Older Brits urged to contact DWP for key reason or face losing £441 payments | Personal Finance | Finance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people over state pension age who need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or disability. It is paid at two rates – lower and higher – depending on how much help a person needs during the day and night, up to a maximum of £441 per month (£5,740.80 annually).

While the benefit can offer a significant financial boost, claimants must meet strict eligibility criteria and report any changes in circumstances to avoid sanctions. Guidance on the DWP website warns: “[Attendance Allowance claimants] could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.” The DWP then outlines nine key changes that must be reported, as they could significantly affect entitlement.

What changes in circumstance have to be reported?

Those claiming or applying for Attendance Allowance must report the following changes to the DWP:

• The level of help you need or if your condition changes – you’ll need to provide details, such as if the number of times you need help each day has changed
• You go into hospital or a care home – you’ll need to provide the address, the dates you’ve been there for, and how your stay is paid for
• A medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live (you could get Attendance Allowance at a higher rate under ‘special rules for end of life’)
• You plan to leave the country for more than four weeks
• You go to prison
• You change your name, address or bank details
• You want to stop receiving your benefit
• Your doctor’s details change
• Your immigration status changes if you’re not a British citizen.

If a person doesn’t report a change or a mistake, they might be paid too much, and in this case, they might have to pay some of the money back. They might also have to pay a £50 penalty.

How to report changes to the DWP?

If a claimant experiences a change in circumstance, they can report it using the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, textphone at 0800 731 0317, or via Relay UK (if they cannot hear or speak on the phone), on 18001 then 0800 731 0122.

Attendance Allowance rates 2025

From April 2025, the new rates for the higher and lower amounts of Attendance Allowance are:

• Lower rate: £73.90 per week
• Higher rate: £110.40 per week.

People who need help during the day or at night could be eligible for the lower rate, whereas people who need help during both the day and at night or have a terminal illness, could be eligible for the higher rate.

The money doesn’t need to be spent on care – it can be put towards other things, such as household bills. It also isn’t a means-tested benefit, which means current savings or income won’t affect the claim, nor will it impact other benefits received.

Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?

To claim Attendance Allowance, claimants must be over the state pension age (currently 66) and have a type of disability or illness. This can include anything from learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairments, mobility issues such as arthritis, or mental health issues such as dementia.

It must be clear that claimants could benefit from help with personal care, such as getting washed or dressed, eating and drinking, or needing supervision to keep them safe during the day or night.

Claimants must also have needed help for at least six months prior. However, if claimants are terminally ill, the benefit can be claimed straight away.

Britons don’t need to have had a diagnosis for their condition to apply for Attendance Allowance. As long as they’ve needed help or supervision, or have had difficulties for six months because of their condition, they can claim the benefit.

It should be noted that Britons won’t be able to claim Attendance Allowance if they already receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

How to claim Attendance Allowance

To claim, people need to fill out an Attendance Allowance form, clearly outlining the help they do need, as well as the help they don’t.

To pick up a form, people can either call the helpline on 0800 731 0122 or download it from the Government website, here.