Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to help older people who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect how much you receive.
What Attendance Allowance Is For
Attendance Allowance helps cover the extra costs of personal care for people over state pension age who have difficulty with everyday tasks. It is designed to help with:
- Getting in and out of bed
- Washing and bathing
- Dressing and undressing
- Eating and drinking
- Using the toilet
- Managing medication
Unlike PIP (Personal Independence Payment), Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility costs. It is specifically for help with personal care tasks.
Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance
To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, you must meet the following criteria:
- Age: You are over state pension age (currently 66 for both men and women)
- Condition duration: Your health condition or disability has lasted for at least 6 months and is expected to continue for at least 6 months (unless you are terminally ill)
- Condition impact: You need help with personal care tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, or getting around your home
- Residence: You live in Great Britain (England, Scotland, or Wales) — there are different rules for Northern Ireland
What counts as needing help
You do not need to have a carer to claim Attendance Allowance. You can claim if:
- You need help from another person with personal care tasks
- You cannot do these tasks safely without supervision
- It takes you much longer to do these tasks than someone without your condition
- You cannot do these tasks at all
Terminal illness
If you are terminally ill and your doctor has told you that you have 12 months or less to live, you will automatically qualify for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance Rates (2026/27)
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance, depending on how much help you need:
| Rate | Weekly amount | Monthly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £72.65 | £314.83 |
| Higher rate | £108.55 | £470.51 |
Lower rate
The lower rate is for people who need:
- Frequent help or supervision throughout the day or
- Frequent help or supervision throughout the night
This rate is suitable for people who need some help with personal care but can manage most tasks independently.
Higher rate
The higher rate is for people who need:
- Frequent help or supervision throughout both day and night or
- A terminally ill person (with 12 months or less to live)
This rate is for people who need significant help with personal care tasks on a regular basis.
Example payments
- Lower rate: £72.65 per week (approximately £314.83 per month)
- Higher rate: £108.55 per week (approximately £470.51 per month)
Payments are usually made every four weeks directly into your bank or building society account.
How to Apply
Step 1: Get the claim form
You can request a claim form by:
- Phone: 0800 731 0121 (freephone)
- Textphone: 0800 731 0122
- Relay UK: 18001 0800 731 0121
The DWP will send you a claim form to complete. You can also download the form from GOV.UK.
Step 2: Complete the form
The claim form asks about your health condition and how it affects your daily life. You will need to describe:
- Your condition and how long you have had it
- How it affects your ability to do everyday tasks
- What help you need and how often
- Any aids or equipment you use (walking sticks, raised toilet seats, etc.)
You have one calendar month to return the form. You can request an extension if you need more time.
Step 3: Decision
After the DWP receives your form, they will make a decision. This usually takes up to 6 weeks from when you first contacted them.
There is no assessment — the decision is based on the information you provide in the form.
Award length
Attendance Allowance awards can be:
- Fixed-term: Usually 2-5 years, depending on your condition
- Indefinite: For conditions that are unlikely to improve
If your condition worsens, you can request a reassessment to see if you qualify for a higher rate.
What Attendance Allowance Covers
Attendance Allowance is specifically for help with personal care tasks. It covers:
- Help getting in and out of bed
- Help with washing, bathing, or showering
- Help dressing and undressing
- Help eating and drinking
- Help using the toilet
- Supervision to keep you safe during the day or night
What it does not cover
- Mobility costs: Attendance Allowance does not cover help with getting around outside your home. For mobility help, PIP (Personal Independence Payment) is more suitable, but you need to be under state pension age to claim PIP
- Transport costs: It does not cover transport to appointments or social activities
- Household tasks: It does not cover help with cooking, cleaning, or shopping
No Means Test
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. This means:
- Your income does not affect how much you receive
- Your savings do not affect how much you receive
- Your pension does not affect how much you receive
- Your partner’s income or savings do not affect your claim
You can receive Attendance Allowance regardless of how much money you have in the bank or how much your pension pays you.
Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit
If you receive Attendance Allowance, it can help increase the amount of Pension Credit you receive. Pension Credit is a means-tested benefit for people on low incomes over state pension age.
How it works
- Attendance Allowance is not counted as income for Pension Credit purposes
- This means you can receive both without one affecting the other
- However, Attendance Allowance can help you qualify for extra Pension Credit elements
If you are on a low income and receive Attendance Allowance, you may be eligible for:
- Guarantee Credit: Top-up your weekly income to a minimum level
- Savings Credit: Extra payment if you have savings or a small pension (for people who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016)
To claim Pension Credit, call 0800 99 1234 or apply online at GOV.UK.
Tips for Applying
Describe your worst days
The DWP assesses you based on how your condition affects you most days, not just your best days. If you have good days and bad days, describe your worst days.
Use specific examples
Instead of saying “I struggle with washing,” give specific examples:
- “I cannot get in and out of the bath safely — I have fallen twice in the last month”
- “I need my daughter to stand in the bathroom while I wash because I might slip”
- “It takes me 45 minutes to get dressed because of my arthritis”
Mention aids and equipment
If you use aids such as:
- Walking sticks or frames
- Raised toilet seats
- Grab rails
- Bath seats
- Medication reminders
These can support your claim and show you need help.
Get help
If you need help completing the form, you can contact:
- Citizens Advice: They can help you understand the form and what information to include. Visit citizensadvice.org.uk or call 0800 144 8444
- Age UK: They provide advice and support for older people. Visit ageuk.org.uk or call 0800 678 1602
- Local council: Your local council may have a welfare rights team that can help
Gather supporting evidence
Get letters from your GP, consultant, or other healthcare professionals that confirm your condition and how it affects you. This evidence can support your application.
Be honest
Do not exaggerate your difficulties, but do not downplay them either. The DWP can check information and may ask for additional evidence.
Attendance Allowance and Other Benefits
PIP and Attendance Allowance
You cannot receive PIP and Attendance Allowance at the same time. If you are over state pension age and were already receiving PIP, your PIP will continue until a scheduled reassessment. At that point, you may be invited to apply for Attendance Allowance instead.
Carer’s Allowance
If someone cares for you for 35 hours or more per week, they may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. However, the carer must not be earning more than £151 per week (after deductions). If you receive Attendance Allowance, this can help the carer qualify for Carer’s Allowance.
Council Tax reduction
You may be eligible for a council tax discount or exemption if you have a disability. Your local council can provide more information about what is available.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not describing your worst days: Only describing your best days will lead to a lower score
- Being too vague: Give specific, concrete examples of how your condition affects you
- Forgetting to mention aids: If you use walking sticks, grab rails, or other aids, mention them — they can support your claim
- Not getting help: Citizens Advice and Age UK can help you complete your form correctly
- Missing deadlines: Return your form on time and request an extension if you need more time
Summary
Attendance Allowance is a valuable benefit for people over state pension age who need help with personal care. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect how much you receive. If you think you may be eligible, contact the DWP to request a claim form. Remember to describe your worst days, give specific examples, and get help from Citizens Advice or Age UK if you need it.