Quick answer: Attendance Allowance 2026 pays £76.70 or £114.60 a week to people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision. It is tax-free and not means-tested, so savings and income do not matter. You can apply online or by post, and use the money however you choose, including for care at home.
Many older people in Suffolk go without this money simply because they don’t know they can claim it, or think their savings rule them out. This guide explains who qualifies, how to fill in the claim, and how families use Attendance Allowance to pay for help at home.
Attendance Allowance 2026 rates
There are two rates, and the one you get depends on how much help you need. These rates apply from April 2026 to April 2027, according to GOV.UK and the government’s 2026/27 benefit rates.
| Rate | Per week | Every 4 weeks | Per year | Who gets it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 | £306.80 | £3,988.40 | Help or supervision during the day, or supervision at night |
| Higher rate | £114.60 | £458.40 | £5,959.20 | Help or supervision day and night, or nearing the end of life |
The rates rose from £73.90 and £110.40 in 2025/26. Payment usually arrives every four weeks, straight into a bank or building society account.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people over State Pension age with a disability or health condition. It helps with the extra costs of needing care or supervision.
Three things make it different from most benefits:
- It is not means-tested. What you earn or have in savings does not affect it.
- It is tax-free, and it won’t reduce other benefits. It can even help you get more.
- You don’t need a carer to claim. It is based on the help you need, not the help you already get.
In Scotland, new claims are made for Pension Age Disability Payment instead.
Who can get Attendance Allowance?
You can usually get Attendance Allowance if all of these apply:
- You have reached State Pension age.
- You have a physical or mental disability or health condition, including sight or hearing loss, dementia or a learning disability.
- Your condition means you need help caring for yourself, or someone to supervise you to keep you or others safe.
- You have needed that help for at least 6 months.
- You live in Great Britain and have done for at least 2 of the last 3 years.
- You don’t already get PIP or Disability Living Allowance.
There is no list of qualifying conditions. Two people with the same diagnosis can get different results, because the DWP looks at how the condition affects daily life.
Lower or higher rate: what counts as day and night needs?
Age UK explains the difference simply. Daytime needs mean you need frequent help with things like washing, eating or using the toilet, or continual supervision to stay safe. Night-time needs mean you need care or someone watching over you, repeatedly or for long periods, during the night.
You get the lower rate for day or night needs, and the higher rate for both.
Examples of help that count
From our work with families in Haverhill, these are the everyday needs people most often forget to mention:
- Help getting in and out of bed, the bath or a chair
- Help washing, dressing, or doing up buttons and shoes
- Reminders to take medication, or help to take the right dose
- Help cutting food, or reminders to eat and drink
- Help using the toilet, or with continence
- Someone nearby because of falls, dizziness or unsteadiness
- Supervision because of confusion, memory loss or wandering
- Getting up in the night to use the toilet or because of pain
If any of these apply and have lasted six months, it is worth claiming.
How to claim Attendance Allowance
You can apply online or by post. Before you start, have these ready:
- National Insurance number
- Address and contact details
- Details of the condition and the help needed
- GP surgery details
- Details of any care home, hospital or hospice stay
Option 1: Apply online. Use the online Attendance Allowance service. Your claim starts on the day you apply.
Option 2: Call the helpline for a form. Phone the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Your claim starts on the date of your call, as long as you return the form within 6 weeks. This can mean extra weeks of backdated money.
Option 3: Print the form. Download the AA1 claim form and post it free to “Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance”, with no stamp or postcode. Your claim starts when the DWP receives it.
8 tips for filling in the Attendance Allowance form
Many claims are turned down because the form doesn’t show how the condition really affects daily life. Age UK says being unclear is one of the most common reasons. These tips help:
- Describe your worst days, not your best. If you struggle three days a week, say so.
- Say how long tasks take. “Dressing takes 40 minutes and I need help with socks and buttons” is stronger than “I manage slowly”.
- Include help you need but don’t get. The test is what you need, not what you receive.
- Mention every fall or near miss, with rough dates.
- Keep a one-week diary of help needed, day and night, and attach it.
- Attach evidence: GP or consultant letters, a prescription list, or a care plan.
- Ask someone who knows you well to add a statement.
- Get free help. Your local Age UK, Citizens Advice or the Independent Age helpline (0800 319 6789) can help you fill it in.
Claiming if someone is nearing the end of life
If a doctor or nurse has said someone may be nearing the end of life, there are special rules. The 6-month wait does not apply, claims are dealt with faster, and the higher rate of £114.60 is paid.
What happens after you apply?
Within 3 weeks you should get a text or letter telling you when to expect a decision. Most people are not asked to attend an assessment. One is only needed if it’s unclear how the condition affects you.
If you disagree with the decision, you can ask the DWP to look at it again. This is called mandatory reconsideration. Also, report any change in needs, as it could move you to the higher rate.
How to use Attendance Allowance for care at home
You can spend Attendance Allowance on whatever helps you stay independent. It doesn’t have to go on a carer. Families often use it for:
- A few hours of home care visits each week
- Companionship visits to reduce loneliness
- Respite care so a family carer can take a break
- Occasional night care after a hospital stay
- Equipment, a community alarm, taxis or meal deliveries
With home care in Suffolk costing around £25 to £35 an hour (see our guide to home care costs in Suffolk), the lower rate can pay for roughly 2 to 3 hours of care a week. The higher rate can cover roughly 3 to 4.5 hours.
Extra money Attendance Allowance can unlock
Getting Attendance Allowance can mean more money from other places. GOV.UK says you could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. A family member who cares for you for 35 hours or more a week may also be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.
Does Attendance Allowance affect council care charges in Suffolk?
It can. If Suffolk County Council arranges your home care, it carries out a financial assessment. The Suffolk 2026/27 charging guide lists the incomes it ignores for home care, and Attendance Allowance is not on that list. So it may be counted as income when working out your contribution.
This is why it pays to tell the council about all your disability-related costs. Suffolk allows at least £25 a week for these, and more if you show higher costs. Our guide to home care costs in Suffolk explains the full calculation.
What if I move into a care home?
You usually can’t get Attendance Allowance in a care home if the council pays for your place. If you pay all the care home fees yourself, you can still claim it.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026?
From April 2026 it is £76.70 a week at the lower rate and £114.60 a week at the higher rate.
Do savings affect Attendance Allowance?
No. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so your savings, pension and income make no difference.
Can I claim Attendance Allowance for dementia?
Yes, if dementia means you need help or supervision and has done for 6 months. It’s the care needs that matter, not the diagnosis.
How long does Attendance Allowance take?
Yes. You can apply online through GOV.UK, or by post using form AA1.
Do I have to spend Attendance Allowance on care?
No. You can use it for anything that helps, such as care visits, equipment, taxis or bills.
Can I get Attendance Allowance if I live alone?
Yes. You don’t need a carer to claim. It is based on the help you need.
Find out what care Attendance Allowance could pay for
Haverhill Home Care is a CQC-registered home care provider based at 36 Queen St, Haverhill, CB9 9EF. We support families across Haverhill, Suffolk and nearby Cambridgeshire and Essex villages.
Tell us a little about the help you need, and we’ll send you a personalised price with no obligation.
Fill in our care enquiry form to get your price, or call or WhatsApp 01440 268391.
