The Short Answer
The DWP published a "Don't pay to claim" toolkit on 8 October 2026 to remind older people that claiming Attendance Allowance is free. It warns that some claims management companies take fees of as much as half of the money owed, and that some charge over £1,000 for one Attendance Allowance application. These companies act legally, but the claim itself costs nothing. Free help is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age. Attendance Allowance rates are unchanged.
What this means for your payments
- Who is affected: people over State Pension age who may be eligible for Attendance Allowance, or Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland, and their families.
- What changes to your money or your payment date: nothing. Attendance Allowance stays at £76.70 or £114.60 a week in 2026/27. A company fee comes out of the money you are owed; a direct claim costs nothing.
- From when: the DWP published the campaign toolkit on 8 October 2026.
- What you need to do: nothing, unless a company offers to claim for you. You can claim directly, or get free help instead.
What Changed
The DWP published a toolkit for its "Don't pay to claim" campaign on 8 October 2026. The campaign is aimed at people who may be eligible for Attendance Allowance or for Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland. It also covers missing Home Responsibilities Protection, which protects State Pension for some parents and carers.
The DWP states that claims management companies are "contacting pensioners and their families, offering to handle claims for benefits like Attendance Allowance". The toolkit gives the fees it has seen:
| What the company handles | Fee quoted by the DWP |
|---|---|
| Any benefit claim | As much as half of the money owed |
| An Attendance Allowance application | Over £1,000 in some cases |
| A Home Responsibilities Protection claim | 35% to 48% of any backdated payment or pension increase |
Last checked:
How the Companies Work
The DWP says many people do not realise they have agreed to anything until a company takes a cut of their payment. Its campaign copy states that "verbal agreements are common". It adds that people often miss the 2-week cooling-off period before they see what has happened.
The DWP states that these companies "are not doing anything illegal". Its message is about cost: "if you're eligible for these benefits, claiming them should never cost you anything."
Where to Get Free Help
Free help with a claim is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age, and the DWP campaign site explains how to apply. The site, "Claiming your benefits is free", includes a walk-through video for applying for Attendance Allowance online.
People living in Scotland apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance. Anyone deciding between the two benefits around State Pension age can compare them in PIP vs Attendance Allowance.
To see which rate may apply before you claim, you can check your likely Attendance Allowance rate with the calculator.
Legal Status
The campaign is DWP guidance and publicity, not a change in law. The toolkit gives stakeholders social media posts, newsletter copy and posters to use. It does not change who can get Attendance Allowance or how a claim is decided.
What Has Not Changed
Attendance Allowance rates and eligibility are unchanged, and the benefit is still not means-tested. The rates for 2026/27 are:
| Attendance Allowance rate | Weekly amount 2026/27 |
|---|---|
| Lower rate | £76.70 |
| Higher rate | £114.60 |
Last checked:
The same principle applies to every benefit: the DWP states that "it's always free to claim your benefits and entitlements directly from the government". That includes PIP.
What Happens Next
The DWP has not published an end date for the campaign. The toolkit and the campaign site are live on GOV.UK.