Glossary · UK
What is Attendance Allowance?
A non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or long-term health condition, paid at one of two weekly rates depending on the level of care needed.
Full Definition
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care -- such as washing, dressing, eating, or getting around the home safely -- or supervision to keep them safe, because of a physical or mental disability or long-term illness. Unlike many benefits, Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so it is not affected by income, savings, or a partner's earnings, and it does not depend on the claimant actually having someone providing care already; what matters is whether the claimant needs that level of help, regardless of whether they receive it. It is also not affected by whether the claimant is still working, though relatively few people over State Pension age are. There are two weekly rates: a lower rate for people who need frequent help or supervision during the day, or supervision at night, and a higher rate for those who need help or supervision both during the day and at night, or who are terminally ill (in which case the higher rate is normally awarded automatically under special rules with a faster claim process). Receiving Attendance Allowance can also unlock additional entitlements, such as an increase to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction, because it is treated as a "passporting" benefit that can increase the applicable amount used in means tests for other support, even though Attendance Allowance itself is never means-tested. Worked example: a 78-year-old with advanced arthritis needs help getting dressed and prompting to take medication safely during the day, but can manage independently overnight; they are awarded the lower rate of Attendance Allowance, paid regardless of their modest private pension income or savings, and because they now receive an award, they also become entitled to a Severe Disability Premium-equivalent addition within their Pension Credit calculation, increasing their overall weekly income from both benefits combined.