UK pensioners born before 1959 could get extra £441 each month | Personal Finance | Finance

Thousands more state pensioners born before 1959 could get an extra £441 per month by claiming the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Attendance Allowance.

The benefit is not means-tested, so income and savings do not count towards eligibility, yet billions of pounds worth of the support go unclaimed every year. According to Policy in Practice’s latest report on the issue, more than one million pension-age households in Great Britain could be missing out on £5.2billion of Attendance Allowance per year. Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over state pension age (currently 66) who need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or a disability.

It’s paid at two rates: the lower rate and the higher rate. The amount you receive is calculated based on how much help is required, not any current help you receive or don’t.

After this year’s 1.7% payment increase, it means those entitled to the highest rate can now receive around £441.60 per month, which translates to around £5,740.80 per year.

Here’s a rundown of the eligibility criteria and weekly payment rates.

Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age of 66 and the following apply:

• You have a physical disability (including a sensory disability, like blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
• Your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
• You have needed that help for at least six months.

You must also be in Great Britain – England, Scotland or Wales – when you claim. There are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces.

You have been in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status).

You must also be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, and not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant).

Additionally, you cannot already be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA).

If you live in Scotland, you will need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance.

A statement from the DWP reads: “You’ll only need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility if it’s unclear how your disability or health condition affects you. If you do need an assessment you’ll get a letter saying why and where you must go. During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you.”

Attendance Allowance rates

The higher and lower rates for Attendance Allowance in the 2025/26 tax year 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.

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.