Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability, illness or health condition.
It is based on the care or supervision you need, rather than simply the name of your medical condition. You do not have to be receiving professional care to qualify.
The amount you receive depends on the level of help you need.
What Is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who have care or supervision needs because of a physical or mental disability or health condition.
It can help with the additional costs associated with needing care or supervision. You do not have to spend the money specifically on a carer or care service.
For example, someone might use it towards help around the home, transport, household costs or equipment that helps them manage everyday life.
Attendance Allowance is separate from a care needs assessment. A care needs assessment looks at what care and support a person may need, while Attendance Allowance is a benefit with its own eligibility rules.
How Much Is Attendance Allowance?
There are two Attendance Allowance rates for 2026/27.
| Rate | Weekly amount | When it may apply |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 | You need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night |
| Higher rate | £114.60 | You need help or supervision during both the day and night, or you are nearing the end of life under the relevant rules |
Attendance Allowance is normally paid weekly, although payments can be made at different intervals depending on the arrangement.
The rates can change, so check the latest GOV.UK information before relying on figures when making a claim.
Is Attendance Allowance Means-Tested?
No. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested.
This means your income and savings do not determine whether you can receive the benefit.
However, receiving Attendance Allowance does not mean that every other benefit or care cost will automatically be covered. Other benefits and care funding arrangements have their own rules.
If you are considering how different sources of funding may affect care costs, it is important to look at the wider picture rather than treating Attendance Allowance as a payment specifically for care-home fees.
Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance?
You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if:
- You have reached State Pension age.
- You have a physical or mental disability, illness or health condition.
- You need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe.
- You have needed this help for at least six months, unless special rules for people nearing the end of life apply.
- You meet the other eligibility conditions set by the Department for Work and Pensions.
You do not qualify simply because you have a particular diagnosis.
Two people with the same condition could have different care needs, meaning one may qualify while the other may not.
The important question is how your condition affects your everyday life and the help or supervision you need.
What Medical Conditions Qualify for Attendance Allowance?
There is no fixed list of medical conditions that automatically qualifies someone for Attendance Allowance.
The assessment focuses on your care and supervision needs.
For example, you may need help with:
- Washing or bathing
- Getting dressed
- Eating or drinking
- Using the toilet
- Taking medication
- Moving around safely
- Communicating
- Managing personal care
- Staying safe because of confusion or another health condition
You may also need supervision because there is a risk that you could harm yourself or someone else, become confused or be unable to manage safely without another person nearby.
It is the help or supervision you need that matters, rather than whether someone is currently providing all of that help.
What Are Daytime and Night-Time Care Needs?
Your care needs can occur during the day, at night or at both times.
Daytime care needs
You may have daytime care needs if you frequently need help with personal care or require regular supervision to stay safe.
This could include help with washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet or moving around safely.
Night-time care needs
Night-time needs can include requiring frequent or prolonged help during the night or needing someone to stay awake or check on you regularly.
The level of help required can affect which rate of Attendance Allowance you may receive.
How Do You Claim Attendance Allowance?
You normally need to complete an Attendance Allowance claim form.
When completing the form, focus on what you struggle with and what help or supervision you need, rather than simply listing your medical conditions.
For example, instead of writing that you have arthritis, explain whether it means you need help getting dressed, bathing, using the toilet or moving around your home.
It can help to make notes before completing the form, including:
- What personal care tasks you need help with
- How often you need help
- Whether you need supervision
- What happens on difficult days
- What help you need during the night
- Whether your needs vary from day to day
- Any safety concerns
- How your condition affects your normal routine
You can also provide relevant supporting information where appropriate.
The official GOV.UK guidance explains how to obtain and submit an Attendance Allowance claim.
What Happens After You Apply?
After you submit your claim, the Department for Work and Pensions may contact you if it needs more information.
In some cases, you may be asked to attend an assessment or provide further evidence about your needs.
You will receive a decision explaining whether you qualify, the rate you will receive and when the award starts.
If your circumstances later change, you should report the change because it could affect the rate you receive.
If you disagree with a decision, there are processes available for challenging it.
Is Attendance Allowance Taxable?
No. Attendance Allowance is not taxable.
It is also not means-tested, so your income and savings do not normally affect your entitlement.
However, receiving Attendance Allowance can sometimes affect entitlement to other forms of support or help you qualify for additional amounts, so it is worth checking your wider circumstances rather than looking at the benefit in isolation.
What Can Attendance Allowance Be Used For?
There is no requirement to spend Attendance Allowance specifically on a professional carer.
The money can be used according to your own circumstances and needs.
For example, someone may choose to use it towards:
- Help around the home
- Transport costs
- Equipment
- Meal deliveries
- Household expenses
- Other costs associated with managing a disability or health condition
The important distinction is that Attendance Allowance is a benefit, not a care package. Receiving it does not automatically arrange care for you.
If you need help understanding what care and support someone may require, a separate care needs assessment may be appropriate.
Landona House Care Group has a guide explaining care needs assessments and what they can consider when someone’s ability to manage everyday life changes.
Does Attendance Allowance Pay for Care Home Fees?
Attendance Allowance can form part of someone’s wider financial circumstances when they are planning for care, but it should not be treated as a guarantee that care-home fees will be covered.
Care funding depends on the person’s circumstances, the type of care required and the relevant funding rules.
If you are considering a care home, it is useful to understand the difference between care needs and care funding. A care needs assessment looks at what support someone requires, while a financial assessment looks at how care may be paid for.
Landona’s guide to care home funding explains the main areas families may need to consider when looking at care costs in England.
Common Attendance Allowance Pitfalls
One of the biggest mistakes when applying is focusing only on the diagnosis rather than explaining the actual help or supervision required.
Other common problems include:
- Underestimating how much help is needed
- Describing only your better days
- Leaving out night-time needs
- Giving general descriptions instead of practical examples
- Assuming you cannot claim because someone else already helps you
- Assuming you need to employ a carer to qualify
- Treating the benefit as a payment that must be spent on professional care
Your application should give an accurate picture of your typical care and supervision needs.
The Important Difference Between the Benefit and Your Care Needs
Attendance Allowance can provide useful financial support for people who have qualifying care or supervision needs, but it is only one part of planning for care.
If someone’s needs are increasing, the more important question may be what support they now require to remain safe, independent and well supported.
That could mean reviewing support at home, arranging additional help or considering residential or nursing care where appropriate.
The right option depends on the person’s individual needs. Attendance Allowance itself does not determine which type of care someone should receive.
FAQs: Attendance Allowance
Find answers to common questions below
Attendance Allowance is normally expressed as a weekly benefit rather than a fixed monthly amount. For 2026/27, the rates are £76.70 per week at the lower rate and £114.60 per week at the higher rate.
No. Eligibility is based on the help or supervision you need, not simply whether someone is already providing that support.
No. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so your savings and income do not normally determine whether you qualify.
You can choose how to use the money based on your circumstances. It is not restricted to paying a professional carer.
Your circumstances and how your care is funded can affect entitlement. If you live in a care home or are considering moving into one, check the current GOV.UK rules rather than assuming that living in a care home automatically stops or allows a claim.