Attendance Allowance is one of the most underclaimed benefits in the UK. It pays up to around £110 a week — roughly £5,700 a year — to people over State Pension age who need help looking after themselves because of an illness or disability. Charities estimate well over a million eligible people don't claim it, often because they think they're "not disabled enough" or that their savings rule them out.
They don't. It isn't means-tested, it's tax-free, and it doesn't matter how much you have in the bank or what your pension is. If you've reached 66 and a health condition makes daily life harder, this guide is for you (or for someone you love).
Quick facts
- Worth
- Around £73.90 (lower) or £110.40 (higher) a week
- Who
- Over State Pension age (66) with a physical or mental health condition needing care or supervision
- Means-tested?
- No — savings, income and pension don't affect it
- Taxable?
- No — it's tax-free
- Bonus
- Can unlock extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit & Council Tax help
Do you qualify?
You can claim Attendance Allowance if you:
- Are State Pension age (66) or over.
- Have a physical disability, mental health condition, learning disability or long-term illness.
- Have needed help or supervision for at least six months (this is waived if you're terminally ill — those claims are fast-tracked).
The key word is need — not whether you actually get help. You qualify based on the help you need, even if a family member currently provides it for free, or you struggle on alone. "Help" is broader than people assume: needing someone nearby in case you fall, help washing or dressing, trouble getting in and out of bed, needing reminders to take medication, or needing supervision to stay safe all count.
The two rates
There are two weekly rates (the exact figures are reviewed each April — check the current amount on GOV.UK):
- Lower rate (around £73.90/week): you need help or supervision during the day or at night.
- Higher rate (around £110.40/week): you need help or supervision during the day and night, or you're terminally ill.
It's paid every four weeks, straight into your bank account.
The hidden bonus: it unlocks more
This is the part people miss. Getting Attendance Allowance can increase other benefits you're already on — or qualify you for ones you weren't. It can boost your Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction, because it adds a "severe disability" element to the calculation. So one successful claim can quietly raise several payments at once.
How to apply — step by step
Note the date you request it
If you call for a form, your claim can be backdated to the date you first got in touch — so the clock starts then, not when you post it. Don't lose that head start.
Describe a bad day, not a good one
The form asks how your condition affects you. People undersell themselves. Write about your worst days, how long tasks take, what's unsafe, and the help you need even if no one gives it. Detail wins claims.
Get free help if you want it
Age UK, Citizens Advice and local welfare-rights services will help you fill the form in for free. It genuinely improves success rates — there's no shame in asking.
Send it and wait
Post the completed form to the address on it. Decisions typically take a few weeks. If you're refused and you believe you qualify, you can ask for a "mandatory reconsideration" — many refusals are overturned.
Common questions
I have savings / a decent pension. Am I ruled out?
Nobody actually helps me — can I still claim?
Will it affect my State Pension or other benefits?
I'm under 66 — is there an equivalent?
Check the official sources
This guide is general information, not financial, medical or benefits advice. Rates and conditions change each year — always confirm the current details on GOV.UK before you claim.
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