Attendance Allowance
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Attendance Allowance explained simply
Could Mum claim Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a tax free benefit for people over State Pension age who need regular help or supervision because of illness, disability or getting older. Many families never realise Mum could claim it.
Talk to our friendly team if you are unsure how this fits with Mum’s situation.
Rated 4.8/5 by families who wanted Mum to stay safe and independent at home.
Quick view: who Attendance Allowance is for
In most cases Mum may qualify if:
- She is over State Pension age and lives in the UK.
- She needs help with personal care or needs watching over for safety.
- She has needed this help for at least six months.
This guide is for information only. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) makes the final decision.
Attendance Allowance: quick guide for families
This page is written for sons, daughters and relatives who are trying to work out if Mum might qualify. It pulls together the rules from GOV.UK, Age UK and other trusted sources into one simple guide.
What Attendance Allowance is
A weekly payment from the DWP for people over State Pension age who need regular help with personal care or supervision. It is tax free and is not means tested, so Mum’s savings and income usually do not matter.
How much Mum could get
There are two levels. From April 2025 the lower rate is about £73.90 a week and the higher rate about £110.40 a week, paid every four weeks. The level depends on how much help and supervision she needs in the day and at night.
Why it matters for your family
Attendance Allowance can increase Mum’s weekly income and can also unlock other support such as Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction and extra help with heating and energy bills.
Who can claim Attendance Allowance for Mum
Mum does not need a formal diagnosis to claim. What matters is how her health or disability affects her day to day life and safety. Use this section as a simple checklist before you think about applying.
Basic rules Mum usually needs to meet
The detailed rules are set by the DWP, but in most straightforward cases Mum may qualify if:
- She is over State Pension age.
- She has an illness, disability or condition that affects her day to day life.
- She needs regular help with personal care, or someone to watch over her to keep her safe.
- She has needed this help for at least six months, unless she is terminally ill.
- She normally lives in the UK and is not in hospital or certain types of council funded care home for a long stay.
Full rules are on the official Attendance Allowance eligibility page on GOV.UK.
Does this sound like Mum?
- Mum is unsteady on her feet or has regular falls.
- She needs reminders or help with washing, dressing or taking medication.
- She gets confused, anxious or forgetful, especially at night.
- Someone checks on her for safety, for example because of dementia or wandering.
- You feel uneasy leaving her alone for long periods.
If several of these feel familiar it is worth exploring a claim. The quick checker below can help you get a first feel.
60 second Attendance Allowance checker
Answer five simple questions about Mum’s care needs and we will give you a quick view of whether she looks likely to meet the basic rules, plus an idea of which rate may be more likely.
Quick check: could Mum qualify for Attendance Allowance?
Answer a few short questions about Mum. We will give you a simple guide to how her situation compares with many successful Attendance Allowance claims, plus an idea of what she might receive each week.
Time to complete
About 1 minute
Questions
5 quick steps
Format
Multiple choice only
Important
This is guidance only. It is not a benefit decision. We use your answers to compare Mum’s situation with common Attendance Allowance cases and show the current weekly rates.
Figures are based on official Attendance Allowance weekly rates for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. The Department for Work and Pensions always makes the final decision.
1. How old is Mum?
We use this to check if she is around State Pension age. The current State Pension age is usually 66.
2. On a typical day, how much help does Mum need with personal care?
Personal care includes washing, dressing, using the toilet, getting in and out of bed, taking medication, or eating and drinking.
3. How much does someone need to watch over Mum for safety?
This could be because of falls, confusion, memory problems, dementia, wandering, or seizures.
4. How long has Mum needed this level of help?
There is usually a rule that someone must have needed help for at least six months, except for some terminal illness claims.
5. Where does Mum usually live at the moment?
This matters because some hospital stays and some care home places can affect payment.
Here is our quick guide based on your answers
This is not a decision. It is a guide to how Mum’s situation compares with many successful Attendance Allowance claims.
Figures shown are based on official Attendance Allowance weekly rates for the 2025 to 2026 tax year. Rates can change and the Department for Work and Pensions always makes the final decision.
Attendance Allowance rates for 2025 to 2026
Attendance Allowance is paid at two levels. The amount Mum receives does not depend on her income or savings. It depends on how much help and supervision she needs in the day and at night.
| Rate | When it is usually paid | Approx. weekly amount | Approx. every 4 weeks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | Mum needs regular help in the day or at night | About £73.90 a week | About £295.60 every 4 weeks |
| Higher rate | Mum needs help or watching over in the day and at night, or she is terminally ill | About £110.40 a week | About £441.60 every 4 weeks |
Figures are based on Attendance Allowance rates from April 2025. Up to date rates are always listed on GOV.UK.
