Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a weekly payment for people over State Pension age who need help looking after themselves because of an illness or disability. It's one of the most useful benefits for older people, and one of the easiest to miss.
The key facts
- It isn't means-tested. Income and savings make no difference.
- There are two rates (2026 to 2027): £76.70 a week for frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night, and £114.60 a week for help or supervision both day and night.
- It's paid to the person who needs care, to help with the extra costs.
- They don't need to have a carer to claim.
- It covers care and supervision, not help getting around.
Who can get it
They need to have reached State Pension age and have a physical disability, a mental disability or a health condition. It must be severe enough that they need help caring for themselves, or someone to supervise them for their own or someone else's safety, and they must have needed that help for at least 6 months.
They can't get it at the same time as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance.
If someone is nearing the end of life, there are different rules: they can get it more quickly, and at the higher rate.
Why it's worth more than the payment
Getting Attendance Allowance can mean extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. It can also help with a Council Tax discount, and it opens the door to Carer's Allowance for someone who looks after them for 35 hours a week or more.
How to claim
Apply online on GOV.UK, or by post using the claim form. You can also call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to ask for a form. You can claim on someone else's behalf.
You'll need their National Insurance number, details of their illness or disability, and details of their GP surgery.
Describe all the help they need, including help they don't get yet. You'll usually get a text or letter within 3 weeks saying when to expect a decision. An assessment is only needed if it's unclear how their condition affects them.
In Scotland
Attendance Allowance is being replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, from Social Security Scotland. It works in a similar way: it isn't means-tested, it's paid at the same two rates, and someone who is terminally ill gets the higher rate automatically. People who already get Attendance Allowance are moved across without needing to apply. Find out more and apply on mygov.scot.
In Wales
Attendance Allowance works the same way in Wales as in England.