Attendance Allowance explained — support for older people needing care

Attendance Allowance is a UK benefit for people over State Pension age who have a disability or health condition severe enough that they need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe — whether or not they actually receive that help. It is one of the most commonly unclaimed benefits in the UK.

Key features

• Not means-tested: it doesn't matter how much income or savings the person has
• Tax-free: and it doesn't reduce other benefits — in fact it can increase entitlement to others like Pension Credit
• Not based on the care being received: it's based on the need for help, even if family or no one currently provides it
• Paid at two rates depending on whether help is needed during the day, at night, or both

Why it's often unclaimed

Many eligible older people don't claim, often because they don't realise they qualify, assume their savings rule them out (they don't — it's not means-tested), or feel they 'manage'. The eligibility is about needing help, not receiving it. Charities like Age UK estimate hundreds of thousands of pounds in Attendance Allowance goes unclaimed. It's well worth checking eligibility on gov.uk or with Age UK.

Important note

Exact rates and rules change periodically — check current details on gov.uk. This is general information, not financial or benefits advice.