Attendance Allowance Eligibility Guide 2026

What Is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free, non-means-tested welfare benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental disability or health condition. The two things that decide Attendance Allowance eligibility are simple: you must be over State Pension age (66), and you must need help looking after yourself or supervision to stay safe. It pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27 depending on how much care you need.

Unlike PIP (which applies to working-age adults), Attendance Allowance is specifically designed for older people who develop care needs in later life. It is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the UK — the DWP estimates that hundreds of thousands of eligible people are not receiving the support they are entitled to.

Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs directly. There is no mobility component in AA, though receiving AA can act as a gateway to other benefits that may help with transport and mobility costs.

Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27 — How Much You'll Get

There are two Attendance Allowance rates. Which one you get depends on whether you need help during the day, at night, or both. The figures below are the current 2026/27 rates, uprated by 3.8% in April 2026 in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

Attendance Allowance is paid every four weeks directly into your bank account. It is uprated annually in April in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI). The benefit is completely tax-free and does not count as income for tax purposes. Figures verified against GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance: what you'll get.

Who Qualifies for Attendance Allowance? (Eligibility)

Attendance Allowance eligibility comes down to your age and your care needs — not your diagnosis, savings or income. To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you must meet all of the following conditions:

• Have reached State Pension age (currently 66 for both men and women)
• Have a physical or mental disability or health condition (including dementia, arthritis, heart conditions, Parkinson's disease, visual impairment, mental health conditions and many more)
• Need help with personal care or supervision because of your condition
• Have needed that level of help for at least 6 months (terminal illness claimants are exempt)
• Be living in England, Scotland or Wales (Northern Ireland has a separate equivalent benefit)

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. It does not matter how much money you have in savings, what your income is, or whether you own property. People who are comfortably off in retirement are just as entitled to claim as those on low incomes, provided they meet the care need criteria.

What Counts as Personal Care?

Personal care means help with activities relating to your own body and daily hygiene needs. The DWP considers whether you need help with:

• Washing and bathing — getting in and out of the bath or shower, washing your hair, managing your personal hygiene
• Dressing and undressing — including putting on and taking off compression stockings, managing fasteners or buttons
• Getting in and out of bed — including turning over in bed or repositioning to prevent pressure sores
• Going to the toilet — managing continence, using a commode, dealing with incontinence products
• Eating and drinking — preparing food or being helped to eat and drink
• Taking medication — prompting, preparing or administering medication safely
• Moving around indoors — while moving around the home is not assessed as a separate activity, care associated with mobility indoors (e.g. help to walk to the bathroom) can count

The key question is whether you need help to carry out these activities safely, to an adequate standard and in a reasonable time. If completing an activity takes you far longer than it would a non-disabled person, or causes significant pain, fatigue or risk of harm, you may meet the criteria even if you can technically perform the task.

What Counts as Supervision?

Supervision is different from personal care. You may qualify for Attendance Allowance based on supervision needs alone, even if you do not need hands-on physical assistance. Supervision covers situations where someone needs to be present to:

• Prevent falls or accidents due to balance problems, dizziness or weakness
• Manage risks from confusion or disorientation (common in dementia)
• Respond to medical emergencies such as epileptic seizures, severe hypoglycaemia (diabetes), angina attacks or breathing difficulties
• Provide guidance or prompting for people with cognitive difficulties, mental health conditions or learning disabilities
• Prevent self-harm or harm to others in severe mental health conditions

Supervision at night is particularly relevant for the higher rate. If someone needs to check on you, reposition you, assist with toilet trips or respond to episodes during the night, you may qualify for higher rate AA. The supervision does not need to be continuous — the key is that someone needs to be available and on-call.

How to Claim Attendance Allowance

1. Get the AA1 form. Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm) to request the form, or download it from GOV.UK. You can also ask Age UK, Citizens Advice or a welfare rights service for help.
2. Complete the form carefully. Take your time. Describe how your condition affects you on your worst and most typical days — not your best. Be specific and do not understate your difficulties. Many claims are refused simply because claimants describe how they cope rather than what they genuinely struggle with.
3. Gather supporting evidence. A letter from your GP, specialist, district nurse, occupational therapist or social worker can significantly strengthen your claim. Ask your GP to write a supporting letter covering your diagnosis, treatment, functional limitations and prognosis.
4. Return the form by recorded post to the address given on the form. Keep a copy for your records.
5. Wait for a decision. DWP aims to decide within 6–8 weeks. Some claims are decided on paper without a face-to-face assessment. Payment is backdated to the date DWP received your completed form.

