

You get the lower rate if you need:

• Frequent help or supervision during the day, OR
• Prolonged or repeated help or supervision during the night

Higher Rate: £108.55/week

You get the higher rate if you need:

• Frequent help or supervision during the day AND the night, OR
• You are terminally ill (life expectancy under 12 months)

“Frequent” means several times throughout the day or night — not just morning and evening.

Who Qualifies

To claim Attendance Allowance, you must:

What Counts as “Help”

Help includes:

• Washing, bathing, showering
• Dressing and undressing
• Using the toilet
• Eating and drinking
• Taking medication
• Moving around safely (supervision to prevent falls)
• Supervision due to confusion, memory problems, or risk of harm

You don’t actually need to be receiving help — you just need to reasonably need it.

What Attendance Allowance Doesn’t Cover

Attendance Allowance is:

• NOT for help with housework, shopping, or cooking (that’s not “personal care”)
• NOT means-tested — income and savings don’t affect it
• NOT taxable — you don’t pay tax on it
• NOT paid if you’re in a care home funded by the local authority

Attendance Allowance vs PIP

If you reached State Pension age AND first needed help after reaching State Pension age, you claim Attendance Allowance in new claims.

If you claimed PIP before reaching State Pension age, you continue on PIP.

How Attendance Allowance Affects Other Benefits

Receiving AA can increase other benefits:

Pension Credit

Housing Benefit / Council Tax Reduction

Local schemes often increase support for AA recipients.

Carer’s Allowance

Your carer may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance (£81.90/week) if they care for you 35+ hours weekly and you receive either rate of AA.

State Pension

Attendance Allowance is paid IN ADDITION to State Pension — it doesn’t reduce it.

What Attendance Allowance Doesn’t Affect

• Your State Pension — stays the same
• Your savings — no savings limit
• Your income — no income limit
• Your partner’s income — not assessed
• Your tax — AA is tax-free

How to Claim

Step 1: Get the Form

• Download form AA1 from GOV.UK
• Or request by phone: 0800 731 0122

Step 2: Complete the Form

The form asks about:

• Your conditions and how they affect you
• What help you need during the day and night
• Medication you take
• Your GP and hospital details

Tips:

• Describe your worst days, not your best
• Be specific about what tasks you struggle with
• Mention falls, confusion, memory problems, risk of harm
• Don’t understate your difficulties

Step 3: Gather Evidence

Include:

• List of medications
• GP letter (if available)
• Hospital letters
• Care plans
• Any other medical evidence

Step 4: Send the Form

Post to the address on the form. Keep a copy.

Step 5: Assessment

Most claims are decided on paper evidence alone. Some may require further information or a phone call. A home visit is rare.

Processing takes around 6-12 weeks.

Terminal Illness Claims

If you’re terminally ill (life expectancy under 12 months):

• You automatically get the higher rate (£108.55/week)
• There’s no 6-month waiting period
• Ask your GP or consultant to complete form DS1500
• Claims are fast-tracked

Rate History

Related Guides

• PIP Daily Living Rates 2026
• Carer’s Allowance Rates 2026/27
• Pension Credit Guide
• Blue Badge Application Guide

Summary