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Attendance Allowance · UK guide 2025

Could your parent be missing Attendance Allowance?

Last verified 13 Jul 2026 · Source DWP · Social Security Scotland · DfC (NI) · Age UK

DWP estimates around 700,000 UK over-65s who would qualify for Attendance Allowance don’t claim it. It’s worth between £3,988 and £5,959 a year, it’s tax-free, it doesn’t reduce State Pension or Pension Credit, and it isn’t means-tested. Here’s plain English on who qualifies and how to claim.

In Scotland? This benefit is now called Pension Age Disability Payment and comes from Social Security Scotland — same rates, different form. Read the Scotland section first →

£76.70Lower weekly rate (2026/27)
£114.60Higher weekly rate (2026/27)
~£5,959Higher rate yearly value
700k+UK pensioners missing it
How do I claim? → Open Caring for someone hub
Read this first if you live in Scotland

You cannot make a new Attendance Allowance claim in Scotland. It has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), delivered by Social Security Scotland. New claims have been open across the whole of Scotland since 22 April 2025.

The money is the same — £76.70 a week (lower rate) and £114.60 a week (higher rate). Everything on this page about who qualifies, the two rates, what it unlocks and how to describe your care needs still applies. Only the form and the office you send it to are different.

Already getting Attendance Allowance in Scotland? You do not need to do anything — existing DWP awards were transferred to Pension Age Disability Payment automatically. Apply on mygov.scot →

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Who is eligible?

You can claim Attendance Allowance if all four of these are true:

  • You are over State Pension age (currently 66 in the UK)
  • You have a physical or mental disability or illness — including dementia, arthritis, Parkinson's, COPD, sight or hearing loss, mental health conditions
  • You have needed help with personal care (washing, dressing, eating, going to the toilet, taking medication) or supervision (to keep yourself safe) for at least 6 months — terminally ill people can claim immediately under "Special Rules"
  • You are not in residential care being paid for by the local council
Crucially — you don't need an actual carer You qualify if you NEED help — even if no-one is currently providing it, or a family member is providing it unpaid. Many people miss this. The test is the need, not the helper.

The two rates

Lower rate — £76.70 a week (£3,988/yr)

You need help OR supervision either during the day OR at night.

Higher rate — £114.60 a week (£5,959/yr)

You need help OR supervision both during the day AND at night. Or you are terminally ill (a doctor or nurse confirms life expectancy may be 12 months or less).

Both rates are paid every 4 weeks straight into a bank account. The money is tax-free and you can spend it on anything — it does not have to be spent on care.

What Attendance Allowance unlocks

Like Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance is a "gateway" to extra support:

  • Pension Credit — receiving Attendance Allowance can increase the amount of Pension Credit you get
  • Council Tax Reduction — many councils give a discount once you're on Attendance Allowance
  • Carer's Allowance for whoever cares for you (currently £86.45/week if they care for 35+ hours)
  • Severely Disabled premium on Housing Benefit if you rent
  • Blue Badge for parking (in many councils, automatic eligibility on higher rate)

How to claim

Where you live decides which office you claim from. The money and the care test are the same either way.

If you live in Scotland — Pension Age Disability Payment

Claim it now — free · Social Security Scotland
Apply on mygov.scot →

Apply online, by phone or on paper through Social Security Scotland — not the DWP. Same rates: £76.70 or £114.60 a week. If you already get Attendance Allowance from the DWP, your award was moved across automatically and there is nothing to reapply for.

If you live in Northern Ireland — Attendance Allowance, but not from the DWP

Read this first if you live in Northern Ireland Attendance Allowance exists in Northern Ireland at the same rates (£76.70 / £114.60 a week), but it is run by the Department for Communities — the Disability and Carers Service — not the DWP. Claim through nidirect; enquiries and claim forms: 0800 587 0912 (Mon–Fri 9am–4pm). The GOV.UK claim and the DWP number below are for England and Wales. Free form help: Age UK NI, Advice NI or Citizens Advice.

If you live in England or Wales — Attendance Allowance from the DWP

Claim it now — free · DWP
📞 Call 0800 731 0122 Get form AA1 on GOV.UK →

Have ready: details of the help you need with personal care or supervision, and how often — describe a bad day, not a good day.

  1. Call the helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Mon-Fri 8am-6pm) and ask them to send form AA1 in the post.
  2. Or download form AA1 from gov.uk/attendance-allowance.
  3. Fill in the form carefully. It is long (~30 pages) and asks detailed questions about what help is needed and how often. Don't underplay it — describe a bad day, not a good day.
  4. Post the form to the address on the back. The DWP usually replies in 6-8 weeks.
Free help filling in the form Age UK on 0800 678 1602 and your local Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) both run free home visits to help fill in form AA1. These services dramatically increase the success rate.
Want Sorted to draft a Mandatory Reconsideration letter if it's refused? Open Letter Writer →

If your claim is refused

Around 40% of initial Attendance Allowance claims are refused but a high proportion of these succeed on Mandatory Reconsideration or Tribunal. You have one month from the decision date to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. If that's refused too, you have a further month to appeal to a Tribunal.

