Attendance Allowance
Overview
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
There’s a different way to claim if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness).
This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg), British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read format.
It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability or health condition.
You could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply:
- you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
- you’re State Pension age or older
It does not cover mobility needs.
You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.
You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.
If you do have a carer, they could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.
If you live in Scotland
You will need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance if you live in:
- Aberdeen City
- Argyll and Bute
- Highland
- Orkney Islands
- Shetland Islands
If you live in one of these areas and you already get Attendance Allowance, you do not need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.
If you live in another part of Scotland, apply for Attendance Allowance.
If you currently get Attendance Allowance
You’ll automatically be moved to Pension Age Disability Payment from spring 2025.
When the move begins, you’ll get letters from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Social Security Scotland.