Attendance Allowance: Who Qualifies, the Two Rates and Claiming

If an older parent needs help getting through the day, this is one of the first benefits to look at, and it's worth checking before you assume it depends on already having a carer. GOV.UK's Attendance Allowance guide is the source for everything below, with the two rates as GOV.UK shows them as of Nov 2026.

Attendance Allowance at a glance

Question	What GOV.UK says
What it helps with	Extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you
Weekly rates	76.70 pounds or 114.60 pounds
What sets your rate	The level of care you need because of your disability or health condition
Age	State Pension age or older
Conditions covered	A physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
Mobility needs	Not covered
Do you need a carer?	No
Scotland	Apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead

The two rates and what decides yours

GOV.UK says Attendance Allowance is paid at 2 different rates, and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability or health condition. The two weekly amounts are 76.70 pounds and 114.60 pounds, and they're paid to help with personal support.

Both of these must apply: you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition, and you're State Pension age or older. GOV.UK's guide has a 'What you'll get' section and an 'Eligibility' section that set out the detail of each rate, so read those before you fill in a claim.

You don't need a carer to claim it

This is the point worth knowing before anyone rules themselves out. GOV.UK says you don't have to have someone caring for you in order to claim Attendance Allowance. It's about the help you need, not whether anyone is giving it yet. Someone managing alone can still claim if their condition means they need that help.

If you do have a carer, GOV.UK says they could get Carer's Allowance if you have substantial caring needs. So one claim can open the door to support for two people in the same household or family.

What Attendance Allowance doesn't cover

GOV.UK is clear that Attendance Allowance doesn't cover mobility needs. It's for help with personal support because of a disability or health condition. If getting around is the main problem, it's worth looking at what other help GOV.UK lists for disabled people alongside it.

Extra Pension Credit and other knock-on help

Attendance Allowance can increase what you get from other support. GOV.UK says you could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance. That's a strong reason to claim even if the weekly amount looks modest on its own, and a reason to tell the offices that handle those other benefits once your award comes through.

If you're helping a parent plan their later years, this look at the outlook for defined contribution pensions and this guide to the best medical alert systems are useful reads alongside it.

How to claim Attendance Allowance

1. Check you're State Pension age or older and that you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition.
2. Read GOV.UK's 'What you'll get' and 'Eligibility' sections to see which of the two rates is likely to fit the care you need.
3. If you're nearing the end of life, for example because of a life-limiting illness, use the different way to claim that GOV.UK describes in its section on claiming if you're nearing the end of life.
4. Otherwise, follow GOV.UK's 'How to claim' section to make your claim.
5. Once you get it, check whether you can now get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.
6. Report any change in your circumstances through GOV.UK's 'Report a change in circumstances' section.

GOV.UK's guide is also available in Welsh, British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read format, which can help if you're claiming for or with a relative who needs it.

Claims from Scotland, and moving there

If you live in Scotland, GOV.UK says you'll need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance. If you get Attendance Allowance and move from England or Wales to Scotland, you must tell DWP that you've moved and make a new claim for Pension Age Disability Payment. Your Attendance Allowance will stop 13 weeks after you move, so GOV.UK says to apply as soon as possible.

If you're moving from Scotland to England or Wales and get Pension Age Disability Payment, you must report your move to Social Security Scotland and apply for Attendance Allowance as soon as you move, or your payments could be affected.

My advice on Attendance Allowance

If you, or a parent, are State Pension age or older and need help because of a disability or health condition, claim it through GOV.UK even if nobody is caring for you yet and even if the amount seems small. The bigger win is often what follows from it: extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, and Carer's Allowance for the person helping you.

Frequently asked questions

How much is Attendance Allowance?

GOV.UK says you could get 76.70 pounds or 114.60 pounds a week, depending on the level of care you need. Those are the rates GOV.UK shows as of Nov 2026.

Who can get Attendance Allowance?

People who are State Pension age or older with a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition severe enough that they need someone to help look after them.

Do I need a carer to claim Attendance Allowance?

No. GOV.UK says you don't have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.

Does Attendance Allowance cover mobility problems?

No. GOV.UK says it doesn't cover mobility needs.

Can Attendance Allowance increase my other benefits?

GOV.UK says you could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.

What do I claim in Scotland instead?

In Scotland you apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance.