Attendance Allowance.
A tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people of State Pension age who need help with personal care. It’s one of the most useful benefits for older people — and one of the most under-claimed. Here’s who qualifies, how much it pays, and how to fill in the form well.
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A benefit for the extra costs of needing help.
Attendance Allowance is available to anyone over State Pension age who needs daily help with personal care — washing, dressing or eating — because of an illness or disability. Crucially, you don’t have to be paying for that help already, and it’s entirely up to you what you spend the money on.
It isn’t means-tested, so your savings and income don’t come into it, and it doesn’t affect the other benefits you receive. Awards are based on your care needs, not on a specific diagnosis.
Two weekly rates, depending on your needs
The money you receive isn’t taxable. There are two rates, and which one you get depends on how much help you need:
Lower rate — £76.70 a week. For people who need help during the day or at night.
Higher rate — £114.60 a week. For people who need help during the day and at night, or who are terminally ill.
The eligibility criteria.
You can claim Attendance Allowance if you meet all four of the following. It’s not means-tested, and claiming won’t affect any other benefits you receive.
- 01
You’re over State Pension age. If you’re younger, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.
- 02
You have a disability, or a physical or mental illness — including sight or hearing impairments and conditions such as dementia.
- 03
You could benefit from help with personal care — getting washed or dressed — or supervision to keep you safe during the day or night. You don’t actually have to be receiving that help yet.
- 04
You’ve needed that help for at least six months. If you’re terminally ill, you can claim straight away under special rules.
Getting the form, and what you’ll need.
You can download the claim form from GOV.UK, or call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 to have one sent out. Before you start, it helps to have these to hand:
- 01
National Insurance number
- 02
GP name and surgery address
- 03
Details of your medication
- 04
Anyone else you've seen in the last year about your illness or disability
- 05
Your hospital record number, if you have one
- 06
Dates of any hospital stays, with contact details
Describe how your day is actually affected.
The single most important tip: focus on how your daily life is affected by your health, not on the illness or disability itself. Detail all the little daily tasks you struggle with — and don’t underestimate your needs. Describe the help you need on bad days as well as good ones.
Washing
Help getting in and out of the bath or shower, washing your hair, or shaving.
Using the toilet
Help getting to the toilet, managing incontinence, or changing bed sheets.
Dressing
Help getting dressed or undressed, including fastenings and shoes.
Mealtimes
Help with eating, drinking, preparing meals or managing in the kitchen.
Medication
Prompting or help with taking the right medicines at the right time.
Getting around indoors
Aids you rely on — a hoist, commode, raised toilet seat, bath rails, walking frame or special cutlery.
Communicating
Help to read post, or trouble hearing the doorbell or telephone.
Supervision
Risk of falling, or needing someone to keep an eye on you day or night.
One piece of a bigger picture.
Attendance Allowance is a helpful top-up, but it’s rarely the whole answer. For most families, paying for home care means combining it with pension income, savings, and — where it applies — local authority funding or NHS Continuing Healthcare. Our full funding guide walks through each route in turn.
We’re a private-pay business and not regulated to give financial advice, but we’re always happy to give you clear, factual orientation and point you toward advisers we’ve seen families work with successfully.
What people ask us about Attendance Allowance.
Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?
No. Attendance Allowance is paid regardless of your savings, investments or income — there’s no financial assessment. It’s also tax-free, and claiming it won’t reduce any other benefits you receive. In fact, being awarded it can sometimes increase other means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit or Housing Benefit.
Do I have to spend it on paid care?
No. It’s entirely up to you what you spend it on. The money is there to help with the extra costs of a disability or illness — that might be paid care, but it could equally go toward heating, taxis, ready meals or help around the home.
What's the difference between Attendance Allowance and PIP?
Both are non-means-tested disability benefits, but they’re for different age groups. Attendance Allowance is for people who’ve reached State Pension age; Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is for working-age adults. If you were already receiving PIP before reaching State Pension age, you can usually carry on with it rather than switch.
How long does a claim take?
Expect around 40 days for a decision, and any payment due is normally backdated to the date of your claim. If you’re terminally ill, special rules speed things up — ask your GP or consultant for a form DS1500.
Can someone help me fill in the form?
Yes, and it’s well worth it — the form is long and many people undersell their needs. Age UK, Independent Age and Citizens Advice all offer free help with claims. You must sign the form yourself unless someone holds lasting power of attorney for you.
Wondering how it all fits together?
Happy to talk through Attendance Allowance and the other ways families meet the cost of care. A short phone call is usually enough to point you in the right direction.
Mon–Fri 7:30am–5pm · Out of hours, leave a message and we’ll call back.
