Using Attendance Allowance to pay for home care

Attendance Allowance is a weekly benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of an illness or disability, and it can be used to pay for home care. From April 2026 it pays £76.70 a week at the lower rate or £114.60 at the higher rate. It isn’t means-tested, isn’t taxable, and you can spend it however you choose.

Local guide: West Sussex (Attendance Allowance eligibility: rates, savings, dementia and Pension Credit).

At a glance

• 2026/27 rates: lower £76.70 a week; higher £114.60 a week (DWP).
• For people of State Pension age who have needed help for at least six months (no wait under the special rules for end of life).
• Not means-tested and not taxable. Savings and income don’t affect it.
• You don’t need to have a carer, or to spend it on care. But it can fund a large part of a weekly home care package.
• It can unlock extra Pension Credit (a severe disability amount of £86.05 a week in 2026/27) and help for a family carer.

What is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non-means-tested disability benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. It’s for people who have reached State Pension age and need help or supervision because of a physical or mental disability, including conditions such as dementia, Parkinson’s, arthritis, sight loss or heart failure.

It’s based on the help you need, not the help you actually get. You can live alone with no carer and still qualify.

Who is eligible?

According to Age UK (Factsheet 34, May 2026), you must:

• be at least State Pension age;
• have needed help for at least six months (unless you’re claiming under the special rules for end of life);
• have been present in Great Britain for at least 104 of the last 156 weeks, and be habitually resident in the UK, with some exceptions;
• not be subject to immigration control.

Under State Pension age, the equivalent benefit is the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which pays the same weekly amounts.

How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026?

AA is normally paid every four weeks. Rates are from the DWP’s 2026/27 benefit and pension rates.

What counts as “day” and “night” needs?

• Day: frequent attention throughout the day with bodily functions (such as washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet), or continual supervision to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others.
• Night: prolonged or repeated attention during the night, or someone needing to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals to watch over you.

(Age UK Factsheet 34, May 2026.)

How far does Attendance Allowance go towards home care?

As of 2026, visiting home care in England typically costs about £32–£34 an hour; the Lottie Care Index for Q3 2026 puts the median at £33.49, and many agencies charge £26–£38. Rates vary by region, so always get a written quote.

That might mean, for example, a one-hour visit three days a week, or a daily 30-minute morning call. Many families use AA to top up council-funded care, pay for extra visits, or cover companionship and home help. See how many hours of home care someone needs and our home care cost calculator.

How does Attendance Allowance affect council care charges?

If the council arranges and funds your care, it will carry out a financial assessment. AA is counted as income in that means test (Age UK Factsheets 34 and 46, 2026). But there are important protections:

• Disability-related expenditure: the council must allow for reasonable extra costs caused by disability that it isn’t meeting, such as extra heating, laundry or equipment.
• Night-time element: if you get the higher rate because of night-time needs, but the council isn’t providing any night care, councils have discretion to disregard the difference between the higher and lower rates (£37.90 a week in 2026/27). Ask whether your council does this.
• Minimum Income Guarantee: you must be left with at least £241.45 a week (single, over Pension Credit age, 2026/27) after charges.

Our guide to the home care means test explains the full calculation.

If you pay for your own care privately, AA is simply yours to use as you choose.

What other help can Attendance Allowance unlock?

AA can act as a “passport” to other support:

• Pension Credit severe disability amount: an extra £86.05 a week in 2026/27 if you live alone (or only with certain people) and no one gets Carer’s Allowance for looking after you (DWP; Age UK Factsheet 34).
• Pension Credit for more people: getting AA can mean you qualify for Pension Credit even if you didn’t before. Pension Credit can in turn open up help such as Council Tax Reduction.
• Carer’s Allowance for a family carer: £86.45 a week in 2026/27 if they care for 35 hours or more and earn no more than £204 a week. A Pension Credit carer amount of £48.15 a week may also apply (DWP).
• Council Tax: someone with a severe mental impairment, such as advanced dementia, who gets AA can be disregarded for Council Tax, which can mean a 25% discount or no bill if they live alone. A live-in carer may also be disregarded. Apply to your local council.

Claiming Carer’s Allowance for someone can affect their severe disability amount, so check before claiming. A free benefits check from Age UK or Independent Age can help.

