Deciding between Attendance Allowance or PIP is a vital step in securing the right support for your loved one. The main difference between Attendance Allowance and PIP is that eligibility depends on your family member’s age when they first need support. Attendance Allowance is for those who have reached State Pension age (currently 67 or over), while Personal Independence Payment PIP is for people aged 16 to State Pension age. Both benefits help cover the extra costs of living with a physical or mental disability, helping your loved one stay independent at home.
In August 2024, statistics show that more than 1.8 million people in Great Britain currently claim attendance allowance, but many more are eligible and simply do not know it. These benefits are worth between £73.90 and £110.40 per week, providing extra money to help families pay for vital support such as a care assistant.
Understanding the eligibility criteria ensures your family member receives the help they deserve. These payments are a tax-free benefit and are not means-tested, so your savings or income do not matter. By receiving Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment, your loved one can access help for daily living tasks and to manage their health condition comfortably at home.
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit designed to help older people who need support because of a disability or health condition. It prioritises support with personal care, not mobility.
You can usually claim Attendance Allowance if your loved one has reached State Pension age and needs help with daily living due to a physical or mental disability. This includes long-term physical conditions, mental health conditions, or a combination of both.
Attendance Allowance is for people who:
You do not need to have someone caring for you to apply. You can still get Attendance Allowance if family members support you informally.
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance:
The amount you receive does not depend on your income or savings. Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, which reassures many families who worry about eligibility.
You can apply by:
The application process focuses on how a health condition affects daily life. Evidence from a medical professional, such as a GP or specialist may support the application.
If your loved one is receiving Attendance Allowance, it may unlock access to other benefits, including Housing Benefit, Council Tax reduction, or additional support allowance such as Pension Credit.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is for people of working age who live with a long-term condition or disability. You may also see it referred to as Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Unlike Attendance Allowance, PIP includes support for mobility as well as daily living. It uses a structured assessment to decide eligibility.
You may be able to claim PIP if your loved one:
You cannot make a new PIP claim after reaching State Pension age. However, if someone was already receiving PIP before that point, they will usually continue to receive it.
PIP has two parts:
Each part can be paid at a lower rate or a higher rate, depending on how the condition affects the person.
The mobility component is important for some families because it can also support applications for a Blue Badge or access to mobility schemes.
PIP uses a points-based system. The Department for Work and Pensions looks at how difficult it is for an applicant to complete activities such as:
The assessor considers whether tasks can be done safely, how long they take, and whether help or equipment is needed. The final benefit decision depends on the total points.
When looking at Attendance Allowance vs PIP, the biggest factor is age. If your loved one is 67 or older, they will likely claim AA (Attendance Allowance). If they are younger, they will claim PIP. While both provide more money to help with the challenges posed by disability, the way the DWP assesses eligibility is quite different.
PIP uses a points-based system that considers specific activities that might be challenging. For example, it considers whether a person can use sign language to communicate or if they need help preparing food. In contrast, Attendance Allowance relies on the application form and evidence from a GP. There is no mobility component for Attendance Allowance, which means it does not specifically pay for help with walking or making journeys outside of the home.
Both AA and PIP are tax-free benefits and are not means-tested benefits. This means receiving either will not reduce your State Pension benefits. In fact, receiving attendance allowance or PIP can often lead to an increase in other benefits. For example, your loved one might become eligible for a Council Tax reduction or extra Housing Benefit once they are awarded these payments.
Feature
Attendance Allowance
Personal Independence Payment
Age Requirement
Reached State Pension age (67+)
16 to State Pension age
Mobility Part
No
Yes
Assessment Type
GP evidence and claim form
Points-based assessment
Means-tested?
No
No
Where to apply
Attendance Allowance helpline
DWP new claims line
You cannot claim Attendance Allowance and PIP together because they cover the same types of needs. The government does not allow a person to receive two different disability benefits for the same health condition.
If your family member is already receiving PIP when they reach state pension age, they will usually continue to get it. They do not need to switch to Attendance Allowance. In fact, staying on PIP is often better because it includes the mobility part thatttendance Allowance does not. However, you cannot start a new claim for PIP once you are 67 or older.
Before claiming Attendance Allowance or PIP, you must check which one fits your current age. If your loved one already receives Disability Living Allowance, an older benefit that has been replaced by PIP for most adults, they will eventually be moved to PIP. If they are already over the State Pension age and have never claimed a disability benefit, they must claim Attendance Allowance.
