More than 1.6 million people can expect an income boost in April as the Attendance Allowance rate rises by 1.7%.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveiled the plans during October’s Autumn Statement, offering much-needed relief for those struggling with high living costs.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit distributed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people over state pension age (currently 66) who need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or a disability.
The benefit has broad eligibility criteria; however, hundreds of thousands are thought not to be claiming despite qualifying for the support.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates: the lower rate and the higher rate. The amount eligible claimants receive is calculated based on how much help is required, not any current help the person does or doesn’t get.
How much will Attendance Allowance increase in 2025?
In line with the 1.7% increase, new rates for the higher and lower rates in April 2025 are:
- Lower rate: £72.65 per week (up from £68.10)
- Higher rate: £108.55 per week (up from £101.75).
People who need help during the day or at night could be eligible for the lower rate, whereas people who need help both during the day and at night or have a terminal illness could be eligible for the higher rate.
The changes mean those entitled to the highest rate can now receive around £470.38 per month, which translates to around £5,644.60 per year.
The money doesn’t need to be spent on care – it can be put towards other things, such as household bills. It also isn’t a means-tested benefit, which means current savings or income won’t affect the claim, nor will it impact other benefits received.
Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?
Claimants must be over the state pension age (66) and have a type of disability or illness to claim Attendance Allowance. This can include anything from learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairments, to mobility issues such as arthritis, or mental health issues such as dementia.
People could also apply if they have difficulties with smaller, personal tasks, experience pain or need physical help.
It must be clear that claimants could benefit from help with personal care, such as getting washed or dressed, eating and drinking, or needing supervision to keep them safe during the day or night.
Claimants must also have needed help for at least six months prior. However, the benefit can be claimed immediately if claimants are terminally ill.
Britons don’t need to be diagnosed with their condition to apply for Attendance Allowance. As long as they’ve needed help or supervision or have had difficulties for six months because of their condition, they can claim the benefit.
It should be noted that Britons won’t be able to claim Attendance Allowance if they already receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
How to claim Attendance Allowance
To claim, people need to fill out an Attendance Allowance form, clearly outlining the help they do need, as well as the help they don’t.
To pick up a form, people can either call the helpline on 0800 731 0122 or download it from the Government website, here.
