Attendance Allowance helps cover extra costs for individuals who have reached State Pension age and have a disability or health condition severe enough to require assistance with daily care. The higher rate is set at £114.60 for the 2026/27 period, up from £110.40 in 2025/26. This higher rate applies if a person needs help or supervision both during the day and at night, or if they are terminally ill, with different rules allowing quicker access for those nearing the end of life.
Eligibility includes long-term health complications such as severe back pain where assistance is needed for tasks like dressing or moving around the home. To claim, individuals must generally be in Great Britain at the time of application and have lived there for at least two of the past three years, though exceptions exist for groups like armed forces members. Claimants totaled 1.9 million across Great Britain in February 2025, a rise of 140,000 from the previous year.
Applying for Attendance Allowance does not reduce any existing benefits and may even increase them, according to major media reports. Additionally, if someone you care for receives this allowance, you might be eligible for extra financial support such as Carer’s Allowance, as noted by Carers UK. Specific health conditions beyond severe back pain that qualify remain unclear, and it is unknown how many of the 120,000 non-recipients are actively applying or aware of their eligibility. The exact claiming process and timeline, particularly for those with terminal illnesses, are also not detailed in available information.