Life changes, and so do care needs. If a family member has a health condition that affects them more severely over time, you might need to update the Disability and Carers Service. For example, if someone on the lower rate of Attendance Allowance now needs help during the night, they might qualify for the higher rate.
When circumstances change, you must inform the relevant part of the Department for Work and Pensions. A next review might be scheduled to see if your loved one is eligible for more money. For those on PIP, a change in a physical or mental disability could mean moving from the standard rate to the enhanced rate for the daily living part.
It is also important to know about special rules for both of these benefits. For both AA and PIP, if a person is terminally ill and has less than six months to live, the application process is fast-tracked. In these cases, the DWP automatically awards the higher rate. This ensures that the person gets the support they need without waiting for anassessment.
Both benefits can make a meaningful difference for a family member who needs support due to a disability or health condition. They provide extra money that can be used flexibly, helping families arrange practical support at home.
Your loved one might use these benefits to organise support with:
Because both Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment are tax-free benefits, the full amount can go directly towards support that suits your family. These benefits do not count as means-tested benefits, so they will not reduce income from other sources.
A person who is awarded Attendance Allowance may find they become entitled to more money through other benefits such as Pension Credit, Council Tax reduction, or Housing Benefit. Families are often surprised by how much their overall support increases after one approval.
If your loved one has substantial care needs, the person looking after them may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. To qualify, the cared-for person must receive the right disability benefit, which can include Attendance Allowance or the daily living part of PIP.
You can still claim Carer’s Allowance even if you are a relative of the individual, and it may also connect you to the Disability and Carers Service for guidance. Many families find this helpful as they manage day-to-day support.
When arranging at-home support, families often ask how these benefits influence wider care planning. This includes care funding, care home costs, and arranging support through the local authority.
The money received through Attendance Allowance or PIP can help cover the cost of home care services, equipment, or transport. These benefits also offer reassurance when planning long-term care.
Attendance Allowance is often the better option for older adults because it focuses on ongoing support needs related to a physical or mental disability. For younger people, PIP may be more suitable due to the mobility part and its detailed assessment of how a condition affects daily tasks.
These benefits do not replace other forms of help. You can still request a carer’s assessment from your council. This assessment considers what support you as a carer need to keep safely supporting your loved one, and it can lead to additional help from your local authority.
Even if your loved one moves into a care home, they may still receive certain benefits depending on funding arrangements. Always closely check how changes in circumstances affect benefits because the rules vary in England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.
Movement within the UK or from the European Economic Area can affect entitlement to disability benefits. For example:
These rules can influence care planning if your loved one moves closer to family.
Choosing between Attendance Allowance and PIP often depends on the individual’s age, diagnosis, and how their disability affects daily life. Once you understand the eligibility criteria and eligibility rules, it becomes easier to decide which benefit will provide the right level of support. These benefits not only help with immediate expenses but may also increase access to means-tested financial help.
At Tiggo Care, we know how stressful these decisions can be for families. If you are supporting a loved one at home, our team can help you organise safe, reliable, person-centred care services. We take a personalised approach focused on maximising comfort, independence, and quality of life.
Our care assistants can help with meal preparation, medication routines, domestic tasks, physiotherapy routines outlined by professionals, trips to appointments, and support with social activities. If you need guidance arranging care in London, we are here to help every step of the way.
The best way to know is to consider your age. If you are under the State Pension age, you should claim PIP, but if you are 67 or older, you must get Attendance Allowance. Both benefits help with the extra costs associated with a health condition, so your age at the time of your claim is the deciding factor.
Yes, you can claim these benefits for any physical or mental disability that significantly affects your daily life. The DWP considers the ways your condition affects your ability to perform daily living tasks rather than the specific diagnosis you have. You will need to provide evidence from a medical professional or your GP to show that you have needed help for at least six months.
Absolutely. You are free to use the money to pay for a care assistant. Many families find that the extra money helps them organise care visits for tasks like washing, dressing, or preparing food. Using these benefits for home care allows your loved one to stay in a familiar environment rather than moving into a care home.
Attendance Allowance is not necessarily better, but it is the only option if you make a new claim after you have reached State Pension age. PIP is often seen as more comprehensive because it includes a mobility part, whereas Attendance Allowance only focuses on personal care. However, if you’re already receiving PIP when you turn 67, you will usually keep it, as it often provides more support.
Get in touch with Tiggo Care today to see how we can help you or your loved one.
.jpg)
.jpg)