People receiving Attendance Allowance could be eligible for a £151 increase to their monthly payments. The benefit is for those of State Pension age who need help with the cost of a disability or health condition and require assistance looking after themselves.
Attendance Allowance is payable at State Pension age, currently 66 and rising to 67 by 2028, or older. The cash boost aims to help people remain independent and in their own homes for longer. It is paid at a lower and higher rate, depending on an individual's needs.
Moving from lower to higher rate
Some claimants whose health may have worsened or who have experienced more health issues since their initial award might need to contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to let them know about any changes in circumstances. This may lead claimants to move from the lower Attendance Allowance rate to the higher.
In 2026, the lower rate is set at £76.70 per week. This rate is for people who need supervision during the day or night. The higher rate of £114.60 per week is for those who need help throughout the day and night or for people nearing the end of their lives.
If someone moves from the lower rate to the higher rate, their payments would rise to £114.60. Paid every four weeks, the total monthly rate in such cases would increase by £151.60, from £306.80 to £458.40.
When to contact the DWP
The DWP says claimants must ring the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 if there is a change in their circumstances. A claimant must contact the helpline straight away if any of the following apply:
- The level of help he or she needs or his or her condition changes - this includes if the amount of times help is needed each day has changed
- He or she goes into hospital or a care home - an address will need to be provided, the dates of the stay and how it is paid for
- A medical professional has said he or she might have 12 months or less to live (Attendance Allowance could be granted at a higher rate under 'special rules for end of life')
- He or she plans to leave the country for more than four weeks
- He or she goes into prison
- He or she changes his or her name, address or bank details
- He or she wants to stop receiving the benefit
- His or her doctor’s details change
- His or her immigration status changes, for those who are not British citizens
If a claimant goes into a care home for more than four weeks, this will need to be reported if there is a change to the way their care home fees are funded, if they were staying in the care home temporarily and then became a permanent resident, or if they move to another care home or go into hospital.
Be warned that if someone is paid too much they may have to repay the money.
Eligibility and other benefits
Attendance Allowance is not a means-tested benefit, which means current savings or income will not affect a claim or impact other benefits received. In fact, it could help people qualify for other benefits, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or council tax reduction.
Claimants should be over the State Pension age (66) and have a disability or illness. This includes a wide range of conditions, including learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairments, mobility issues such as arthritis, or mental health issues such as dementia.
It must be clear claimants could benefit from help with personal care. Claimants must have needed help for at least six months, but those who are terminally ill can claim the benefit straight away. People don’t need to have had a diagnosis for their condition to apply for Attendance Allowance.
However, the benefit cannot be claimed if a person already gets Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
To claim, people need to fill out an Attendance Allowance form, clearly detailing the help they require as well as the help they don't. A form can be picked up by either calling the helpline on 0800 731 0122 or downloading it from the Government website.
