What is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free DWP benefit for people over State Pension age (66) who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. You can claim up to £5,959 per year (£114.60 per week at the higher rate). It's not means-tested, so your savings and income don't affect eligibility.

What are the Attendance Allowance rates?

There are two Attendance Allowance rates: Lower rate of £76.70 per week (£3,988/year) for frequent help during day OR supervision at night, and Higher rate of £114.60 per week (£5,959/year) for help or supervision throughout both day AND night. Rates are set by the DWP and reviewed annually.

What is the Attendance Allowance eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you must: be State Pension age (66) or over, have needed help for at least 6 months (unless terminally ill), need help with personal care or supervision, and have been in the UK for at least 2 of the last 3 years. You cannot claim if receiving PIP or DLA.

How do I apply for Attendance Allowance?

You can apply for Attendance Allowance by completing form AA1 from the DWP, available online at GOV.UK or by phone on 0800 731 0122. Alternatively, our expert service helps you complete the Attendance Allowance application form correctly with a 95% success rate and no-win, no-fee guarantee.

Can I get help with my Attendance Allowance form?

Yes! Many people find the DWP Attendance Allowance form complex. Our service provides expert help completing your Attendance Allowance application form, ensuring all questions are answered correctly to maximize your chances of approval. We only charge £430 if your claim is successful.

What is the higher rate Attendance Allowance?

The higher rate Attendance Allowance is £114.60 per week (£5,959 per year). You qualify for the higher rate if you need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or if you're terminally ill (under Special Rules for Terminal Illness).

Can I claim Attendance Allowance and PIP together?

No, you cannot claim Attendance Allowance and PIP (Personal Independence Payment) at the same time. Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age, while PIP is for those under State Pension age. If you receive DLA, you may be able to switch to Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age.

Does Attendance Allowance affect Council Tax Reduction?

No, receiving Attendance Allowance does NOT affect your Council Tax Reduction. In fact, getting Attendance Allowance may help you qualify for additional Council Tax discounts, such as the Severe Mental Impairment exemption. Attendance Allowance is also disregarded when calculating Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.

Can I claim Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance?

Yes! You can claim both Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance. Getting Attendance Allowance may actually increase your Pension Credit payments through the Severe Disability Addition. This can add over £81 per week extra to your Pension Credit if you live alone and receive Attendance Allowance.

What is the DWP Attendance Allowance contact number?

The DWP Attendance Allowance helpline number is 0800 731 0122 (free from UK landlines and mobiles). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also contact our specialist service on 01702 655034 for expert help with your Attendance Allowance application.

Can I Get Attendance Allowance and PIP Together?

2026-03-08 by Attendance Allowance Help

Confused about Attendance Allowance and PIP? This guide clarifies if you can receive both and introduces Elder Care's support for secure applications.

Understanding Attendance Allowance and PIP

It's a common and very sensible question for families caring for an older loved one: Can you claim both Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP) at the same time? The short answer is generally no, you cannot receive both benefits concurrently. However, it's important to understand why and where the distinctions lie.

Both Attendance Allowance and PIP are designed to help with the extra costs associated with long-term health conditions or disabilities. They are not means-tested, meaning your savings or income won't affect eligibility (though they can affect other benefits you might receive).

Attendance Allowance: For Over 66s

Attendance Allowance is a benefit specifically for individuals who have reached State Pension age (currently 66 and over). It helps with the cost of personal care, supervision, or physical help required due to a disability or illness. This includes help with daily living activities like washing, dressing, eating, or managing medication, or requiring supervision to stay safe.

It's worth noting that you don’t need to have someone actively providing the care for you to be eligible; it's about the need for care. For instance, if you have dementia and need someone to remind you to eat, or if you have severe arthritis and need a handrail to safely use the stairs, these needs count.

There are two rates of Attendance Allowance:

Lower rate: £76.70 a week (£3,988.40 annually)
Higher rate: £114.60 a week (£5,959.20 annually)

These amounts are paid every four weeks, so you'd receive £306.80 or £458.40 respectively. This tax-free financial boost can make a real difference, helping to fund essential support, adaptations, or even contribute to care home fees.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): For Under State Pension Age

PIP is a relatively newer benefit designed for individuals aged 16 to State Pension age. Like Attendance Allowance, it helps with the extra costs of living with a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability. PIP has two components:

Daily Living Component: For help with everyday tasks like preparing food, communicating, or managing therapy and medication.
Mobility Component: For help with getting around, such as planning and following journeys, or moving around independently.

