Overview
- Claimants are told to phone 0800 731 0122 immediately to report changes, with DWP guidance stating failure to do so can result in financial penalties or court action.
- Reportable changes include hospital or care home stays, a change in the level of help needed, trips abroad over four weeks, imprisonment, a terminal prognosis, and updates to personal, doctor or immigration details.
- Attendance Allowance pays £73.90 or £110.40 a week, usually every four weeks (£295.60 or £441.60), is non-means-tested and tax-free, and can increase entitlement to Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction.
- If a condition has worsened, reporting it may move a claimant from the lower to the higher rate, increasing the four-weekly payment by £146 from £295.60 to £441.60.
- DWP data show over 1.7 million recipients as of February 2025 and 36% of awards lasting five years or more, while people in Scotland must claim the devolved Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance.