Overview
- More than 1.7 million people receive Attendance Allowance, paid at £73.90 or £110.40 a week (£295.60 or £441.60 every four weeks).
- Moving from the lower to the higher rate adds £36.50 a week, equivalent to an extra £146 every four weeks, if the DWP accepts that care needs have increased.
- Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and may unlock extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.
- Arthritis is the most common condition among claimants, with about 508,964 people receiving support, and back pain is also widely reported.
- From April 2026, reporting indicates the higher rate is scheduled to rise to about £458.40 every four weeks, with coverage estimating some full state pension recipients could reach roughly £1,423 a month in total.