Attendance Allowance does not automatically stop when someone moves into a care home — whether it continues depends entirely on who is paying for the care. If the council is funding the placement, AA stops after 28 days. If the person is self-funding, AA continues. Here is the full picture for 2026/27.
The Key Rule: Who Is Paying for the Care?
| Funding arrangement | What happens to Attendance Allowance |
|---|---|
| Council-funded (local authority pays all or part) | Stops after 28 days from admission |
| Self-funded (person pays from own income/savings) | Continues — no time limit |
| NHS continuing healthcare (NHS pays full cost) | Stops after 28 days |
| Temporary respite care (short stay) | Continues for up to 28 days — then stops if the stay extends |
The 28-Day Rule in Detail
When a person moves into a care home or NHS facility funded by the council or NHS:
- Day 1–28: Attendance Allowance continues at the same rate
- Day 29 onwards: Attendance Allowance stops
The 28 days are counted from the date of admission — not the date of the funding decision. If there is a delay in the council agreeing to fund the placement, you should still count from the first day in the home.
Linked Stays
If a person is admitted to a care home, leaves for a period, and returns, the stays may be “linked” if the gap between them is 28 days or fewer. This means the days are added together toward the 28-day total — not restarted from zero.
Example: Mary goes into a care home for 20 days, returns home for 10 days, then goes back to the same care home. Because the gap between stays is less than 28 days, the stays are linked. The 28-day count continues from day 20 — so after 8 more days, Attendance Allowance stops.
Attendance Allowance and Self-Funding Care Homes
If a person is funding their own care — meaning their capital (savings, investments, property equity) is above the local council’s threshold — Attendance Allowance continues in full.
England capital thresholds 2026/27:
- Above £23,250: full self-funding (Attendance Allowance continues)
- £14,250 to £23,250: partial council contribution (rules on AA vary — check with the council)
- Below £14,250: council fully funds the placement (Attendance Allowance stops after 28 days)
For many people entering care, their home may be sold to fund the care costs initially — during this period, Attendance Allowance continues until the council takes over funding.
Hospital Admissions
The 28-day rule works identically for NHS hospital stays:
- Attendance Allowance continues for the first 28 days in hospital
- On day 29, it stops
- Linked stays apply: a gap of 28 days or fewer links the stays together
If the person is moved from hospital to a council-funded care home, the hospital days and care home days count together. So if someone was in hospital for 20 days, they only have 8 days of Attendance Allowance remaining after moving to a council-funded care home.
What to Do When Someone Moves Into a Care Home
- Notify DWP — call the Attendance Allowance helpline: 0800 731 0122. Report the date of admission and whether the care is council-funded or self-funded.
- Check the funding arrangement — ask the care home or the local council’s social care team who is responsible for the funding from day one.
- Check for a deferred payment agreement — some people enter council-funded care but have a deferred payment against the value of their home. This does not count as self-funding for Attendance Allowance purposes — check with the council.
- Plan ahead for the 28-day cutoff — if AA is going to stop, the family budget needs to account for the lost income.
Worked Example: Eric, 84, Moving to a Residential Care Home
Eric has been receiving Attendance Allowance at the higher rate (£108.55/week) for two years. He moves into a residential care home in April 2026.
Scenario A — Council funded: The council assesses Eric’s needs and agrees to fund the placement. Eric has savings of £8,000 (below £14,250). Attendance Allowance continues for 28 days, then stops. Loss: £108.55/week.
Scenario B — Self-funded: Eric has savings of £60,000 and is self-funding until his savings deplete below the threshold. Attendance Allowance continues throughout this self-funding period — worth £5,645/year toward care home fees.
In Scenario B, Eric should ensure DWP is kept informed and that any future transition to council-funded care is reported promptly.
When the Person Leaves the Care Home
If a person is discharged from a care home or hospital and returns home:
- Contact DWP on the date of discharge
- Attendance Allowance can restart immediately without a new claim
- If the original award has not expired, it should restart from the date of discharge
Do not wait — AA does not restart automatically. You must contact DWP.
See our Attendance Allowance dementia guide, Attendance Allowance guide, and Carer’s Allowance guide.