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What The Attendance Allowance Calculator Works Out
- Weekly amount: GBP 76.70 a week in 2026/27 at the lower rate, where help or supervision is needed frequently by day or at night, and GBP 114.60 at the higher rate, where it is needed both day and night or the claim is under special rules for end of life. It is for people over State Pension age; those whose needs began earlier claim PIP instead.
- Every 4 weeks: the weekly rate x 4, the amount that actually lands in the bank. Attendance Allowance is tax free and not means tested, so savings and income are irrelevant.
- Per year: the weekly rate x 52, nearly GBP 6,000 a year at the higher rate. It does not require you to receive care from anyone: the test is the help you need, not the help you get, which is the single most misunderstood point and why charities estimate huge numbers of eligible pensioners never claim.
- Qualifying needs: help washing, dressing, managing medication or eating, supervision to stay safe (falls risk, confusion, seizures), prompting for mental health conditions, and difficulties that come and go all count. The claim form rewards honest bad-day detail, and Age UK or Citizens Advice will help complete it free.
- Months the care need has existed (advanced): the need must normally have lasted six months before payment starts. The award is not backdated, so claim as soon as the period is close to complete.
- Special rules for end of life (advanced): with an SR1 form from a clinician the six-month test is waived and the higher rate is paid, usually within days.
- Value over the years (advanced): the annual amount multiplied by the years you expect to receive it, at today's rate. It continues in most care situations except after 28 days in a care home funded by the council (self-funders keep it).
- Carer's Allowance for your carer (advanced): an award lets a family member or friend caring 35 or more hours a week claim GBP 86.45 a week, provided they earn under GBP 204 a week after deductions; it is taxable and not paid on top of their own State Pension.
- Pension Credit severe disability addition (advanced): getting Attendance Allowance while living alone, with nobody claiming Carer's Allowance for you, adds about GBP 86.05 a week to your Pension Credit guarantee level, which often turns "over the limit" into an award and unlocks Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. A carer's claim blocks the addition, so the household total card helps you compare the two routes.
Source and further reading: GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance.