Attendance Allowance

Official guidance describes the purpose plainly: 'Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.' It 'does not cover mobility needs' — that is the territory of Personal Independence Payment instead — and critically, 'You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim'; the benefit is paid according to need, not according to whether care is actually being provided.

The amount depends on the severity of the need rather than income or savings: 'It's paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability or health condition. You could get £76.70 or £114.60 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply: you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition; you're State Pension age or older.' Getting Attendance Allowance can also unlock other support: 'You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.' Someone who cares for a claimant with substantial needs may separately qualify for Carer's Allowance.