PIP vs Attendance Allowance

PIP and Attendance Allowance both help with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability, and neither looks at your income or savings. What separates them is age, and what that age brings with it: PIP covers working-age people and includes help with getting around, while Attendance Allowance starts at State Pension age and covers personal care only. The assessment processes differ too. Understanding which applies to you — and when the switch between them happens — is the first step to claiming the right one.

Tip: scroll the table sideways to see all columns →

Feature	PIP	Attendance Allowance
Age range	16 to State Pension age	State Pension age and over
Components	Daily living component and mobility component	Lower rate and higher rate (care needs only, no mobility component)
Weekly rates (2026/27)	Daily living: £76.70–£114.60; Mobility: £30.30–£80.00	Lower: £76.70; Higher: £114.60
Medical assessment required	Yes — face-to-face, telephone, or paper-based assessment	Usually decided on paper without a face-to-face assessment
Means tested
Effect on other benefits	Can increase Universal Credit disability premium; passports to other support	Can increase Pension Credit and council tax support
2026/27 weekly rate (lower/standard)	Daily living: £76.70 (standard), £114.60 (enhanced)	£76.70 (lower rate), £114.60 (higher rate)
Mobility component included	Yes — £30.30 (standard) or £80.00 (enhanced)	No — AA covers care needs only, not mobility

If you reached State Pension age before April 2013, you may have been transferred from Disability Living Allowance rather than PIP.

Which one applies to you?

Your age on the day you claim decides it. Below State Pension age, PIP is the route. At or above it, Attendance Allowance is the route for a new claim. There is no choice between them and no advantage in trying the other. The practical consequence is that PIP has a mobility component and Attendance Allowance does not — so if difficulty getting around is a significant part of your daily reality, claiming PIP before you reach State Pension age matters financially.

Approaching State Pension age with a condition that already affects you? Claim PIP now. Once awarded, it can continue past pension age, mobility component and all.
Already over State Pension age? Attendance Allowance is straightforward, usually decided on the paperwork, and is often the better first step towards Pension Credit as well.
Unsure whether your needs are enough? Both are about the help you need on most days, not a diagnosis. Describe your worst days as well as your best ones.

The mistake that costs people most is waiting. Someone who delays a PIP claim until after State Pension age loses access to the mobility component permanently, because Attendance Allowance has no equivalent and no route back. If you are within a year or so of pension age and already struggling, claim now rather than later.

The second mistake is not claiming at all because of savings or a private pension. Neither benefit is means-tested, and neither is taxable.

Frequently asked questions

What happens to my PIP when I reach State Pension age?

It carries on. You do not lose PIP simply because you reach pension age, and you keep any mobility component you were awarded, which you could never get through Attendance Allowance. Your award continues to be reviewed on its normal cycle, and you should keep reporting changes as usual. The one restriction is that you cannot make a brand-new PIP claim once you are over State Pension age — from that point, new claims go to Attendance Allowance instead.

Can I move from Attendance Allowance to PIP if my mobility gets worse?

No. Attendance Allowance has no mobility component, and you cannot start a new PIP claim after State Pension age, so worsening mobility will not open that door. What you can do is ask for a supersession of your Attendance Allowance if your care needs have increased enough to move you from the lower to the higher rate. It is also worth checking Pension Credit and council tax support, because an Attendance Allowance award can increase both.

What if my claim is turned down?

Ask for a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision date, saying which parts you disagree with and why, and adding any evidence the decision maker did not have. If the reconsideration does not change things, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. Appeals succeed far more often than people expect, particularly where there is fresh evidence from someone who sees you regularly. There is no fee, and you can ask a local advice service to help you prepare.

Do I need my doctor to fill in the form?

No, and waiting for a GP appointment often just delays the claim. These forms are about function rather than diagnosis, so the most persuasive evidence tends to come from people who see your daily life — a partner, a carer, an occupational therapist, a community nurse. Include copies of anything you already have, such as a care plan, medication list or hospital letter. Send copies rather than originals, and keep a record of what you sent and when.

Related guides

Personal Independence Payment (PIP)

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit for people aged 16 to 64 who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects their ability to carry out daily activities or get around. It is not based on your diagnosis but on how your condition affects you day to day.

14 min

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who have a disability or illness and need help with personal care or supervision. Around 1.7 million people in Great Britain receive it, but many more are eligible and do not claim. If you are under State Pension age, the equivalent benefit is Personal Independence Payment.

12 min

Disability Benefits Overview

People with disabilities and long-term health conditions in the UK may be entitled to a range of benefits, payments, and services — from personal independence payments and employment support to free bus travel and council tax reductions. This guide maps the main entitlements and how they interact.

11 min

Carer's Allowance

Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for unpaid carers in the UK. It is worth £86.45 per week (2026/27) and is paid to people who provide at least 35 hours of care per week to someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. Despite being the main carer benefit, it has a comparatively low rate and strict earnings rules that catch many carers out.

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Disclaimer

The information on this page was correct at the time of writing. Amounts, thresholds, and rules may change. Always check the latest official guidance.