Attendance Allowance

Page contents:

    Useful organisations Related articles

    What is Attendance Allowance?

    You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if your ability to keep safe or look after your own personal care is affected by physical or mental illness or disability and you are pension age or over when you first claim.

    You may be eligible if you:

    • have a physical or mental illness or disability;
    • need support or care; or
    • need to be supervised by someone else.

    Am I eligible for Attendance Allowance?

    Attendance Allowance does not depend on your National Insurance contributions and is not affected by your savings or income. There are two weekly rates, which depend on how your disability affects you.

    You can claim Attendance Allowance if you live alone or if you live with another person; what matters is that you need help, not whether you are getting help.

    There is no upper age limit for Attendance Allowance, but if you are aged under pension age you should apply for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) rather than Attendance Allowance.

    How much Attendance Allowance may I receive?

    Attendance Allowance has 2 weekly rates, and the rate you get depends on the help you need. You’ll get:

    • £68.10 if you need help in the day or at night
    • £101.75 if you need help both in the day and at night.

    These rates apply from April 2023 to April 2024.

    Claiming Attendance Allowance won’t reduce any other income you receive, and it’s also tax-free. If you’re awarded it, you may become entitled to other benefits or an increase in benefits, such as:

    For further information visit Attendance Allowance on Gov.UK.

    How do I apply for Attendance Allowance?

    Use the Attendance Allowance page and form on the Gov.UK website.

    If you have any queries about your existing claim contact the Disability Benefits Helpline or the Attendance Allowance helpline.

    Terminal illness

    For benefit purposes, you are regarded as ‘terminally ill’ if you have a progressive disease from which your death can reasonably be expected within a certain number of months. In April last year it was extended from 6 to 12 months for Universal Credit and ESA. From 3 April 2023, the 12 months was applied to Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance. This so called ‘extended fast-track access’ means those eligible are not subject to a face-to-face assessment, or waiting period, with the majority of individuals receiving the highest rate of those benefits.

    Where can I get benefits advice?

    You can get benefits advice from a local independent service. They can help guide you through the application process and explain how some benefits may impact upon another:

    Other Useful Information

    • Attendance Allowance Age UK factsheet
    • Money Helper provides online information on the full range of benefits that you may be entitled to. This also includes where to find more help and advice.
    • Payment Exception Service, previously named Simple Payment Service, was introduced as cheques are no longer used to pay state benefits and Pension credit. Information Now has more details on the service available to those unable to use bank accounts.
    • Which? Elderly Care  provide information on Attendance Allowance.
    • The Cinemas Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) Card helps to ensure cinemas make reasonable adjustments for you if you need them because of a disability. With the card you can claim a free ticket for a carer or person accompanying you to the cinema. The card costs £6 . You can apply if you receive Disability Living Allowance; Attendance Allowance; Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment or are registered as blind.
    • Turn2us helps people in financial need gain access to welfare benefits, charitable grants and other financial help – online, by phone and face to face through partner organisations.

    Last updated: May 19, 2023