Attendance Allowance Calculator

Attendance Allowance is one of the most under-claimed benefits in the UK — worth up to £114.60 a week, tax-free, and it doesn't matter what you earn or have saved. This free tool checks if you (or an older relative) could qualify in about 30 seconds. It all runs on your device; nothing is saved.

How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026?

Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates: £76.70 a week if you need help during the day or during the night, and £114.60 a week if you need help both day and night (or you're terminally ill). That's roughly £3,988 or £5,959 a year, tax-free.

Who can claim Attendance Allowance?

• You're over State Pension age (66+). Under 66, the equivalent is PIP.
• You have a physical or mental health condition or disability and need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe.
• You've needed that help for at least 6 months — unless you're terminally ill, when you can claim straight away.

What else can you get if you receive Attendance Allowance?

Getting Attendance Allowance can increase other benefits you receive — extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction — because it can trigger a "severe disability" addition. It can also help a family member claim Carer's Allowance for looking after you.

Is there an Attendance Allowance points calculator?

A lot of people arrive here looking for an "Attendance Allowance points calculator". There isn't one, and that matters, because searching for a score you cannot find is a common reason people give up before applying.

Personal Independence Payment is scored. PIP uses descriptors and points, and thresholds decide the rate. Attendance Allowance is not. There are no points, no descriptors and no total to reach. A decision maker reads how your condition affects you day to day and decides which of two rates fits — or neither.

That is why the form is long and asks you to describe ordinary days. It is not a test you can revise for. The single most useful thing you can do is describe your worst days honestly rather than your best ones, and say how long tasks take and how often you need help.

Is Attendance Allowance taxable?

No. GOV.UK lists Attendance Allowance first among the state benefits you do not have to pay Income Tax on. It does not count as taxable income, it does not use up your Personal Allowance, and it does not need to go on a tax return.

It is also not means-tested. In GOV.UK's own words: "Attendance Allowance is not means-tested — what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get." There is no savings limit, no income limit, and owning your home is irrelevant.

Can you get Attendance Allowance in Scotland?

Attendance Allowance has been replaced in Scotland. GOV.UK is explicit: "If you live in Scotland — You will need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance."

It is administered by Social Security Scotland, not the DWP. Most guides do not mention this at all, so Scottish readers work through an application for a payment they cannot claim.

What are the pitfalls of Attendance Allowance?

• It does not cover mobility. GOV.UK says so plainly. If your main difficulty is getting around rather than personal care, Attendance Allowance is the wrong payment and you may be looking for a different one.
• You cannot hold it alongside PIP, DLA or ADP. If you already get one of those, you are not eligible for Attendance Allowance as well.
• Care homes. You usually cannot claim if you live in a care home and the local authority pays for your care. If you pay all your own care home fees, you can still claim — and a great many self-funders do not realise it.
• The six-month rule. You must have needed the help for at least six months before you qualify. The exception is if you are nearing the end of life, when you can claim immediately and at the higher rate.
• An assessment is not routine. GOV.UK: "You'll only need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility if it's unclear how your disability or health condition affects you." Most people are decided on the form alone.

Do you need a doctor's letter?

No — a letter from your GP is not a requirement, and waiting for one delays a claim that is dated from when you ask for the form. What helps far more is detail: naming the professionals involved in your care, listing your medication, and describing what actually happens on a difficult day rather than summarising it.

What is Attendance Allowance worth in total?

GOV.UK states you "could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction" once Attendance Allowance is in payment. Two knock-on effects are worth stating in full:

• It can trigger the severe disability addition to Pension Credit — £86.05 a week, which is more than the lower rate of Attendance Allowance itself.
• It can let someone who looks after you claim Carer's Allowance, which they could not claim otherwise.

So the real value of a successful claim is often two or three times the weekly rate on this page.

Common questions

Every figure on this page is checked against its official source automatically. The £76.70 and £114.60 rates come from GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance: what you'll get, and were last verified on 10 September 2026. If GOV.UK changes a rate, a check on our side fails and we are told.

This is a free estimate to help you decide whether to make a claim — not an offer or a guarantee, and not financial advice. Rules, rates and thresholds change. Always confirm your exact entitlement with the official source before acting.