Not sure whether the rules apply to you?
✅ See If You QualifyAttendance Allowance is currently paid at £76.70 or £114.60 per week. Which rate you receive depends on the level and timing of the care or supervision you need because of your disability or health condition.
What are the current Attendance Allowance rates?
There are only two Attendance Allowance rates: a lower rate and a higher rate.
The amount is not chosen according to the name of your medical condition, your income or the amount of savings you have. Instead, the rate is based mainly on whether you need qualifying help or supervision during the day, at night, or during both.
Generally applies when you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
Generally applies when you need qualifying help or supervision throughout both the day and the night.
How much could normally reach your account?
The official rates are expressed as weekly amounts, but Attendance Allowance is usually paid every four weeks into a bank, building society or credit union account.
| Rate | Weekly rate | Four-week equivalent | Main care pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | £76.70 | £306.80 | Qualifying needs during the day or during the night. |
| Higher | £114.60 | £458.40 | Qualifying needs during both the day and the night. |
What normally qualifies for the lower rate?
The lower rate is currently £76.70 per week.
GOV.UK describes the lower rate as applying where the required level of help or supervision is needed during the day or at night.
- You need frequent help caring for yourself during the day.
- You need constant supervision during the day to keep yourself or somebody else safe.
- You need qualifying supervision during the night.
It is the care or supervision need that matters. You do not have to already be receiving all of that help from another person.
What normally qualifies for the higher rate?
The higher rate is currently £114.60 per week.
This rate is normally for people whose needs meet the relevant conditions during both the day and the night.
When the relevant requirements are met for both periods, the higher Attendance Allowance rate may apply.
What kind of help can affect your rate?
Attendance Allowance is about the support you reasonably need because of your disability or health condition.
The exact circumstances are individual, but everyday examples can include:
Your diagnosis does not set your payment rate
There is no fixed Attendance Allowance amount for arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, sight loss, dementia or any other particular condition.
Two people with the same diagnosis can receive different decisions because their day-to-day care and supervision needs can be very different.
This is why describing the practical effect of your condition is so important when making a claim.
Someone who needs qualifying support during either the day or the night may receive the lower rate, while qualifying needs across both periods can lead to the higher rate.
Do income and savings reduce the rate?
No. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested.
This means your savings and earnings do not decide whether you receive £76.70 or £114.60.
You do not receive a lower Attendance Allowance payment simply because you have savings, a private pension or another source of income.
Is Attendance Allowance taxable?
No. GOV.UK lists Attendance Allowance as a state benefit on which you do not have to pay Income Tax.
This is different from some other payments, such as the State Pension, which can form part of taxable income.
Does walking difficulty increase the rate?
Not by itself.
Attendance Allowance does not have a mobility component. It is therefore different from benefits that separately assess mobility needs.
However, a physical limitation that affects your personal care or creates a need for supervision can still be relevant.
What happens under the special end-of-life rules?
Different rules apply when a medical professional says that somebody is nearing the end of life.
Under the Attendance Allowance special rules, a qualifying person can receive the higher rate more quickly.
GOV.UK currently describes these rules as applying where a medical professional says that the person may have 12 months or less to live.
Can your Attendance Allowance rate change later?
Yes.
If your circumstances or care needs change, you could become entitled to a different rate.
GOV.UK says that changes in circumstances must be reported. This is important if your needs become significantly greater, improve, or another relevant situation changes.
Could Attendance Allowance increase other support?
Receiving Attendance Allowance can sometimes result in additional entitlement elsewhere.
GOV.UK specifically says that an Attendance Allowance award could mean extra:
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Reduction
This does not mean that every Attendance Allowance claimant automatically receives all of these benefits. Entitlement depends on individual circumstances.
What if you live elsewhere in the UK?
Which rate should you focus on when applying?
You do not need to simply choose a rate based on which amount you would prefer.
The useful approach is to explain your actual needs accurately, including when they occur and how often you require help or supervision.
In particular, describe whether your difficulties happen during the day, during the night or during both periods.
The decision maker can then assess which rate applies to the circumstances described in the claim.
Lower rate: £76.70 per week
Higher rate: £114.60 per week
Attendance Allowance is usually paid every four weeks and is not means-tested.
Check whether your care or supervision needs may meet the rules.
✅ See If You QualifyGOV.UK — Attendance Allowance: Overview
GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance: What you’ll get
GOV.UK — Attendance Allowance: Eligibility
GOV.UK — How and when your benefits are paid
GOV.UK — Tax-free and taxable state benefits
mygov.scot — Pension Age Disability Payment
nidirect — Attendance Allowance
Rates shown are the current 2026/27 rates. Benefit rates and rules can change, so official guidance should be checked when making a claim.
DR Ana Popescu is passionate about writing and providing readers with accurate information. She has experience writing articles about economics, financial planning, and personal loans, offering clear and easy-to-understand explanations. Her goal is to help readers make better decisions through useful and well-researched information.