Don't pay to claim Attendance Allowance, DWP tells pensioners

What DWP is warning about: fees of over 1,000 pounds

The Department for Work and Pensions published its 'Don't pay to claim' campaign toolkit on 8 October 2026. The campaign is aimed at people who are potentially eligible for Attendance Allowance, and Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland. It aims to discourage people from using claims management companies that charge fees. DWP says claims management companies are contacting pensioners and their families, offering to handle claims for Attendance Allowance or missing Home Responsibilities Protection for a fee. The campaign material applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

DWP says some claims management companies charge over 1,000 pounds to complete an Attendance Allowance application that could be done for free with the right support. DWP says the fees can often be as much as half of the money the person is owed. The department states that these companies are not doing anything illegal, but that the impact on individuals can be significant. The warning is part of a wider effort to ensure that people do not pay for services that are available at no cost through official channels and charities.

Attendance Allowance: who can claim and what it costs

Attendance Allowance helps people who are over State Pension age and have a disability or health condition that means they need extra help or support day to day. The benefit is not means-tested: eligibility depends on need, not income. This means that a person's savings or earnings do not affect whether they can receive Attendance Allowance. The application process can be completed without any fee, and support is available to help people fill in the forms correctly.

DWP says it is always free to claim directly. The government's 'Claiming your benefits is free' website offers help, including a walk-through video for applying for Attendance Allowance online. Despite this, some claims management companies are offering to handle claims for a fee. DWP says some of these companies charge over 1,000 pounds for an application that could be done for free. The department is encouraging people to seek free help rather than paying for a service that is not necessary.

Home Responsibilities Protection: the 35% to 48% cut

Home Responsibilities Protection, or HRP, helps protect State Pension entitlement for parents and carers. Anyone who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2010 should have automatically received HRP. However, for some people HRP was not recorded correctly, which means their State Pension could be lower than it should be. HM Revenue and Customs no longer holds historic Child Benefit records, so people need to check for themselves whether they are affected. This can be done directly and for free through HMRC.

DWP says claims management companies are taking between 35% and 48% of any backdated payment or pension increase from a successful Home Responsibilities Protection claim. This means that a significant portion of the money that people are owed can be lost to fees. DWP says verbal agreements are common and people often miss the 2 week cooling-off period before they realise a company has taken a cut. The department says these companies are not doing anything illegal, but the impact on individuals can be significant.

Why people end up paying

DWP says verbal agreements are common when claims management companies contact pensioners and their families. People often miss the 2 week cooling-off period before they realise a company has taken a cut. This can happen because the agreement is made over the phone and the terms are not fully understood. The cooling-off period is a legal right that allows a person to cancel a contract within 14 days, but DWP says it is often missed in these situations.

DWP says these companies are not doing anything illegal. However, the department states that the impact on individuals can be significant. The fees charged can reduce the amount of money that people receive from a successful claim. For Attendance Allowance, some companies charge over 1,000 pounds. For Home Responsibilities Protection, companies take between 35% and 48% of any backdated payment or pension increase. DWP is highlighting these figures to make people aware of what they might be paying for a service that is free elsewhere.

Where to get free help

DWP says free help is available from Citizens Advice and Independent Age. These organisations can provide support with benefit claims without charging a fee. The government's 'Claiming your benefits is free' website also offers help, including a walk-through video for applying for Attendance Allowance online. The website is part of the 'Don't pay to claim' campaign, which was published on 8 October 2026. The campaign is aimed at people who are potentially eligible for Attendance Allowance, and Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland.

It is always free to claim directly. People who are over State Pension age and have a disability or health condition that means they need extra help or support day to day may be eligible for Attendance Allowance. The benefit is not means-tested, so income and savings do not affect eligibility. For Home Responsibilities Protection, people can check directly and for free through HMRC. DWP says claims management companies are contacting pensioners and their families, but free support is available. The campaign material applies to England, Scotland and Wales.

Source: DWP 'Don't pay to claim' toolkit, 8 October 2026.

Related coverage on Kael Tripton: Attendance Allowance 2026/27: Rates, Eligibility and How to Claim, Attendance Allowance: the rates, the test and what it unlocks, Triple lock: what Tuesday's earnings figure means for the 2027 state pension, State pension 2027 rise: how the triple lock sets next April's increase and what the forecasts show, DWP Pension Credit Reviews: What You Are Asked For.

Frequently asked questions

What is the DWP 'Don't pay to claim' campaign?

The Department for Work and Pensions published its 'Don't pay to claim' campaign toolkit on 8 October 2026. It is aimed at people who are potentially eligible for Attendance Allowance, and Pension Age Disability Payment in Scotland. It aims to discourage people from using claims management companies that charge fees.

How much do some claims management companies charge?

DWP says some claims management companies charge over 1,000 pounds to complete an Attendance Allowance application that could be done for free with the right support. DWP says the fees can often be as much as half of the money the person is owed. For Home Responsibilities Protection claims, DWP says companies take between 35% and 48% of any backdated payment or pension increase.

Is it illegal for claims management companies to charge these fees?

DWP says these companies are not doing anything illegal, but that the impact on individuals can be significant.

Who can claim Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance helps people who are over State Pension age and have a disability or health condition that means they need extra help or support day to day. It is not means-tested: eligibility depends on need, not income.

What is Home Responsibilities Protection?

Home Responsibilities Protection helps protect State Pension entitlement for parents and carers. Anyone who claimed Child Benefit between 1978 and 2010 should have automatically received it. For some people it was not recorded correctly, which means their State Pension could be lower than it should be.