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Attendance Allowance Boost 2025/2026: 7 Key Facts About The £5,740 Annual Uprating And New Payment Rates

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The Attendance Allowance boost for the 2025/2026 financial year is now confirmed, representing a crucial annual uprating that provides vital financial support to millions of older people across the UK. As of late December 2025, the new payment rates are fully in effect, reflecting the government’s commitment to increasing benefits in line with inflation.

This essential non-means-tested benefit is designed to help cover the extra costs associated with long-term illness or disability once an individual has reached State Pension age. Understanding the new rates and eligibility criteria is key to ensuring you or a loved one are claiming the full support available.

Attendance Allowance New Rates 2025/2026 and Projected 2026/2027 Increase

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) sets the rates for Attendance Allowance, which is paid weekly at one of two fixed levels depending on the care needs of the claimant. The "boost" refers to the annual uprating, which has secured a higher payment for all recipients. The new rates for the 2025/2026 financial year, which began in April 2025, are detailed below, alongside the previous year's rates for comparison and the projected figures for the 2026/2027 period.

Confirmed Attendance Allowance Rates (2025/2026)

The uprating ensures a higher weekly payment for all claimants, with the higher rate now exceeding £110 per week.

  • Higher Rate: £110.40 per week (Up from £108.55 in 2024/2025). This is for those who need frequent care or supervision both day and night, or are terminally ill.
  • Lower Rate: £73.90 per week (Up from £72.65 in 2024/2025). This is for those who need frequent care or supervision during the day or supervision at night.

Over the course of a year, the Higher Rate provides a substantial annual income of approximately £5,740.80, while the Lower Rate provides £3,842.80, making the "boost" a significant financial lifeline for those living with disabilities.

Projected Attendance Allowance Rates (2026/2027)

While subject to final confirmation, the government has already indicated a further increase for the 2026/2027 financial year, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rate of inflation.

  • Higher Rate Projection: £114.60 per week (An increase of 3.8% from the 2025/2026 rate).
  • Lower Rate Projection: Expected to also increase by 3.8%.

This forward-looking information is crucial for financial planning and demonstrates the ongoing commitment to maintain the real-terms value of this key benefit.

Who is Eligible for the Attendance Allowance and How to Claim

Attendance Allowance is one of the most underclaimed benefits in the UK, with millions of older Britons potentially missing out on this vital support. Understanding the simple eligibility criteria is the first step toward claiming the boost.

Eligibility Criteria: The Two Main Rules

The benefit is non-means-tested, meaning your savings and income do not affect your eligibility. It also doesn't matter if you live alone or with a partner. The two primary criteria are:

  1. Age Requirement: You must have reached State Pension age (currently 66 for most people).
  2. Care Needs Requirement: You must have a physical or mental disability or illness that makes you need help with personal care or supervision. This need must have existed for at least six months (or immediately if you are terminally ill).

Crucially, "care" does not necessarily mean physical help. It can include supervision to prevent accidents, prompting you to take medication, or help with communication due to a mental health condition like dementia.

How to Make a Claim for Attendance Allowance

The claims process is managed by the DWP. It is important to note that you should never pay a third party for help with an Attendance Allowance claim, as free advice is available from organisations like Age UK or Citizens Advice.

  • Get the Form: The official claim form is called AA1. You can request it by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline or by downloading it from the GOV.UK website.
  • Complete the Form: The form focuses heavily on how your disability or illness affects your daily life and the care you need. Be detailed and specific about your difficulties both during the day and at night.
  • The Six-Month Rule: Remember that you must have needed the care for at least six months before you can claim, unless you are making a claim under the special rules for terminal illness, in which case the six-month wait is waived.

The Wider Impact of Attendance Allowance

The importance of the Attendance Allowance boost extends far beyond the weekly payment itself. Receiving this benefit can unlock access to other forms of financial support and help improve the quality of life for both the claimant and their carer.

Attendance Allowance and Other Benefits

Attendance Allowance is not just a standalone payment; it acts as a gateway to other benefits. If you are awarded Attendance Allowance, it can:

  • Increase Income-Related Benefits: It may increase the amount of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction you receive.
  • Trigger Carer’s Allowance: If someone spends at least 35 hours a week looking after you, your award of Attendance Allowance may make them eligible to claim Carer’s Allowance, providing a further income stream for the household.

The Situation in Scotland: Adult Disability Payment

Claimants in Scotland need to be aware of a significant change. The Scottish Government is in the process of replacing Attendance Allowance with a new benefit called Adult Disability Payment (ADP). This devolution means that Attendance Allowance payments issued by the DWP are set to end for pensioners living in Scotland as they are gradually moved over to the new Scottish system. Claimants will be contacted directly about this transition.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Many people fail to claim because they believe they don't need "care" if they manage on their own. However, if you would struggle or be unsafe without assistance—even if that assistance is from a piece of equipment or an alarm system—you may still be eligible. The key is the need for care, not whether you are currently receiving it.

Furthermore, if your care needs increase after you have been awarded the lower rate, you should inform the DWP immediately. If you tell them within one month of completing the six-month qualifying period for the higher rate, the increased payment can be backdated.

The Attendance Allowance boost for 2025/2026 is a welcome increase for over a million pensioners. By understanding the new rates, the eligibility criteria, and the simple application process, you can ensure you are receiving the full financial support you are entitled to, helping to manage the rising costs associated with disability and long-term health conditions.

Attendance Allowance Boost 2025/2026: 7 Key Facts About the £5,740 Annual Uprating and New Payment Rates
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