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Confirmed: Your Attendance Allowance Boost—New Weekly Rates Up To £110.40 From April 2025

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The latest Attendance Allowance boost is officially confirmed, providing a vital financial increase for older people across the UK who require care or supervision due to a long-term illness or disability. As of today, December 20, 2025, the new payment figures have been set by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the 2025/2026 financial year, reflecting the government’s annual uprating process. This non-means-tested benefit is a crucial lifeline, helping to cover the extra costs associated with personal care needs for those who have reached State Pension age.

This article breaks down the new weekly rates, explains exactly who qualifies for this essential disability benefit, and outlines the simple steps you need to take to claim your share of the boost. Understanding the confirmed figures and eligibility rules is the first step toward securing this valuable, tax-free payment.

The Official Attendance Allowance New Rates for 2025/2026

The Attendance Allowance is structured into two different rates—a lower rate and a higher rate—depending on the level of care or supervision you require. The "boost" for 2025/2026 is a result of the annual uprating, which is typically linked to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation figure from the previous September. The new rates will come into effect from April 2025.

The table below provides a clear, side-by-side comparison of the current 2024/2025 rates versus the confirmed 2025/2026 rates, showing the exact amount of the increase.

Attendance Allowance Rate Weekly Rate (2024/2025) New Weekly Rate (2025/2026) Annual Increase (£)
Higher Rate £108.55 £110.40 +£1.85
Lower Rate £72.65 £73.90 +£1.25

The maximum annual payment you could receive from the higher rate will now be approximately £5,740.80.

What Qualifies You for the Higher Rate?

To qualify for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance, you must satisfy the DWP that you require frequent care or supervision both during the day and throughout the night. This includes needing help with bodily functions, washing, dressing, or being supervised for your own safety or the safety of others.

What Qualifies You for the Lower Rate?

The lower rate is awarded if you need frequent help or supervision either during the day or at night, but not both.

Am I Eligible? Understanding the Key Criteria

Attendance Allowance is one of the most important disability benefits for the elderly, yet it is often underclaimed. It is crucial to dispel the common myth that you must hire a professional carer to be eligible; the help you receive can come from a family member, friend, or even a spouse.

The core eligibility criteria are straightforward:

  • Age Requirement: You must have reached State Pension age (currently 66 for both men and women).
  • Care Need: Your physical or mental disability must be severe enough that you require help with personal care or supervision to ensure your safety.
  • Duration of Need: You must have needed this care or supervision for at least six months (this requirement is waived if you are terminally ill).
  • Location: You must be habitually resident in Great Britain (England, Scotland, or Wales).

Crucially, Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit. This means that your savings, income, or any other pensions you receive will not affect your claim or the rate you are awarded. It is also tax-free.

How to Claim Your Attendance Allowance: A Simple Guide

Claiming Attendance Allowance is done through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) using a specific claim form, the AA1 form. The process is designed to be accessible, though it requires detailed information about your care needs.

Step-by-Step Claim Process

  1. Request the Claim Form: You can download the form (AA1) from the official GOV.UK website or request a copy by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline.
  2. Detail Your Needs: The form requires you to detail exactly how your illness or disability affects you and the help you need, particularly concerning personal care (e.g., washing, dressing, eating) and supervision (e.g., if you are at risk of falls or wandering).
  3. Gather Supporting Evidence: While not mandatory, including supporting documents from your GP, consultant, or other healthcare professionals can strengthen your claim.
  4. Submit the Form: Send the completed form back to the DWP. Your claim will be paid from the date the DWP receives your form, making it essential to submit it promptly.

Because the benefit is based on the *need* for care, not whether you actually *receive* it, it is vital to describe the worst-case scenario and the help you would require, even if a family member is currently providing it free of charge.

The Wider Financial Impact: Attendance Allowance and Other Benefits

Receiving Attendance Allowance does more than just provide a weekly cash boost; it can act as a gateway to unlocking other crucial financial support. This is a key reason why eligible individuals should always claim.

Carer’s Allowance

If you are awarded Attendance Allowance, it allows the person who cares for you to potentially claim Carer’s Allowance. This is an entirely separate benefit paid to the carer, provided they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for you and meet other eligibility criteria. The Attendance Allowance boost, therefore, can trigger a financial boost for both the claimant and their carer.

Impact on Means-Tested Benefits

While Attendance Allowance itself is not means-tested, receiving it can lead to an increase in other benefits you might be claiming, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction. This is because the Attendance Allowance is often disregarded as income when calculating your entitlement to these other means-tested benefits, effectively increasing your overall household income.

A Note for Claimants in Scotland: The Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP)

If you live in Scotland, the system is undergoing a significant transition. The Attendance Allowance is being replaced by the new Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), which is administered by Social Security Scotland.

The good news is that if you are already receiving Attendance Allowance in Scotland, you do not need to take any action. Your award will be automatically and safely transferred from the DWP to Social Security Scotland as part of a phased process, ensuring there is no gap in your payments. The PADP will maintain the same payment rates as the DWP’s Attendance Allowance.

The transition to PADP is part of a wider move towards a more dignified and respectful social security system in Scotland, but for the rest of the UK (England, Wales, and Northern Ireland), the DWP’s Attendance Allowance remains the benefit to claim.

Conclusion

The confirmed Attendance Allowance boost for 2025/2026, pushing the higher rate to £110.40 per week, is a welcome increase for older people with care needs. This tax-free, non-means-tested benefit is a cornerstone of financial support for millions. If you are over State Pension age and require help with personal care or supervision, you are strongly encouraged to investigate a claim. The boost not only provides direct financial aid but also opens the door to further support for your carers and can increase your entitlement to other crucial benefits, making it an essential element of your financial planning.

Confirmed: Your Attendance Allowance Boost—New Weekly Rates Up to £110.40 from April 2025
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