Benefits and Support Available for Elderly People in the UK

A significant amount of financial support exists for older people and their families in the UK, but it is widely underused. Research consistently shows that billions of pounds in entitled benefits and grants go unclaimed every year, largely because people don't know what exists, assume they won't qualify, or find the application process daunting.

This guide covers the main sources of support available, who qualifies, and how to access them. It is not exhaustive, but it covers the most important and most underused provisions.

Information accurate as of July 2026. Benefit rates are reviewed each April — always check current figures on GOV.UK or with a free benefits adviser before making financial decisions based on this guide.

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is probably the single most underused benefit for older people in the UK. It is paid to people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or supervision because of a physical or mental disability or illness.

Crucially, it is not means tested. Your income, savings, and whether you own your home make no difference to whether you qualify.

Who qualifies: You may qualify if you need help with washing or bathing, getting dressed, taking medication, getting in and out of bed, moving around, or if you need someone to supervise you to keep you safe. You don't need to be receiving that help already. The test is whether you need it, not whether you're getting it.

Current rates (2026/27):

• Lower rate: £76.70 per week (if you need help either during the day or at night)
• Higher rate: £114.60 per week (if you need help during both the day and the night)

How to apply: Call 0800 731 0122 or apply online at gov.uk/attendance-allowance. Age UK provides free help completing the form, which makes a significant difference to the success of applications.

Pension Credit

Pension Credit tops up your weekly income if it falls below a minimum threshold. For 2026/27, the threshold is £238.00 per week for a single person and £363.25 for a couple.

It is estimated that around 850,000 people who are entitled to Pension Credit do not claim it. This matters not just because of the direct income it provides, but because claiming Pension Credit also unlocks eligibility for other benefits including free TV licences for over 75s, help with NHS costs, and the Warm Home Discount.

How to apply: Call the Pension Credit claim line on 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm). You can also apply online at gov.uk/pension-credit.

Carer's Allowance

If you are spending 35 hours a week or more caring for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit (including Attendance Allowance), you may be entitled to Carer's Allowance. The current rate is £86.45 per week in 2026/27.

Carer's Allowance is available to carers who are not in full-time education and do not earn more than £204 per week after deductions. Caring for an elderly parent or partner is the most common qualifying scenario.

Note: if you receive a State Pension, the overlapping benefits rule means you may not be paid Carer's Allowance directly. However it is still worth applying, as an underlying entitlement can boost your Pension Credit by a Carer Addition — worth over £2,500 a year for some people who assume they cannot benefit from applying.

How to apply: Apply online at gov.uk/carers-allowance or call 0800 731 0297.

The Disabled Facilities Grant

The Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) provides funding for adaptations to your home to make it safer and easier to live in. This is a means-tested grant. Unlike Attendance Allowance, your income and savings do affect how much you receive.

What it covers: Stair lifts, ramps and level access, widened doorways, adapted bathrooms and kitchens, grab rails and handrails, and other adaptations recommended by an occupational therapist.

Maximum grant: Up to £30,000 in England (different limits apply in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland).

How to access it: The process begins with an occupational therapy assessment, which is free and can be requested through your local council's adult social care team. The OT assesses what adaptations are needed and makes a formal recommendation, which then supports the grant application.

Contact your local council to ask about both the occupational therapy assessment and the Disabled Facilities Grant.

NHS Continuing Healthcare

If your care needs are primarily the result of a health condition (rather than social or personal needs), you may be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC). This is free care funded entirely by the NHS, with no means test. Local authority-funded social care, by contrast, is means tested.

CHC can cover the full cost of care at home or in a care home. It is assessed against a set of criteria relating to the nature, complexity, intensity, and unpredictability of your care needs.

Many families only discover this exists after a loved one has been paying privately for care for months or years. It is worth asking your GP or a social worker to request a CHC assessment if significant health-related care needs are present.

How to request an assessment: Ask your GP, hospital consultant, or social worker to refer you for a Continuing Healthcare assessment. You can also contact your local NHS Integrated Care Board directly.