How do I claim Attendance Allowance?

1. Get the form. Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, claim online through GOV.UK, or download form AA1. Calling the helpline to request a form means your claim can start from the date you called, as long as you return it in time (Age UK Factsheet 34).
2. Describe a bad day, honestly. Explain every task that is difficult, how long it takes, and any falls, confusion or risks. Say what help you need, even if no one currently provides it.
3. Add evidence. A letter from a GP, consultant, nurse or occupational therapist, and a short diary from a family member, can help.
4. Send it back and keep a copy.

AA can’t be backdated to before the claim date, so claim as soon as you think you might qualify.

Special rules for end of life

If a doctor or nurse thinks it “would not be a surprise” if you died within 12 months, you can claim under the special rules. There’s no six-month waiting period, the claim is fast-tracked, and you automatically get the higher rate (Age UK Factsheet 34). Ask the clinician for the relevant form. See also Fast Track Continuing Healthcare.

If you’re turned down

You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on the decision letter. If that fails, you can appeal to a tribunal. Extra evidence, such as a GP letter or care diary, can make a difference at either stage.

What mistakes should I avoid on the claim form?

The claim form is long, and many people undersell their needs. Common pitfalls include:

• Describing a good day. Write about a typical or bad day, including how often problems happen.
• Leaving out night-time needs. Getting up to use the toilet, confusion, falls or someone checking on you at night can make the difference between the lower and higher rate.
• Saying you “manage”. If you manage only slowly, with pain, with risk, or by going without, say so.
• Ignoring supervision. Needing someone to watch over you because of falls, dementia or seizures counts, even without hands-on help.
• Missing evidence. Include letters, prescription lists and care plans if you have them.

If you’re helping a parent, sit with them while they complete it, and add your own notes where the form allows. A benefits adviser from Age UK or Independent Age can also help you fill it in.

What happens to Attendance Allowance in hospital or a care home?

• Hospital: AA stops after 28 days in hospital, and restarts when you come home.
• Care home, council-funded: AA stops 28 days after admission.
• Care home, self-funded: AA continues.

(Age UK Factsheet 34, May 2026.) Tell the DWP about any change.

For all your options, read our pillar guide to paying for home care.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use Attendance Allowance to pay for a carer?

Yes. Attendance Allowance is paid to you and there are no rules on how you spend it. Many people use it to pay for home care visits, home help, meal preparation or companionship. As of 2026, the higher rate of £114.60 a week buys roughly three and a half hours of agency care at typical rates in England.

Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?

No. Attendance Allowance isn’t affected by your income or savings, and it isn’t taxable. Eligibility depends on the help or supervision you need because of a disability or illness, not on money. However, councils can count it as income when working out charges for council-arranged care.

What are the Attendance Allowance rates for 2026/27?

From April 2026, the lower rate is £76.70 a week, for people who need help either during the day or at night. The higher rate is £114.60 a week, for people who need help both day and night, or who claim under the special rules for end of life.

Does the council take Attendance Allowance for care?

The council can count Attendance Allowance as income in the financial assessment for council-arranged home care. But it must allow for disability-related expenditure and leave you with the Minimum Income Guarantee. If you get the higher rate but no night care is provided, the council can choose to ignore the extra.

Can I get Attendance Allowance if I have savings?

Yes. Savings, property and income make no difference to Attendance Allowance. Someone with a large pension and savings can claim it on exactly the same basis as someone with none, as long as they meet the age, disability and residence conditions.

How long does it take to get Attendance Allowance?

You normally need to have needed help for six months before payments start, although you can claim before then. Under the special rules for end of life, there’s no waiting period and claims are fast-tracked. Payments can’t be backdated before the claim date, so apply promptly.

Sources

• DWP benefit and pension rates 2026 to 2027 (GOV.UK)
• Age UK Factsheet 34: Attendance Allowance, May 2026
• Age UK Factsheet 46: Paying for care and support at home, May 2026
• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance
• DHSC social care charging circular 2026 to 2027 (GOV.UK)
• GOV.UK: Council Tax discounts for disabled people
• GOV.UK: who has to pay Council Tax
• Lottie: London home care directory

This guide is general information, not financial, legal or medical advice. Last reviewed September 2026.

This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.