Attendance Allowance is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the UK. Age UK estimates that hundreds of thousands of eligible people over 66 are not receiving it — often because they assume they must already be receiving professional care, or that savings and income will disqualify them. Neither is true.
This hub is the main PocketWise starting point for Attendance Allowance. It covers who qualifies, the difference between the two rates, what happens in care homes, how it interacts with Pension Credit and Carer’s Allowance, and the special fast-track rules for terminal illness. For the broader disability and pension-age benefits picture, see the Carers & Disability Benefits hub and the Pension Credit hub. For the main benefits overview, return to Benefits & Support.
What Attendance Allowance is — and is not
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for disabled people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision. It is not a payment for care services — it is paid to you to use as you choose. You do not need to spend it on care.
Key facts:
- Available from age 66 (State Pension age in 2026)
- Not affected by savings, income, or employment status
- Not affected by whether a carer actually provides care (only whether you need it)
- Has no mobility component — it covers care and supervision needs only
- Paid in addition to, and not instead of, other benefits you may already receive
If you are under State Pension age and have a disability or health condition, the relevant benefit is Personal Independence Payment (PIP), not Attendance Allowance. See the PIP hub for working-age disability support.
The two rates
| Rate | Weekly amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £72.65/week | Frequent attention or supervision needed during the day or night |
| Higher rate | £108.55/week | Frequent attention or supervision needed during the day and night, or terminal illness |
“Frequent” means repeatedly throughout the period — not just once or twice. The test is whether you need the attention, not whether you are currently receiving it. Many people who live alone and manage without help still qualify because they need someone to be available.
For a full breakdown of what counts, see Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27.
Who qualifies
To be eligible you must:
- Have reached State Pension age (currently 66)
- Have had the care or supervision need for at least six months (waived for terminal illness)
- Be resident in England, Scotland or Wales (different rules apply in Northern Ireland)
- Not be subject to immigration control that prevents benefit claims
The six-month qualifying period is a waiting period, not a backdating rule — your award starts from the date you claim, not from when the need began. This makes early claiming important if you already have an established need.
People with progressive conditions that fluctuate should describe their worst days on the claim form, not their average or best days. The benefit is assessed over the whole day and night, so a condition that causes problems intermittently but seriously still qualifies.
Attendance Allowance and dementia
Dementia is one of the most common conditions leading to an Attendance Allowance claim. The cognitive supervision element — the need for someone to monitor safety, prevent wandering, prompt meals and medication — counts for the benefit test in the same way as physical care needs.
See Can You Get Attendance Allowance With Dementia? for the full eligibility picture.
Living alone
Living alone does not disqualify you from Attendance Allowance — it may actually strengthen a claim, because the test is whether you need help, and people living alone often have needs that are unmet rather than absent. Being able to manage without help because you push through difficulty or risk counts against you in the claimant’s favour.
See Can I Get Attendance Allowance If I Live Alone? for common questions about solo claimants.
Care homes and Attendance Allowance
Going into a care home affects Attendance Allowance, but the rules depend on how the placement is funded.
| Funding arrangement | Effect on Attendance Allowance |
|---|---|
| Local authority or NHS funded | Stops after 28 days in the home |
| Fully self-funded | Continues |
| Part-funded (top-up arrangement) | Stops after 28 days — local authority involvement triggers the rule |
It is essential to notify the DWP when you enter a care home to avoid building up an overpayment that will have to be repaid.
See What Happens to Attendance Allowance in a Care Home? for the full rules.
How Attendance Allowance affects other benefits
Receiving Attendance Allowance does not reduce your other benefits — it can increase them.
| Linked benefit | Effect |
|---|---|
| Pension Credit | May trigger severe disability addition (~£81.50/week) if you live alone and have no Carer’s Allowance claimant |
| Council Tax Reduction | Local authorities may disregard AA income or apply a disability discount |
| Carer’s Allowance | Your carer may become eligible for Carer’s Allowance (£81.90/week) if they provide 35+ hours of care |
| Housing Benefit | Severe disability premium may apply if living alone |
See Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit — How They Work Together for the full interaction detail.
How to claim
Attendance Allowance is claimed using form AA1, available from the DWP or by calling 0800 731 0122. The form is detailed — it asks about your care needs across a typical day and night. The most common mistake is understating needs by describing what you can do on good days rather than what you need help with regularly.
Key tips:
- Describe your worst or typical days, not your best days
- Include all conditions, not just the main diagnosis
- Note any help you need that you are not currently receiving
- Ask a support worker or charity like Age UK to help you complete the form