Attendance Allowance is one of the most useful, and most under-claimed, benefits for older people who need help at home. If the person you care for is over State Pension age and struggling with everyday care, it is often the first thing worth claiming.
It is not means-tested, so savings and income make no difference, and it does not have to be spent on care. This guide covers who qualifies, what it pays, and the phone call that can start the claim from an earlier date.
- Who can claim, and the two payment rates
- The phone-first tip that can backdate your claim
- How to fill in the form, and where to get free help
- How it fits with other benefits and care funding
Who can claim Attendance Allowance
To qualify, the person usually needs to:
- Be over State Pension age (66 for most people)
- Have needed help with personal care or supervision for at least 6 months
- Have a physical or mental health condition, which includes things like dementia, arthritis, frailty or poor eyesight
- Normally live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland (Scotland works differently, see below)
They do not need to already have a carer, or actually be getting help. It is about the help they need, not the help they get, so people often qualify without realising. The 6-month wait is waived for anyone who is terminally ill, whose claim is fast-tracked.
The two rates, and which one applies
There are two weekly rates for 2026/27. Confirm the current figure on GOV.UK before you rely on it, as the rates change each April.
- Lower rate, £76.70 a week: help or supervision needed either during the day or at night.
- Higher rate, £114.60 a week: help or supervision needed both day and night, or the person is nearing the end of life.
It is paid straight into a bank account, usually every four weeks. It is tax-free, and it does not reduce the State Pension or Pension Credit.
The phone-first tip that can backdate your claim
This is the part most people miss. If you phone the Attendance Allowance helpline to ask for a claim form, the claim can start from the date of your call, as long as you send the completed form back within 6 weeks.
Download and post the form instead, and it only counts from the day it arrives. On the higher rate, that difference can be worth well over a hundred pounds.
The helpline is 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The full steps are on GOV.UK: how to claim.
How to fill in the form
The form is long, and how you describe things matters. A few rules that help:
- Describe a bad day, not a good one. Most people play down how much they struggle.
- Say how long tasks take, how often help is needed, and the risk if no one is there.
- Include night-time needs, and the help you already give even if it is not formal care.
- Get free help filling it in. Age UK and Citizens Advice do this with people every day.
How it fits with other help
Because it is not means-tested, Attendance Allowance sits alongside almost everything else. It does not count as income for tax, and claiming it can actually unlock more money, such as a higher rate of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or a Council Tax reduction.
It also plays into care funding. A council counts it when working out what you can afford towards care, so it is worth having in place early. My home care costs and savings thresholds and means testing guides show how the money fits together.
If someone spends at least 35 hours a week caring for the person, they may be able to claim Carer's Allowance as well, though that can interact with their own benefits, so it is worth checking first.
If you live in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland
This guide is written for England. Attendance Allowance works the same way in Wales and Northern Ireland.
In Scotland it has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, run by Social Security Scotland. It does the same job at the same weekly rates, so in Scotland you apply for that instead. Anyone who was already getting Attendance Allowance there has been moved across automatically.
Sources
The figures here were checked against the sources below. Rates and rules change each year, so confirm the current figure before you rely on it. Last reviewed: July 2026.
