Attendance Allowance with State Pension

Yes, you can get Attendance Allowance at the same time as your State Pension. The two benefits are entirely compatible and receiving one does not affect the other.

Key points about Attendance Allowance:

1. It is specifically designed for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental disability.

2. It is not means tested, so it does not matter how much income you have from your State Pension, any private pension, savings, or other sources.

3. It is tax free and is not counted as income for tax purposes.

4. It does not depend on National Insurance contributions.

5. You must have needed help or supervision for at least six months before you claim, unless you are terminally ill, in which case the claim can be fast-tracked under the special rules and there is no six-month qualifying period.

There are two rates:

Lower rate, currently £72.65 per week, if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day or during the night.

Higher rate, currently £108.55 per week, if you need help or supervision both during the day and during the night, or if you are terminally ill.

An additional practical benefit is that receiving Attendance Allowance can also increase certain other entitlements. For example, if you receive Pension Credit or Housing Benefit, an award of Attendance Allowance may result in an increase in those benefits because it can trigger a severe disability addition or premium.

To claim, you complete form AA1, which you can get by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 or downloading it from the GOV.UK website.

One thing to be aware of is that Attendance Allowance is generally not payable if you are living in a care home and your place is funded by a local authority, though there are some exceptions around short stays and self-funding residents.

If you have a specific health condition or set of care needs you would like to discuss in more detail, I am happy to help you think through whether you are likely to qualify and how best to describe your needs on the form.