How to claim Attendance Allowance for Mum
You can help Mum with the form, or she can nominate you to deal with the claim on her behalf. Set aside some quiet time and think about a “typical worst day” rather than a rare good day.
Step by step
-
1Request or download the form.
Visit the official how to claim Attendance Allowance page. You can either download a form or call the Attendance Allowance helpline to ask for one to be posted to Mum. -
2Gather notes and examples.
Make a list of where Mum struggles. For example getting in and out of the bath, using the stairs, taking medication, night time wandering or needing reminders. -
3Complete the form carefully.
Use real examples, not just tick boxes. Explain what happens if Mum does not get help or supervision. If a question does not seem to apply, say why. -
4Send the form and wait for a decision.
Keep a copy of everything you send. The DWP may contact Mum, her GP or other professionals for more information. Decisions often take several weeks.
How long the form usually takes
Most carers tell us it takes around 30 to 60 minutes to complete the form once they have their notes. It can help to do it in two short sessions rather than all at once.
Many local advice services can sit with you and Mum to complete the form together. Try:
- Citizens Advice
- Age UK local services
- Your local council welfare rights or financial inclusion team
What day to day help can count towards Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is not just for people who have carers coming in several times a day. It often helps people who are still living at home but quietly struggling with daily tasks or safety.
Help with personal care
Washing, bathing or showering, getting dressed, using the toilet, managing incontinence, getting in and out of bed, eating and drinking, cutting up food or helping with dentures.
Supervision for safety
Watching over Mum because of falls, dizziness, confusion, dementia, wandering, leaving the gas on, taking the wrong tablets or feeling very low in mood. It can include night time checks.
Support with mental health or memory
Reminding or encouraging Mum to wash, eat, drink or take medication, helping her manage anxiety or panic, or supporting her to follow routines because of memory problems.
Help outside the home
Although the benefit is about care rather than mobility, needing someone with Mum to keep her safe on journeys or when out and about can support the claim if it links to her health or disability.
Help Mum does not actually get yet
The rules look at the help Mum needs, not only the help she receives. If she struggles on alone because she does not want to bother anyone, that can still count.
Conditions that often qualify
Examples include frailty, heart or lung conditions, diabetes with complications, stroke, Parkinson’s, arthritis, dementia, sight loss and many long term conditions. The key is how they affect her day to day life.
Common mistakes that can weaken a claim
We speak daily with families who were turned down at first because the form did not show the full picture. These are some of the issues to watch out for.
- Describing what Mum can do on a very good day rather than a typical day.
- Leaving out examples because “we do not like to make a fuss”.
- Not mentioning night time problems such as getting up several times or wandering.
- Ignoring supervision needs because Mum is physically independent but confused or forgetful.
- Rushing the form and just ticking boxes without explaining the reasons.
Attendance Allowance questions families often ask
Will Attendance Allowance affect Mum’s State Pension or savings?
No. Attendance Allowance is tax free and is not means tested. It does not reduce State Pension or savings. In some cases it can increase other benefits such as Pension Credit or help with heating and energy bills.
Can Mum get Attendance Allowance if she lives in a care home?
It depends who pays the fees. If Mum pays the full cost herself she may still receive Attendance Allowance. If the council or NHS funds the place, payment can stop. This is a good time to get advice from Citizens Advice.
Can Mum claim if she already has a Blue Badge, railcard or other disability help?
Yes. Having a Blue Badge, disabled railcard or other support can help show that Mum has significant needs. Some councils also offer extra reductions and schemes once someone receives Attendance Allowance.
What if the claim is refused or the rate feels too low?
You can ask the DWP to look at the decision again. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. It is usually best to get help from a welfare rights adviser, Citizens Advice or Age UK before challenging a decision.
Can I get Carer’s Allowance if Mum receives Attendance Allowance?
Possibly. If Mum receives Attendance Allowance and you care for her for at least 35 hours a week you may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance or related top ups. It can affect some other benefits, so always check before applying.
How HelpAlert fits alongside Attendance Allowance
Many families use Attendance Allowance to help pay for practical support that keeps Mum safe at home. A personal alarm is one of the most common choices. It gives Mum a simple way to call for help and gives you peace of mind when you cannot be there.
HelpAlert alarms are monitored day and night by a professional control room. Many families start with a 14 day free trial to see how it feels in real life.
If you would like to explore how an alarm could support Mum alongside Attendance Allowance, you can: