PIP vs Attendance Allowance - Which One Do I Claim?

The main difference is age. PIP is for people aged 16 to State Pension age. Attendance Allowance (AA) is for people who reach State Pension age. You cannot claim PIP if you are over State Pension age and have never claimed it before.

Key Differences

Age: PIP = working age (16 to State Pension age). AA = State Pension age and over.

Components: PIP has daily living AND mobility. AA only has care (daily living) - there is NO mobility component in AA.

Assessment: PIP requires a health assessment. AA usually does not - most AA claims are decided on paper.

Rates: AA has two rates - lower (£76.70/week) and higher (£114.60/week). These match PIP daily living rates.

What If I Already Have PIP and Reach State Pension Age?

If you claimed PIP before reaching State Pension age, you keep PIP for as long as your award lasts. You do not switch to AA. When your PIP award ends, you will be reviewed on PIP (not moved to AA). This is important because PIP includes mobility - AA does not.

What If I Never Claimed PIP?

If you reach State Pension age without ever having claimed PIP, you cannot start a new PIP claim. You must claim Attendance Allowance instead. You lose access to the mobility component entirely.

Why This Decision Matters So Much

The maximum PIP award is £187.45/week. The maximum Attendance Allowance is £114.60/week. That's a difference of £80.00/week - over £4,000 per year. Plus PIP gives you access to Motability (a car every 3 years) and automatic Blue Badge eligibility through enhanced mobility. Attendance Allowance has neither.

If you're approaching State Pension age and have mobility difficulties, claiming PIP BEFORE your birthday could be worth £4,000+ per year for life. Once you pass State Pension age, you can never access the PIP mobility component.

Transferring from DLA

If you were on DLA and have been invited to claim PIP, you keep both daily living AND mobility components on PIP (assuming you qualify). If you were on DLA and have passed State Pension age without being migrated to PIP, contact the DWP - you may have been missed and your DLA should continue until they migrate you.

2026/27 Rate Comparison Table

• PIP daily living standard: £76.70/week (£3,988.40/year)
• PIP daily living enhanced: £114.60/week (£5,959.20/year)
• PIP mobility standard: £30.30/week (£1,581/year)
• PIP mobility enhanced: £80.00/week (£4,160/year)
• PIP maximum (both enhanced): £194.85/week (£10,132/year)
• Attendance Allowance lower rate: £75.50/week (£3,926/year)
• Attendance Allowance higher rate: £112.95/week (£5,873/year)

The PIP daily living rates and AA rates are now closely aligned by policy. The key financial difference is the mobility component - up to £4,160/year extra that AA cannot provide. Over a typical post-retirement life expectancy of 15-20 years, this is £62,000-£83,000 of lost income for someone who could have claimed PIP but did not.

Activity Assessment Differences

PIP and Attendance Allowance assess different things:

• PIP uses 12 specific activities with descriptors and points. You need 8+ points for standard rate and 12+ for enhanced rate in each component.
• Attendance Allowance uses two broad tests: needing care during the day OR during the night (lower rate, £75.50), or needing care during the day AND during the night (higher rate, £112.95). There are no points and no descriptors.

AA assessment is simpler but less generous. The maximum you can get from AA equals the standard PIP daily living rate, but you cannot reach the PIP enhanced rate or the mobility supplement.

The Critical Pre-Pension-Age Window

If you are within 12 months of State Pension age and have any disability or health condition, calling 0800 917 2222 to start a PIP claim immediately is one of the highest-value financial decisions you can make. The key facts:

• You must claim PIP BEFORE your State Pension age birthday. After that date, new PIP claims are refused.
• Once claimed, your PIP continues for life (subject to reviews).
• The mobility component cannot be added to AA later, even if your mobility deteriorates.
• Motability and Blue Badge follow PIP enhanced mobility, which is only accessible by claiming PIP before retirement.

Even if your claim is initially refused, an MR or tribunal can backdate to your pre-pension claim date. This is worth thousands of pounds over your retirement years.

What Happens If You Are Currently on DLA at State Pension Age

If you receive DLA and reach State Pension age, you continue on DLA. The DWP will not move you to AA. You can keep DLA for as long as your award lasts and at any future review you stay on DLA (or are moved to PIP if you were under State Pension age when contacted - very rare). DLA care low rate equals AA lower; DLA care middle/high equal AA higher; DLA mobility continues separately.

If you were on DLA and never invited to move to PIP, your DLA simply continues. There is no penalty for this - it is a quirk of the system.

Attendance Allowance Process at a Glance

Even though PIP is more generous, AA is straightforward when you are over State Pension age:

1. Call 0800 731 0122 to request the AA1 form (or download from gov.uk)
2. Complete the form describing your care needs day and night
3. Submit with supporting medical evidence
4. Decision typically within 8-12 weeks (much faster than PIP)
5. Backpayment to the date you registered the claim
6. Most decisions made on paper without assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

I'm 65 and already on PIP. What happens?

Nothing changes. Your PIP continues past State Pension age with both components. At your next review, you'll be assessed under the same PIP criteria. You keep mobility. You keep Motability if you have enhanced mobility.

Can I switch from Attendance Allowance to PIP?

No. Once you're past State Pension age and on Attendance Allowance, you cannot switch to PIP. This is why claiming PIP before State Pension age is so important if you have mobility difficulties.

What if I become disabled after State Pension age?

You claim Attendance Allowance. You cannot start a new PIP claim. AA can be backdated to the date you registered the claim, but not before. Apply as soon as your condition affects your daily care needs.

I am 64 and 11 months - can I still start a PIP claim?

Yes, as long as you call before your State Pension age birthday. Even if the decision is made after your birthday, your claim date is the date you called. Your PIP, if awarded, will start from then and continue indefinitely. Do not wait.

Does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?

No - AA is not means-tested and does not count as income for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. In fact, receiving AA may increase Pension Credit (severe disability addition) and trigger Carer's Allowance for a family member caring for you.

How is AA paid?

4-weekly into your bank account, like other benefits. Tax-free. Does not need to be declared on tax returns.

Will AA pay for a care home?

AA continues if you self-fund a care home. AA stops 28 days after admission if the local authority funds your care home (because the local authority should be providing all care needs). If you partially self-fund, AA usually continues.