Attendance Allowance: How to Claim Help Towards Care

By CareFinder Team · Published 2026-06-30 · Last reviewed 2026-09-18

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of illness or disability. In 2026/27 it pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week, depending on whether help is needed by day or night, or both. You claim online or on a paper form from the DWP; in Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment replaces it.

Attendance Allowance is a weekly benefit for people over State Pension age who need help looking after themselves, or need someone to keep them safe, because of a physical or mental health condition. It is not means-tested, it is tax-free, and it can be spent on anything. Many older people who would qualify never claim, often because they wrongly assume savings or a good pension rule them out.

The rules below apply to England and Wales. In Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment has replaced it for new claims, and Northern Ireland has its own claim process.

How much is Attendance Allowance?

There are two rates. For the 2026/27 tax year, GOV.UK lists them as:

• Lower rate, £76.70 a week: for frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
• Higher rate, £114.60 a week: for help or supervision throughout both day and night, or where a medical professional has said the person is nearing the end of life.

Rates normally rise each April. Payment is usually made every four weeks into a bank account. It does not reduce the State Pension, and it is ignored for income tax.

Who can get Attendance Allowance?

According to the GOV.UK eligibility rules, the person must:

• have reached State Pension age (this is rising from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, so check the exact age for their date of birth);
• have a physical disability (including sight or hearing loss), a mental disability, or a health condition such as dementia;
• need help caring for themselves, or someone to supervise them, because of it;
• have needed that help for at least six months (this does not apply to people nearing the end of life);
• normally live in Great Britain and have been here for at least two of the last three years (there are exceptions).

They cannot get it at the same time as Personal Independence Payment or Disability Living Allowance.

What counts as needing help?

The test is about the help the person needs, not the help they actually get. Someone who lives alone and struggles on without anyone can still qualify. Examples include help or supervision with:

• washing, bathing, dressing and using the toilet;
• getting in and out of bed or a chair, or moving safely around the home;
• eating, and taking medicines at the right time;
• being watched over because of confusion, memory problems or a risk of falls;
• repeated help at night, such as turning over or going to the toilet.

A diagnosis alone is not enough, and a missing diagnosis does not rule anyone out. What matters is how the condition affects day-to-day life.

How do you claim?

1. Ring first if you want a paper form. Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. GOV.UK says the claim will then start from the date of the call, as long as the form is returned within six weeks.
2. Or claim online. GOV.UK has an online claim service, and the paper form can also be downloaded and printed.
3. Gather evidence. A list of conditions and medicines, and names of the GP, consultants or nurses involved, will help. Letters or care plans can be sent with the form.
4. Send it off and wait. The DWP will send a text or letter within three weeks explaining when to expect a decision.

People nearing the end of life use a faster process, usually with a form completed by a doctor or nurse, and are paid the higher rate.

How do you fill in the form well?

The form is long, and the way it is completed makes a real difference.

• Describe a typical bad day, not a good one. If needs vary, say how often the bad days happen.
• Be specific. "Needs help to stand from the toilet about six times a day, and has fallen twice in the bathroom" is more useful than "has trouble with the toilet".
• Include supervision needs. Wandering, leaving the cooker on or forgetting medicines all count.
• Cover the night. Night-time help is what moves someone to the higher rate.
• Don't let pride shrink the answers. Many older people understate how much they struggle.
• Keep a copy of everything you send.

Free help with the form is available from Age UK, Citizens Advice and local carers' centres.

What if the claim is turned down?

If the claim is refused, or the rate seems too low, ask the DWP for a mandatory reconsideration. You normally have one month from the date on the decision letter. If the decision is not changed, you can then appeal to an independent tribunal. Advice from Citizens Advice or Age UK before challenging is worthwhile, particularly for gathering extra evidence.

Does Attendance Allowance affect other money?

It can increase it. Age UK notes that getting Attendance Allowance can help someone qualify for, or get more, Pension Credit and Housing Benefit, and the same can apply to Council Tax Reduction. It can also open the way for a relative who provides a lot of care to claim Carer's Allowance, although that can in turn affect the older person's own means-tested benefits, so get a benefits check first.

If the council arranges care at home, it may count Attendance Allowance as income in its financial assessment of what the person pays towards that care.

What happens in a care home?

• Paying your own fees: Attendance Allowance usually continues.
• Council pays for the care: you cannot usually get it.
• NHS Continuing Healthcare pays the fees: payments are also likely to be affected, so check with the DWP.

Tell the DWP about any move into a care home or hospital, as payments can be affected.

This is general information. For advice on your own circumstances, contact an independent benefits adviser such as Citizens Advice or Age UK.

Frequently asked questions

Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?

No. Income, savings, property and pensions make no difference to whether someone gets it or how much. It is also tax-free.

Can someone with dementia get Attendance Allowance?

Yes, if the dementia means they need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe. Needing reminders, prompting or someone to watch over them can count, not just physical help.

Does the money have to be spent on care?

No. It can be used for anything that helps, such as a cleaner, taxis, extra heating or paying towards a carer. It is the person's own money.

Can I claim on behalf of a parent?

You can help them fill in the form and sign it with their agreement. If they cannot manage their own affairs, someone with a lasting power of attorney, a deputy or a DWP appointee can claim for them.

When does a claim start from?

From the date the DWP receives the claim, or from the date you phoned for a form if you return it within six weeks. There is no general backdating before that, so claim as soon as the need is there.

Key takeaways

• Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age who need help or supervision; savings and income do not matter.
• In 2026/27 it is £76.70 or £114.60 a week; check GOV.UK for current rates.
• The six-month rule does not apply to people nearing the end of life, who get the higher rate.
• Describe bad days, supervision and night-time needs in detail on the form.
• It can unlock extra Pension Credit and other help, but usually cannot be paid if the council pays for the care home.
• In Scotland, claim Pension Age Disability Payment instead.