Brits over state pension age could be due £441 - nothing to do with winter fuel payment

Thousands of state pensioners may be able to boost their income by £441 per month by claiming the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Attendance Allowance.

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. Eligible conditions can include anything from arthritis and asthma to hearing loss. The benefit is not means-tested, so income and savings do not count towards eligibility, yet billions of pounds worth of the support are missed every year. According to Policy in Practice’s latest report on the issue, around £5.2billion of the benefit goes unclaimed per year.

People who are eligible will receive either the lower or the higher rate of the payment.

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% benefit payment increase, those entitled to the highest rate receive around £441.60 per month, which translates to around £5,740.80 per year.

Here’s everything you need to know about the Attendance Allowance.

People can claim Attendance Allowance if they’ve reached the state pension age of 66 and the following apply:

• They have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example, blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
• Their disability or health condition is severe enough for them to need help caring for themself or someone to supervise them, for their own or someone else’s safety
• They have needed that help for at least six months.

Applicants must be in Great Britain - England, Scotland, or Wales - when making a claim, though exceptions exist for members of the armed forces and their families. They must also have lived in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years, a requirement that does not apply to refugees or individuals with humanitarian protection status.

Additionally, claimants must be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, the Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, and must not be subject to immigration control unless they are sponsored immigrants

However, you won’t be able to claim if you already receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA).

Those who live in Scotland 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.”

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.

Individuals requiring assistance either during the day or at night may qualify for the lower rate of support. Those who need help both day and night, or who are living with a terminal illness, could be eligible for the higher rate.

Importantly, recipients are not required to spend this money specifically on care; it can be used for other expenses, such as household bills. The benefit is not means-tested, so savings and income do not affect eligibility, nor does it impact any other benefits a person may already receive.

To apply, individuals must complete an Attendance Allowance form, detailing the assistance they require as well as any help they do not need.

Forms can be obtained by calling the helpline at 0800 731 0122 or downloaded directly from the Government’s website. You may also be able to apply online.