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Care Fees & Later Life2 min check

Attendance Allowance Checker

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for those over State Pension age who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. It's not means-tested.

Short answer

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or illness. Lower rate £73.90/week (day OR night needs); higher rate £110.40/week (day AND night, or terminal illness). It's not affected by income, savings or pension — and it can unlock other help like Carer's Allowance for a relative.
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Eligibility basics

Are you over State Pension age (currently 66)?
Have you lived in the UK for 2 of the last 3 years?
Do you live in a care home where the local authority pays your fees?

How it works

You don't need a formal diagnosis — what matters is the help you need (washing, dressing, toilet, medication, supervision to stay safe). The DWP scores need over the past 6 months (no qualifying period for terminal illness — fast-tracked via DS1500). The form (AA1) is long; Age UK and Citizens Advice fill it in for free.

Worked example

An 82-year-old with arthritis needing help dressing in the morning and reminders to take medication scores lower rate (£73.90 × 52 = £3,843/year). Add overnight supervision for falls risk and they qualify for higher rate (£5,740/year).

Who should use this

  • •State Pension age (currently 66+)
  • •Living with a long-term illness or disability
  • •Anyone with terminal illness (fast-tracked, no 6-month wait)
  • •People who care for themselves but unsafely or with great difficulty

Common mistakes

  • ×Underplaying needs — describe your worst day, not your best
  • ×Missing the night needs (broken sleep, supervision counts)
  • ×Filling the form alone — Age UK / CAB success rates are much higher
  • ×Not reapplying after a health change — moves you up to higher rate

Frequently asked questions

Does it affect Pension Credit?▾

No — and it can actually increase Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction by triggering a 'severe disability premium'.

Do I need to be using carers?▾

No. The test is what help you need, not what you receive.

How long does a claim take?▾

8–12 weeks typically; 2 weeks for terminal illness fast-track.

Related calculators

Carer's Allowance Checker →Pension Credit →PIP Checker →Care Home Fees Calculator →