State pensioners can receive up to £114.60 per week through Attendance Allowance, a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on top of the state pension. The amount was increased by £218 a year from April 2026.
Who can claim Attendance Allowance?
The benefit is available to anyone of state pension age who needs help with personal care due to a disability or illness. There are two weekly rates: the lower rate of £76.70 for those who need help during the day or night, and the higher rate of £114.60 for those who need help both day and night or who are terminally ill.
According to Age UK, the payment is not means-tested or taxable, so savings and income do not affect eligibility. Claiming Attendance Allowance can also help access other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or council tax reduction.
Eligibility conditions
To qualify, claimants must be of state pension age and have any type of disability or physical or mental illness, including sight or hearing impairments and dementia. They must have needed help with personal care or supervision for at least six months, unless terminally ill, in which case claims can be made immediately.
On The Martin Lewis Money Show Live, Martin Lewis explained that a legal precedent from 1981 defines the kind of help that qualifies: bodily functions including breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, walking, sitting, sleeping, getting in or out of bed, dressing, undressing, and eliminating waste. He noted that Parkinson's, physical disabilities, dementia, and terminal illness are common qualifying conditions.
Applications can be made on someone else's behalf if they have Power of Attorney or are capable of understanding.
