Attendance Allowance and care costs
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for older people who need help because of an illness or disability, and it is not means-tested. This guide explains how it can help with care costs.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental health condition. It is not means-tested, so your savings and income do not affect it, and you do not have to spend it on care specifically. There are two weekly rates depending on how much help you need. It can help self-funders meet care costs and is well worth claiming if you might qualify.
At a glance
- What it isA benefit for help with care needs
- AgeOver State Pension age
- Means-tested?No, savings and income are ignored
- RatesTwo weekly rates (2025/26)
- Taxable?No
- Spend it onAnything; it need not go on care
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help looking after themselves, or supervision to stay safe, because of a physical or mental health condition. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. Crucially, it is not means-tested, so it does not matter how much you have in savings or what your income is, and it is not taxed.
This guide is for individuals and families. People under State Pension age with similar needs usually claim Personal Independence Payment instead. We keep to round descriptions of the rates here because they change each year; check the current 2025/26 figures on GOV.UK.
The two rates
Attendance Allowance is paid at one of two weekly rates, depending on how much help you need. The lower rate is for people who need help or supervision during either the day or the night, and the higher rate is for those who need it both day and night, or who are terminally ill.
| Rate | Who it is for |
|---|---|
| Lower rate | Help or supervision needed during the day or the night |
| Higher rate | Help or supervision needed both day and night, or terminal illness |
We do not quote the exact pounds here because the figures are uprated each year. The current 2025/26 amounts are published on GOV.UK, and a benefits adviser can confirm which rate fits your needs.
How it helps with care costs
Because Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and can be spent on anything, it is a useful contribution toward the cost of care for self-funders. It can help pay toward care at home, such as carers visiting, or toward care home fees. For people who are self-funding, every weekly payment reduces the amount that has to come from savings or income.
Claiming Attendance Allowance can sometimes increase other means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, because it can qualify you for extra amounts. It is well worth checking your entitlement with a benefits adviser or a charity such as Age UK or Citizens Advice.
Attendance Allowance and care homes
How Attendance Allowance interacts with a care home stay depends on who pays the fees. If you pay your own care home fees in full as a self-funder, you can usually keep claiming Attendance Allowance. If the local authority pays toward your care, the allowance usually stops after a period, because the council funding covers your care needs. The rules are specific, so check your situation.
- Self-funders in a care home can usually keep claiming Attendance Allowance
- If the council funds your care, it usually stops after a set period
- It continues to help most for care at home and for self-funded care
- Always confirm your position, as the rules depend on how care is funded
Attendance Allowance and care costs: common questions
What is Attendance Allowance?
It is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental health condition. It is not means-tested, is not taxed, and you do not have to spend it on care specifically.
Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?
No. Your savings and income do not affect Attendance Allowance, and it is not taxable. This makes it a useful contribution toward care costs for self-funders whatever their financial situation.
How many rates of Attendance Allowance are there?
There are two weekly rates. The lower rate is for people who need help or supervision during either the day or the night, and the higher rate is for those who need it both day and night, or who are terminally ill. The 2025/26 amounts are on GOV.UK.
Can I claim Attendance Allowance in a care home?
If you pay your own care home fees in full as a self-funder, you can usually keep claiming. If the local authority pays toward your care, the allowance usually stops after a period. The rules depend on how your care is funded, so check your situation.
Does claiming Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?
It can increase some means-tested benefits such as Pension Credit, because it may qualify you for extra amounts, and it does not reduce them. It is worth checking your full entitlement with a benefits adviser or a charity such as Age UK or Citizens Advice.
Related guides
Need help with your own situation?
We can introduce you to an FCA-authorised care funding specialist who will look at your circumstances and the options.