How Pensioners Can Boost Income by £441 Monthly with Attendance Allowance

Did you know that pensioners struggling with daily tasks due to a health condition could be missing out on up to £441.60 every four weeks? It’s all thanks to a non means-tested benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) called Attendance Allowance. This extra cash could help ease the financial pressure many older adults face—without affecting their State Pension or other benefits.

Benefit

Attendance Allowance is designed for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision. It’s tax-free, non means-tested, and doesn’t affect your savings or other income.

There are two rates:

• Lower rate: £73.90 per week for help during the day or night
• Higher rate: £110.40 per week for help both day and night or if you’re terminally ill

This means claimants receive:

• £295.60 every four weeks (lower rate)
• £441.60 every four weeks (higher rate)

And here’s the best part: you don’t need to have a carer to claim. The money is yours to spend on whatever helps you stay independent—taxis, cleaners, bills, or home aids.

Eligibility

You could qualify for Attendance Allowance if:

• You’re over State Pension age
• You have a disability, illness, or mental health condition
• You need help with personal care or staying safe during the day, night, or both

Common reasons people qualify include:

• Struggles with dressing, bathing, eating, getting out of bed
• Need for supervision to avoid accidents or harm
• Sensory conditions like visual or hearing impairments
• Mental health issues such as dementia, depression, or anxiety

You don’t need to be receiving care already—you just need to need it.

Conditions

Here’s a list of conditions that may make you eligible, based on DWP data. This isn’t a checklist, but it gives you an idea of the range of health issues covered:

Physical Health	Mental Health	Other Conditions
Arthritis	Dementia	Hearing loss
Back Pain	Psychosis	Visual disorders
Heart Disease	Depression	Frailty
Parkinson’s	Anxiety	HIV/AIDS
Diabetes	Personality Disorder	Renal Disorders
MS & Stroke	Learning Difficulties	Cancer
COPD & Asthma	Autism	Haemophilia
Epilepsy	Behavioural Disorders	Long COVID

If you’ve been diagnosed with more than one condition, DWP will usually consider the main disabling issue when processing your claim.

Application

Applying can seem daunting, but with the right help, it’s straightforward. You’ll need to fill in a detailed form outlining how your condition affects your daily life.

Here are Independent Age’s top tips to help complete your application:

• Be specific: explain what you struggle with, even if no one helps you
• Detail how long tasks take and how often you need help
• Mention if some days are worse than others
• Include activities you avoid because they’re too difficult
• Explain any risks when care isn’t received—like falls
• Attach any medical or carer evidence you have

You can get support with your form from Citizens Advice or download a guide from Independent Age.

Payments

The benefit is paid every four weeks, directly into your bank account. Here’s what you could receive:

Rate	Weekly Amount	Monthly Total
Lower	£73.90	£295.60
Higher	£110.40	£441.60

You can use the money for any purpose, including:

• Paying for transport (taxis or mobility aids)
• Getting a cleaner or gardener
• Helping with heating or other bills
• Buying helpful devices or adaptations

No Impact

Unlike many benefits, Attendance Allowance won’t affect:

• Your State Pension
• Your earnings, if you’re still working
• Any savings or other income

Plus, receiving Attendance Allowance could actually increase other entitlements, such as:

• Pension Credit
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Reduction

It’s a win-win.

Application Process

You can:

• Download the form from the GOV.UK website
• Call to have a form posted to you
• Get help filling it out from Citizens Advice

Don’t let the paperwork put you off. Many people who qualify never apply simply because they assume they won’t be eligible—or they’re overwhelmed by the form.

If you’re nearing State Pension age, consider whether you might be better off applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead—it could offer higher support initially.

Ineligibility

You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you’re already receiving:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)

If your PIP or DLA ends and you still have care needs, then you can apply for Attendance Allowance.

FAQs