Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27
Weekly, 4-weekly and annual amounts — lower and higher rate
Attendance Allowance weekly rates — 2026/27 and 2025/26
| Rate | 2026/27 | 2025/26 |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 | £73.90 |
| Higher rate | £114.60 | £110.40 |
Rates increased from 6 April 2026, in line with the annual DWP benefits uprating.
Weekly, 4-weekly and annual equivalents (2026/27)
| Rate | Weekly | 4-weekly | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 | £306.80 | £3,988.40 |
| Higher rate | £114.60 | £458.40 | £5,959.20 |
Attendance Allowance is usually paid every 4 weeks, directly into your bank account.
Which rate you get
Your rate depends on how much help or supervision you need because of a physical or mental health condition or disability — not on your diagnosis, income or savings.
| Your care need | Rate |
|---|---|
| Care needed during the day only | lower — £76.70/week |
| Care needed at night only | lower — £76.70/week |
| Care needed both day and night | higher — £114.60/week |
| Terminal illness (automatic higher rate) | higher — £114.60/week |
If you are terminally ill, you automatically qualify for the higher rate and the usual 6-month qualifying period does not apply — you can claim from day one under the Special Rules.
Claimable from State Pension age
You can claim Attendance Allowance from State Pension age (currently from 66). State Pension age is not a flat age for everyone — it is being phased from 66 to 67 across 2026-2028, so many people reach it later than their 66th birthday. Use our State Pension Age Calculator to check your own date. If you need help with care before you reach State Pension age, see our PIP Rates page instead.
Tax-free and not means-tested
Attendance Allowance is tax-free and not means-tested — it is not affected by your income, savings, or employment status, and you do not need to declare it on a Self Assessment return. This is different from Carer's Allowance, which IS taxable and counts as income for means-tested benefits. If someone cares for you and claims Carer's Allowance, that does not reduce your Attendance Allowance.
Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment
Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), delivered by Social Security Scotland, is replacing Attendance Allowance for people living in Scotland. It pays the same two rates — lower £76.70/week and higher £114.60/week — using the same day/night/terminal-illness rules. If you are already getting Attendance Allowance and live in Scotland, you are transferred to PADP automatically; you do not need to apply or do anything. You cannot receive both Attendance Allowance and PADP at the same time.
Attendance Allowance vs PIP vs DLA
Attendance Allowance has no mobility component — it only covers help with personal care and supervision, unlike PIP, which pays a separate mobility component. PIP is for people aged 16 up to State Pension age, so the two benefits do not overlap by age. Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is the older benefit that PIP replaced for working-age adults — DLA still has a mobility component, and its highest and middle care rates match the Attendance Allowance rates above.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Attendance Allowance in 2026/27?
Attendance Allowance is paid at two weekly rates from April 2026: the lower rate of £76.70 per week, and the higher rate of £114.60 per week. Over a year that is £3,988.40 at the lower rate or £5,959.20 at the higher rate.
What are the Attendance Allowance rates for this year and last year?
The lower rate rose from £73.90 (2025/26) to £76.70 (2026/27), and the higher rate rose from £110.40 to £114.60, in line with the annual DWP benefits uprating.
Is Attendance Allowance taxable?
No. Attendance Allowance is completely tax-free — you do not pay Income Tax on it and it does not need to be declared as taxable income. This is different from Carer's Allowance, which is taxable if a carer's total income (including Carer's Allowance) exceeds their Personal Allowance.
Is Attendance Allowance means-tested?
No. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect it. It is based purely on the level of care or supervision you need. Claiming it can also increase other means-tested benefits, such as Pension Credit, via the severe disability addition.
Can I get Attendance Allowance and PIP at the same time?
No. Attendance Allowance and PIP daily living component cannot both be paid for the same person — they are alternative benefits for the same care need, split by age. PIP is for people aged 16 up to State Pension age; Attendance Allowance is for people who have reached State Pension age. If you already receive PIP when you reach State Pension age, you normally keep receiving PIP rather than switching.
What replaced Attendance Allowance in Scotland?
Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), run by Social Security Scotland, is replacing Attendance Allowance for people living in Scotland. It pays the same two rates — lower £76.70/week and higher £114.60/week. If you are already getting Attendance Allowance, you are transferred to PADP automatically and do not need to do anything or reapply.
At what age can I claim Attendance Allowance?
You can claim Attendance Allowance from State Pension age (currently from 66). State Pension age is not a flat age for everyone — it is being phased from 66 to 67 between 2026 and 2028, so many people reach it later than their 66th birthday. Use our State Pension Age Calculator to check your own date.
How does Attendance Allowance compare to DLA?
Attendance Allowance has no mobility component — it only covers help with personal care and supervision. Disability Living Allowance (DLA), which is now closed to new adult claims, has both a care component (with three rates) and a mobility component. See our DLA Rates page for the full breakdown.
Sources
Last updated July 2026. Reflects 2026/27 and 2025/26 Attendance Allowance rates, verified against gov.uk and mygov.scot.
Related Calculators
PIP Rates 2026/27
Daily living £76.70/£114.60 and Mobility £30.30/£80.00 per week — all 8 award combinations, weekly, 4-weekly and annual
DLA Rates 2026/27
Care £30.30-£114.60 and Mobility £30.30/£80.00 per week — Disability Living Allowance rates and combinations
Carer's Allowance Calculator
£86.45 a week, the £204.00 earnings limit, the 35-hour test — and whether it is taxable
Pension Credit Calculator
£238.00/£363.25 guarantee, savings credit, tariff income