Terminal Illness and Attendance Allowance

If you have a terminal illness and are not expected to live more than 12 months, you can claim Attendance Allowance under Special Rules for Terminal Illness (SRTI). Under SRTI:

• Your claim is processed much more quickly — often within days
• You automatically receive the higher rate (£114.60/week in 2026/27) regardless of your actual care needs
• The normal 6-month qualifying period does not apply
• Your GP or specialist provides a form called an SR1 (formerly DS1500) confirming your prognosis

To claim under Special Rules, mention this when calling the helpline, or ask your GP or hospital consultant to complete the SR1 form. You do not have to be aware that your claim is being made under Special Rules — a family member or carer can make the claim on your behalf.

Care Homes and Attendance Allowance

Your entitlement to AA may be affected if you move into a care home or nursing home:

Local Authority Funded Care

If the local authority is funding or part-funding your care home place, Attendance Allowance will usually stop after 28 days in the care home. This is because the local authority is providing the care that AA is designed to help fund. Inform DWP as soon as you move into a care home — failure to do so can result in an overpayment which you will need to repay.

Self-Funded Care

If you are paying for your care home place entirely from your own funds (savings, pension, proceeds from property sale), you can continue to receive Attendance Allowance in a care home. AA can help contribute towards the cost of your care.

Hospital Stays

Attendance Allowance stops after 28 days in hospital on the NHS. It resumes when you are discharged.

How Attendance Allowance Affects Other Benefits

Receiving Attendance Allowance can unlock additional financial support:

Pension Credit

If you receive AA and also claim Pension Credit, you may qualify for an additional amount called the Severe Disability Premium — provided no one is claiming Carer's Allowance for looking after you and you live alone (or with someone who is also severely disabled). This can add £81.50/week to your Pension Credit entitlement. Check what you could get with our Pension Credit calculator.

Council Tax Reduction

Receiving AA can increase your council tax reduction entitlement through your local authority's scheme. The rules vary by council, so contact your local authority to check what you are entitled to, and try our Council Tax Reduction calculator to estimate your support.

Housing Benefit

AA can increase your Housing Benefit entitlement through the Severe Disability Premium (if applicable). Speak to your local council's benefits team.

Blue Badge

Receiving higher rate AA does not automatically qualify you for a Blue Badge, but having AA may support a Blue Badge application based on your mobility difficulties. Contact your local council's transport team.

For the Person Caring for You

If you receive Attendance Allowance — either rate — and someone provides care for you for 35 or more hours per week, that person may be entitled to Carer's Allowance of £86.45 per week (2026/27 rate). Receiving AA is one of the qualifying benefits that triggers Carer's Allowance eligibility for your carer.

Importantly, Carer's Allowance does not reduce your AA. Both payments can be received simultaneously. However, if your carer receives State Pension above the Carer's Allowance rate, they may receive what is called an "underlying entitlement" to Carer's Allowance, which still counts towards carer premiums in means-tested benefits.

Your carer should check their entitlement using our Carer's Allowance Calculator.

How to Use Your Attendance Allowance

There are no restrictions on how you spend your Attendance Allowance. Despite the name, you do not have to spend it on care or attendance services. It is intended to help you manage the extra costs of living with a disability or health condition, which might include:

• Paying for a home care worker or personal assistant
• Funding domestic help such as cleaning or gardening so you can manage your own care
• Taxi fares if you cannot use public transport
• Aids and equipment to help you manage at home
• Heating costs if you need to keep your home warmer due to your condition
• Prepared meals or other convenience services

You have complete freedom to spend the money as you see fit. Many people use it to maintain their independence, stay in their own home and avoid moving into residential care.

Frequently Asked Questions