Does Attendance Allowance affect Pension Credit?

For people over State Pension age who get, or could get, Attendance Allowance.

Applies to: England, Scotland, Wales Last checked against official sources: 6 October 2026

Attendance Allowance does not reduce Pension Credit, and it can increase it.

Attendance Allowance is not counted as income for Pension Credit.
Getting it can add a severe disability amount of £86.05 a week to your Pension Credit in 2026/27.
This extra amount has conditions, for example nobody gets Carer's Allowance for looking after you.
Attendance Allowance itself is £76.70 or £114.60 a week.
Tell the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469 if your benefits change.

Different in Scotland

Pension Age Disability Payment replaces Attendance Allowance. It also counts towards the severe disability amount.

Different in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland

Rules may be different in:

Northern Ireland: Check nidirect for Northern Ireland

Key facts

Not counted as income
Can add £86.05 a week
AA: £76.70 or £114.60 a week
Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment

How the two benefits fit together

Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition. Pension Credit is a top-up for pensioners on a low income.

They work well together:

Attendance Allowance is ignored as income. It does not reduce your Pension Credit.
It can raise your Pension Credit. It can add a severe disability amount on top of the standard level.
It can help you qualify. Your income is topped up to a higher level, so you might get Pension Credit for the first time.

GOV.UK says you could also get extra Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.

The amounts (2026/27)

Item	Weekly amount
Attendance Allowance, lower rate	£76.70
Attendance Allowance, higher rate	£114.60
Pension Credit standard level, single	£238.00
Pension Credit standard level, couple	£363.25
Severe disability amount	£86.05
Carer amount	£48.15

Conditions for the severe disability amount

You must get a qualifying benefit, such as Attendance Allowance, the daily living part of PIP, or the middle or highest care rate of Disability Living Allowance. In Scotland, Pension Age Disability Payment and Adult Disability Payment also count.

The law also says, for a single person:

no one aged 18 or over normally lives with you (there are some exceptions), and
nobody gets Carer's Allowance, Carer Support Payment or the Universal Credit carer element for looking after you.

Worked example

Joan is single and lives alone. Her only income is a State Pension of £200.00 a week. Her savings are under £10,000, so they do not count.

	Before Attendance Allowance	After Attendance Allowance (lower rate)
Level her income is topped up to	£238.00	£324.05 (£238.00 + £86.05)
Pension Credit	£38.00	£124.05
Attendance Allowance	£0.00	£76.70
Total weekly income	£238.00	£400.75

Her Pension Credit goes up by £86.05 a week, and she gets £76.70 Attendance Allowance on top.

How to claim both

Claim Attendance Allowance online or by post. Call 0800 731 0122 for a form.
Claim Pension Credit online (if you have claimed your State Pension), by phone on 0800 99 1234, or by post.
If you already get Pension Credit when Attendance Allowance is awarded, tell the Pension Service on 0800 731 0469. They need to know about changes to benefits anyone in your home gets.

If you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland

Scotland: Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance. It pays the same £76.70 or £114.60 a week, and it counts for the severe disability amount.
Northern Ireland: Pension Credit is run separately. See nidirect.

Related guides

Where these figures come from

Get it done

This takes you to the official service, which is free to use.

Apply for Pension Credit

Common questions

Will Attendance Allowance stop my Pension Credit?

No. Attendance Allowance is not counted as income for Pension Credit, so it cannot reduce it.

Can I get Pension Credit because I get Attendance Allowance?

Possibly. The severe disability amount raises the level your income is topped up to, so some people with income above £238 a week can qualify.

What if my carer gets Carer's Allowance for me?

Then you cannot get the severe disability amount.

Official sources

1.Pension Credit: eligibilitywww.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility
2.Pension Credit: what you'll getwww.gov.uk/pension-credit/what-youll-get
3.State Pension Credit Regulations 2002, Schedule Iwww.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2002/1792/schedule/I
4.Attendance Allowance (GOV.UK)www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
5.Pension Credit: report a change of circumstanceswww.gov.uk/pension-credit/change-of-circumstances
6.Pension Age Disability Payment (mygov.scot)www.mygov.scot/pension-age-disability-payment

Checked against GOV.UK on 6 October 2026

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