Each component is paid at either a standard or enhanced rate.

Why You Can't Claim Both

The fundamental reason you cannot claim both Attendance Allowance and PIP is that they serve the same purpose for different age groups. The DWP (Department for Work and Pensions) has established an age cut-off for these benefits:

If you are under 66 (State Pension age), you would typically claim PIP.
If you are 66 or over (State Pension age), you would typically claim Attendance Allowance.

This means that if you are already receiving PIP and then reach State Pension age, the DWP will usually write to you inviting you to apply for Attendance Allowance. You cannot continue receiving PIP once you are eligible for Attendance Allowance. Similarly, you cannot apply for PIP if you are already old enough to claim Attendance Allowance.

The Transition from PIP to Attendance Allowance

If you're currently receiving PIP and approaching State Pension age, the DWP should contact you. They will explain that your PIP award will cease and that you will need to apply for Attendance Allowance. It's crucial to respond to this communication promptly. While the transition may seem like a simple switch, it involves a brand new application process for Attendance Allowance, which is notoriously challenging.

This is where many people find themselves struggling. The Attendance Allowance application form (the AA1 form) is over 40 pages long and requires comprehensive, detailed evidence of how your health conditions impact your daily life and care needs. It asks for specific examples of what help you need, how often, and why. Many rejections occur because applicants don't provide sufficient detail or clear enough evidence, even if their needs are significant.

Common Pitfalls in Attendance Allowance Applications

The DWP carefully scrutinises every Attendance Allowance application. Here are some widespread reasons why claims are rejected or awarded at a lower rate:

Lack of Specificity: General statements like "I need help" are not enough. You must provide concrete examples. For someone with Parkinson's, instead of saying "I struggle to eat," you'd explain, "Due to severe tremors in my hands, I often spill food and need assistance cutting tough foods like meat, and someone needs to supervise to ensure I do not choke. This happens at every mealtime."
Downplaying Needs: Many older people are fiercely independent and might minimise their difficulties or the help they truly need. For example, someone with chronic back pain might claim they "manage" to get dressed, but fail to mention it takes them over an hour, causes significant pain, and they often need to rest halfway through.
Insufficient Medical Evidence: While you don't always need new doctor's letters, the form asks for details of healthcare professionals involved in your care. Having these details, along with a clear understanding of your diagnoses and how they affect you, is vital.
Omitting Nocturnal Needs: Many people forget to mention care, supervision, or help they need during the night. For a person with incontinence, needing help to change bedding or being supervised to get to the toilet safely multiple times a night is a significant care need.
Focusing on Diagnosis, Not Impact: Simply stating a diagnosis like "dementia" or "frailty" isn't enough. You must explain the *impact* of that condition on your daily living – for example, the cognitive decline from dementia causes you to forget to take medication, leading to a need for constant prompts and supervision, especially with potentially dangerous medications.
The Online Application Trap: The DWP now offers an online application for Attendance Allowance. While seemingly convenient, this digital form often provides less space and fewer opportunities to elaborate on your complex care needs. It can be challenging to convey the full extent of your requirements, leading to lower awards or rejections compared to the detailed paper form when managed expertly.

How Elder Care Can Help

Navigating the Attendance Allowance application process, especially when transitioning from PIP or applying for the first time, is incredibly daunting. The forms are long, the questions are intricate, and the DWP's expectations for evidence are high. Given the detailed nature of care needs – from managing medication for heart conditions to assistance with mobility due to severe osteoarthitis, or supervision for fall risks – it's easy to miss crucial information.

At Elder Care, we specialise in securing Attendance Allowance for individuals aged 66 and over. We understand the nuances of the DWP's requirements and know precisely how to articulate your or your loved one's care needs effectively. We take the stress out of the process, ensuring your application is robust, detailed, and includes all the necessary evidence to give you the best chance of a successful outcome.

We operate on a No-Win-No-Fee basis. You only pay our success fee of £430 if your Attendance Allowance claim is awarded. This means there's no upfront cost to you, making our service risk-free and focused purely on your success.

Don't let the complexity of the DWP forms prevent you from getting the financial support you are entitled to. Our warm and knowledgeable team is here to guide you every step of the way.

Take the Next Step Towards Financial Support

Ready to find out if you or your loved one is eligible for Attendance Allowance, or need expert help to transition from PIP?

Submit our free online Eligibility Check: www.eldercare.uk/eligibility-check
Call our friendly team today on 01702 938110 for a confidential chat. We're here to help.

Check Your Eligibility Free