Blue Badge scheme

The Blue Badge scheme provides parking concessions for people with significant mobility difficulties. Badge holders can park in disabled bays, on yellow lines for up to three hours, and in other restricted areas.

Who qualifies: People who receive the higher rate of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP), people who are registered blind, people who have a severe walking difficulty, and some others with specific conditions. People with hidden disabilities (including dementia in some cases) may also qualify under the broader criteria introduced in 2019.

Cost: Up to £10 in England (free in Scotland and Wales).

How to apply: Apply online at gov.uk/apply-blue-badge or through your local council.

Council Tax Reduction: Severe Mental Impairment

People who are medically certified as severely mentally impaired (SMI) may be entitled to a significant council tax discount — potentially up to 100% in some circumstances. This provision is significantly underused, largely because people are not aware it exists or do not understand how it works.

It is important to understand how SMI works before applying:

• SMI is a medical diagnosis in its own right. The law defines it as a severe impairment of intelligence and social functioning which appears to be permanent. Conditions such as Alzheimer's, dementia, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, or the effects of a severe stroke can be the underlying cause — but having one of these diagnoses does not automatically mean someone qualifies as SMI.
• A doctor must certify SMI. A GP or other medical professional must assess the person and issue a certificate confirming they are severely mentally impaired. GPs cannot charge for this certificate.
• A qualifying benefit must also be in payment. As well as the medical certificate, the person must be receiving one of a list of qualifying benefits — including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, or Severe Disablement Allowance among others. Both criteria must be met.

The size of the discount depends on who else lives in the household. If the SMI person lives alone, the property may be entirely exempt. If they live with one other qualifying adult, a 25% discount may apply.

Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert has a clear, plain-English guide to this at moneysavingexpert.com and is worth reading before contacting your council.

Carer's disregard for Council Tax

A full-time carer who lives with the person they care for may be disregarded for council tax purposes, potentially resulting in a 25% discount. Contact your local council to check whether this applies to your situation.

Warm Home Discount

The Warm Home Discount is a one-off £150 reduction on your electricity bill, available each winter to eligible low-income households. Eligibility is broadly linked to receipt of Pension Credit (Guarantee Credit), though some energy suppliers also extend it to other low-income customers.

The discount is applied automatically for most eligible customers, but if you think you qualify and haven't received it, contact your energy supplier directly.

Winter Fuel Payment

The Winter Fuel Payment is an annual payment of between £100 and £300 to help with heating costs. As of 2024/25, it was restricted to households receiving Pension Credit or certain other means-tested benefits. Check the current eligibility rules at GOV.UK as these have been subject to change. This makes claiming Pension Credit more important than ever for eligible older people.

Free NHS services for people of State Pension age

A number of NHS services are free or subsidised for older people:

• Prescriptions: Free for everyone aged 60 and over in England
• Eye tests: Free for everyone aged 60 and over
• Dental treatment: Free if you receive certain benefits including Pension Credit; otherwise charged at NHS rates
• NHS hearing aids: Free through the NHS for anyone diagnosed with hearing loss by an audiologist

Where to get help with applications

The application processes for some of these benefits can feel intimidating. Free help is available:

• Age UK: ageuk.org.uk | 0800 678 1602. Age UK advisers provide free, confidential guidance on benefits, care, and financial support.
• Citizens Advice: citizensadvice.org.uk | 0800 144 8848. Free, independent advice on benefits, financial support, and navigating public services.
• Turn2us: turn2us.org.uk. A benefits calculator and directory of charitable grants that may be available in your area.
• Carers UK: carersuk.org | 0808 808 7777. Specialist advice for anyone caring for an elderly or disabled person.
• Martin Lewis / Money Saving Expert: moneysavingexpert.com. Particularly good on council tax reductions and the SMI discount.

A final note

The system of support available for older people in the UK is complex and fragmented, and it is not well signposted. People miss out on significant financial support every year, not because they are not entitled to it, but because they don't know it exists or because the application process feels too complicated.

If you are uncertain what you or a family member might be entitled to, the single most useful thing you can do is call Age UK on 0800 678 1602. Their advisers can talk through your specific circumstances and help identify what support is available.