Attendance Allowance in Care Homes: Eligibility and How to Claim
Moving into a care home is a significant life change and navigating the financial landscape can often feel overwhelming. One of the most common questions we hear from families is: “Can we still claim Attendance Allowance?”
The answer depends on your funding arrangements. This guide covers the essential rules, current rates, and how to apply, with facts directly sourced from government and charitable experts.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision due to a disability or illness. This means your savings and income do not affect your eligibility. According to GOV.UK, it is designed to help with the extra costs of having a long-term health condition.
Which Medical Conditions Qualify?
There isn’t a fixed list of “approved” conditions. Eligibility is based on how your condition affects your daily life, not the condition itself.
As Age UK explains, you can claim if you have a physical disability (like blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both, provided your disability is severe enough that you need help caring for yourself.
Common conditions that often lead to a successful claim include:
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Arthritis and mobility issues
- Sensory impairments (sight or hearing loss)
- Stroke complications
A Care Needs Test will be carried out. To qualify, you generally must have needed help for at least 6 months (unless you are terminally ill). You do not need to receive help to claim; you just need to show that you reasonably need it for tasks like washing, dressing, or staying safe.
Attendance Allowance in a Care Home: The Rules
Your entitlement changes depending on who pays for your care. Here are the two main scenarios:
Scenario 1: You Are Self-Funding Your Care
If you pay for all your own care home fees, you are usually entitled to continue receiving Attendance Allowance.
Because you are covering the cost of your accommodation and care, the government views this similarly to living in your own home.
NHS Advice: Even if you are self-funding, you might receive “NHS-funded nursing care” (FNC) payments to cover the nursing portion of your fees. The NHS confirms that receiving FNC does not stop you from claiming Attendance Allowance. Please note, as residential care homes, FNC would not apply to our care homes.
Scenario 2: The Local Authority Pays for Your Care
If your local council pays for your care home fees, your Attendance Allowance will usually stop after the first 28 days of your residency.
This is because the benefit is designed to help pay for care costs. If the council is already paying for that care, receiving the allowance is viewed as “double funding”.
What About Respite Care?
Many families use care homes for short-term respite care.
- Self-Funded Respite: If you pay for your own respite care, your Attendance Allowance continues uninterrupted, regardless of the length of stay.
- The 28-Day Rule: If your stay is funded by the local authority or NHS, your Attendance Allowance continues for the first 28 days. It stops if you stay longer.
- The “Linking” Rule: It is crucial to track your days. Citizens Advice warns that if you go into a care home for respite, return home, and then go back into care within 28 days, these periods are “linked” (added together). If the total time in care exceeds 28 days, your benefit may be paused.
Current Rates (2025/2026)
The amount you receive depends on the level of care you need. The rates for the 2025/2026 tax year are:
- Lower Rate: £73.90 per week – for those who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
- Higher Rate: £110.40 per week – for those who need help or supervision during the day and night, or if you are terminally ill.
How to Apply for Attendance Allowance
Applying can seem daunting, but support is available.
- Get the Form: You need form AA1A.
- By Phone: Marie Curie advises calling the helpline at 0800 731 0122 (Textphone: 0800 731 0317). Calling is recommended because your claim date (and potential backdated payment) starts from the date of your call.
- Online: You can download the AA1Aform from GOV.UK.
- Fill It In: Be detailed. Describe the difficulty you face, not just the condition. Guidance on how to fill the form is provided.
- Submit: Send the completed form to “Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance” (you don’t need a postcode or a stamp).
Need Help Navigating Care Funding? We’re Here to Help.
Understanding Attendance Allowance and care home funding can be complex. Our team is well-versed in these matters and can offer guidance to help you and your family understand your options.
Contact our friendly advisors today for a confidential chat.