A tax-free weekly benefit for people at or above State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision. Answer two questions to see which rate you may qualify for.
Estimated weekly rate
| Rate | When it applies | Weekly amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | Help needed by day OR by night, not both | £76.70 |
| Higher rate | Help needed by day AND by night | £114.60 |
£76.70 a week at the lower rate, or £114.60 a week at the higher rate, paid every 4 weeks. It's tax-free and not means-tested.
You must be at or above State Pension age and have needed help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or illness for at least 6 months — unless you're terminally ill, in which case a fast-track claim applies with no wait.
No — it doesn't reduce your State Pension or count as income for most means-tested benefits. Claiming it can actually unlock or increase entitlement to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.
Under State Pension age? Attendance Allowance isn't available to you — Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is the equivalent benefit instead. Planning care costs for a relative? See our Care Home Means-Test Calculator.