Overview
- Policy in Practice estimates up to 1.1 million pensioners who appear eligible are not claiming Attendance Allowance, with media guides urging checks on entitlement.
- Attendance Allowance pays £73.90 or £110.40 a week to people aged 66+ with care needs, is tax‑free, and can unlock extra Pension Credit, Council Tax reductions and Blue Badges.
- DWP data cited in the coverage shows roughly 1.7–1.9 million current Attendance Allowance claimants, with arthritis the most common condition and around 509,000 recipients for it.
- Carer’s Allowance pays £83.30 a week for providing at least 35 hours of care to someone on qualifying disability benefits, and comes with National Insurance credits and interaction rules affecting other benefits.
- Attendance Allowance pauses after 28 days in hospital and usually cannot be paid if a local authority funds a care home place, with payments resuming on discharge when eligible.