Sorted's letter decoder explains DWP decision letters in plain English, and the letter writer drafts a Mandatory Reconsideration.

Source verification Primary source (England & Wales): Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) · gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility. Framework: Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992 s.64. Confidence: High (rates) + Medium (eligibility).
Primary source (Northern Ireland): Department for Communities — Disability and Carers Service · communities-ni.gov.uk (page updated 15 Jun 2026) and nidirect. Attendance Allowance in NI is administered by DfC, not the DWP; enquiries 0800 587 0912. Confidence: High (claim route). Weekly rates in NI: check the current figure on nidirect.
Primary source (Scotland): Social Security Scotland — Pension Age Disability Payment · mygov.scot/pension-age-disability-payment and socialsecurity.gov.scot. PADP replaced Attendance Allowance for new claims across Scotland from 22 April 2025; existing DWP awards transferred automatically; rates match Attendance Allowance. Confidence: High.
Last verified 13 July 2026. Reviewed quarterly and at tax-year start.

Related guides: How to fill in the AA1 form · Challenge a benefit decision · Carer's Allowance · Pension Credit · Check what you can claim

Attendance Allowance — common questions

Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?

You can claim if you are over State Pension age, have a physical or mental disability or illness, and have needed help with personal care or supervision for at least 6 months. You do not need a carer to actually be helping you — needing the help is enough.

How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026?

Two rates: £76.70 a week (lower rate) if you need help during the day OR at night, and £114.60 a week (higher rate) if you need help during the day AND at night, or if you are terminally ill. That's £3,988 to £5,959 a year, tax-free.

Does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?

No. It does NOT reduce State Pension, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or any other benefit. It can actually INCREASE Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. It is not means-tested — your savings and income do not affect eligibility.

How do I claim Attendance Allowance?

In England and Wales, call the helpline free on 0800 731 0122 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm) to request form AA1, or download form AA1 from gov.uk/attendance-allowance and post it. In Northern Ireland it is run by the Department for Communities, not the DWP — claim through nidirect (Disability and Carers Service 0800 587 0912). In Scotland you claim Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland at mygov.scot instead. The form is long but Age UK (0800 678 1602) help free.

Can I claim Attendance Allowance in Scotland?

No — not as a new claim. Attendance Allowance has been replaced in Scotland by Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) from Social Security Scotland, open to new claims across Scotland since 22 April 2025. The rates are the same (£76.70 and £114.60 a week). Apply at mygov.scot. If you already had a DWP Attendance Allowance award, it was transferred automatically — you did not need to reapply.

Can someone with dementia claim Attendance Allowance?

Yes. Dementia is one of the most common reasons for a successful claim. The person may need supervision to stay safe, even if a family member rather than a paid carer is providing it. Alzheimer's Society (0333 150 3456) and Age UK both help with claims.

Sources: Attendance Allowance rates · GOV.UK Attendance Allowance. Take-up estimate · DWP Benefits take-up. Scotland (Pension Age Disability Payment) · mygov.scot and Social Security Scotland. Age UK Advice 0800 678 1602. Alzheimer's Society Dementia Connect 0333 150 3456. Last reviewed: 12 July 2026. SortedUK is independent — not a government service.

One calm check. Real money. For a parent or yourself.

Attendance Allowance may also unlock Pension Credit (£4,200/yr avg), Carer's Allowance for whoever helps you, Council Tax disregards and a Disabled Facilities Grant up to £30k. Sorted's free benefits checker also runs Pension Credit, Carer's Allowance and Council Tax Reduction. Free. Sourced to DWP + Age UK 0800 678 1602.

Run the benefits checker → Open Parent Care

What evidence you’ll need

You do not have to send medical evidence — the DWP can contact your GP. But a claim supported by evidence is decided faster and more accurately. Useful things to include:

The diary is the single most useful thing you can do. Fill it in for a week before you start the form, then transfer it across. Full detail on our guide to filling in the AA1 form.

Common mistakes to avoid

More claims are refused or awarded at the wrong rate because of how the form was completed than because the person did not qualify.

If a claim is refused, ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month — see how to challenge a benefit decision.

Where to find extra help

Free help with the form is available from Age UK, Citizens Advice and your council’s welfare rights team. Never pay a company to complete it for you. Our helpline directory lists verified numbers.

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