Attendance Allowance in a Care Home: Can You Claim?

Topic cluster: Benefits & Financial Support | Reading time: 6 min

Attendance Allowance is one of the most important benefits available to older adults in a care home — and one of the most frequently unclaimed. This guide explains what it is, who can claim it in a care home, and how much it is worth.

What Is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and have a physical or mental disability requiring additional care, supervision, or watching over.

It is not affected by savings, income, or assets. A self-funder with a large estate is just as eligible as someone on a low income.

Current Rates (2025/2026)

Rate	Weekly amount	When eligible
Lower rate	£76.70	Need for care or supervision during the day, or during the night
Higher rate	£114.60	Need for care or supervision during the day AND night, or terminal illness

Rates are typically reviewed in April each year. Check current figures at gov.uk.

Can You Claim Attendance Allowance in a Care Home?

Yes — but only in specific circumstances:

✅ If your parent is a self-funder — paying for their own care — Attendance Allowance can be claimed at either rate, both before and after moving into a care home.

❌ If the local authority is funding care — Attendance Allowance stops 28 days after your parent permanently moves into a care home. The rationale is that care needs are being met by the funded care.

✅ If your parent is in a nursing home with NHS-Funded Nursing Care — they can still receive Attendance Allowance alongside this NHS contribution.

What Conditions Qualify?

Any physical or mental condition that means your parent needs extra help with personal care or supervision can qualify. The assessors look at the level of help needed, not the specific diagnosis. Common conditions that lead to successful claims include:

Dementia
Parkinson's disease
Arthritis and mobility difficulties
Visual impairment
Heart conditions
Stroke
Diabetes complications
Mental health conditions

How to Apply

Applications are made using form AA1, available from:

Online: gov.uk/attendance-allowance
By phone: Attendance Allowance helpline, 0800 731 0122 (free call)

The form is long — around 40 pages — and asks for detailed information about how the condition affects your parent's daily life. Be specific and describe your parent on a typical bad day, not their best day. Understatement is one of the most common reasons for incorrect lower-rate awards.

You can help your parent complete the form. If they lack capacity, a family member or carer can act as their appointee.

A decision is usually made within 40 working days of submission.

If the Claim Is Refused or Under-Awarded

If Attendance Allowance is refused or awarded at the lower rate when you believe the higher rate applies, you can:

Request a mandatory reconsideration — within one month of the decision
Appeal to an independent tribunal — if the reconsideration is unsuccessful

Many successful claims require a mandatory reconsideration. Don't give up on a first refusal — seek advice from Citizens Advice or Age UK.

Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit

Attendance Allowance is not counted as income for Pension Credit purposes — receiving it does not reduce entitlement to Pension Credit. It can therefore be received alongside Pension Credit without reducing that benefit.

What Attendance Allowance Is Not

Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs (difficulty walking, needing a wheelchair). Mobility needs for people over State Pension age are covered by the mobility component of PIP (if the person was claiming PIP before reaching State Pension age) or by the Motability scheme.

Why This Matters for Self-Funders

For a self-funder paying £1,300/week for residential care, the higher rate of Attendance Allowance covers nearly 9% of the weekly fee. Over a year, that is nearly £6,000 in additional support.

Many self-funders are not claiming Attendance Allowance simply because no one has told them they should. If your parent is self-funding care and is over State Pension age, check eligibility and apply now.

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