Attendance Allowance: the benefit hundreds of thousands of older people miss

What Attendance Allowance is

Attendance Allowance is extra money for people over State Pension age who need help looking after themselves, or someone to keep an eye on them for safety, because of a physical or mental health condition. It is paid at two flat weekly rates, it is tax-free, and it is usually paid every four weeks — you do not have to account for how you spend it.

The key thing that surprises people: it is not means-tested. What you earn, what you have in savings and whether you own your home make no difference to whether you can get it. It is about your care and supervision needs, not your finances. Note that it does not cover mobility or getting around on its own — that is what other benefits are for.

The two rates, and who gets which

There are two rates for 2026/27. The lower rate of £76.70 a week is for people who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night. The higher rate of £114.60 a week is for people who need help or supervision throughout both the day and the night, or who are nearing the end of life.

You do not need to already have a carer, and you do not need to actually be receiving the help — the test is whether you reasonably need it. Someone who struggles to wash, dress, cook safely, take medication on time or move around the house without risk may qualify even if a partner or family currently manages without help.

The benefit hundreds of thousands miss

Attendance Allowance is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the country. Analysis by Policy in Practice estimated that more than 1.1 million pension-age households may be eligible but are not claiming, leaving around £5.2 billion a year unclaimed. Roughly 1.7 million people do receive it — so a very large group is still missing out.

People rule themselves out for the wrong reasons: they assume it is means-tested, they think they need a formal diagnosis, or they are put off by a long form. None of those should stop you checking — and, as below, an award can be worth far more than the weekly rate itself.

How the form is assessed, and why claims fail

In most cases there is no face-to-face assessment. The decision is made on what you write on the paper claim form, so how you describe your needs matters enormously. This is exactly where good claims go wrong.

The most common reason claims fail is that people play down their difficulties — they describe a good day, gloss over night-time needs, or forget to mention supervision and safety risks (falls, leaving the cooker on, getting confused). Age UK's guidance is to describe your worst days honestly and in detail: how long tasks take, how often you need help or prompting, and what could go wrong without it.

You do not have to do this alone. Age UK and Citizens Advice will help you fill in the form for free, and they know what the decision-maker is looking for.

The knock-on: it can unlock Pension Credit and Council Tax help

Attendance Allowance itself is not means-tested — but getting it can increase the means-tested help you can claim. An award can trigger or raise a Pension Credit payment (through the extra amount for severe disability), boost Housing Benefit if you rent, and increase your Council Tax Reduction. It can also help someone who cares for you for 35 hours a week or more to claim Carer's Allowance.

That is why even the lower rate is worth claiming: for many households the real value of an Attendance Allowance award is the door it opens to Pension Credit and its own gateway benefits — the Warm Home Discount, Cold Weather Payments and more.

How to claim

You can claim online or by post. The paper form comes with notes explaining how to fill it in, and you can request one from the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. An online claim starts from the day you apply; a posted claim starts from the day the DWP receives it, so it is worth getting it in without long delays.

If you live in Scotland, Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment, which works on the same principles and pays the same rates — apply through mygov.scot. Wherever you live, Age UK or Citizens Advice can help you apply for free.