Attendance Allowance checker 2026/27: who qualifies and how much

Attendance Allowance is a weekly payment for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of an illness or disability. It is worth £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27, and it is not means-tested: savings and income do not matter.

Have they reached State Pension age?

State Pension age is 66, rising to 67 for people born on or after 6 April 1960.

Where do they live?
Has a doctor or nurse said they may have 12 months or less to live?
During the day, do they need help with personal care (washing, dressing, eating, the toilet, medication) or someone to keep an eye on them to stay safe?

Count the help they need, even if nobody gives it yet.

At night, do they need help (for example to turn, use the toilet, or take medication) or someone awake to watch over them?

Help needed twice a night, or once for 20 minutes or more, or someone awake to keep them safe.

How long have they needed this help?

They usually need to have needed help for 6 months before it can be paid (not if they may have 12 months or less to live).

Where do they live now?

Free download

Free printable: 40 things to check in a care home

Take it on every visit and compare up to three homes side by side: CQC checks, staffing, daily life, the room, fees and the contract.

What counts as needing help

  • Washing, bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet
  • Taking medication, managing a medical condition
  • Needing someone to watch over them to stay safe, for example because of falls, dementia or seizures
  • Needing help at night, such as turning in bed or going to the toilet

They qualify on the help they need, even if nobody is providing it yet.

Source: GOV.UK Attendance Allowance; DWP benefit and pension rates 2026/27. This tool is a guide, not a decision; the Department for Work and Pensions decides each claim.

Questions

How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026/27?

£76.70 a week at the lower rate (help during the day or the night) and £114.60 a week at the higher rate (help day and night, or for someone who may have 12 months or less to live). It is paid every four weeks.

Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?

No. Savings, income and pensions do not matter, and it is not taxed. It does not reduce a State Pension, and it can increase Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.

Do you need a diagnosis?

No. It is based on the help someone needs because of an illness or disability, not on a diagnosis, and they do not need to be getting that help already. It does not cover help with cooking, cleaning or shopping on its own.

Can you get Attendance Allowance in a care home?

Yes if they pay their own care home fees. If the council helps pay the fees, it usually stops after 28 days.

How do you claim?

Claim online or on form AA1, or call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 for a form. Payments start from the date the claim is received, so claim as soon as the person qualifies.

Questions people ask

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