Constant Attendance Allowance: Rates, Eligibility & How to Claim in 2026 

Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) is a UK benefit paid to people who get Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at 100% or a War Disablement Pension at 80%+, and who need daily care because of their disability. There are four weekly rates, from £46.80 to £187.20, depending on how much care you need.

Why This Page Exists: AA vs. CAA Confusion

Google search intent for “attendance allowance” and “constant attendance allowance” overlaps heavily, even though the two benefits serve different populations. Attendance Allowance (AA) is a general disability benefit for people over State Pension age, funded through general taxation. Constant Attendance Allowance is narrower  it only applies to people already receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) or a War Disablement Pension.

The historical link between the two goes back decades. Both emerged from post-war welfare reforms designed to support people who couldn’t care for themselves, but CAA was built specifically into the Industrial Injuries scheme and War Pension Scheme rather than the general benefits system.

If you’re looking for Attendance Allowance (available to pensioners with no IIDB or war pension link), visit GOV.UK’s Attendance Allowance page instead. If you already receive IIDB or a War Disablement Pension and need daily care, keep reading  CAA is likely the benefit you want.

Who Qualifies for Constant Attendance Allowance?

CAA has two separate qualifying routes, and you only need to meet one.

• Industrial Injuries route: You must be getting Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit with a 100% disability assessment.
• War Pension route: You must have a War Disablement Pension assessed at 80% or higher.

In both cases, you must also need daily care and attention because of your disability  for example, home nursing or help preparing and eating food. Needing occasional help with light housework doesn’t meet the threshold; the care must relate directly to your disability and be needed on an ongoing basis.

Assessment is carried out by a DWP medical adviser for industrial injury cases, and separately by Veterans UK for war pension cases. The two processes run independently, so an award under one scheme doesn’t guarantee eligibility under the other.

Constant Attendance Allowance Rates (2026/27)

There are four weekly rates of CAA. Your rate depends on how severe your disability is and how much daily care you require.

The part day rate applies if you need help for part of the day. The full day rate covers those needing regular daily attention. Intermediate and exceptional rates apply to people with more severe needs, including those requiring attention throughout both day and night.

Choose the exceptional rate bracket as your benchmark if you need constant, round-the-clock care  this is the only rate that also opens the door to Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance alongside the intermediate rate.

CAA Industrial Injuries: How the Claim Works

For Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit claimants, CAA entitlement is automatically considered at your IIDB medical examination if a 100% disability assessment is being considered. You typically don’t need to submit a separate application.

Key contact for industrial injuries CAA:

• Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre
• Telephone: 0800 121 8379
• Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 121 8379

If you disagree with a decision on your industrial injuries CAA award, you can ask the same centre to reconsider it.

War Pension Constant Attendance Allowance: How the Claim Works

War pension cases follow a different process through Veterans UK, based at Norcross. You’ll need to complete claim form WPA0003CAA, available directly from Veterans UK.

Key contact for war pension CAA:

• Veterans UK
• Telephone: 0808 191 4218
• Email: veterans-uk@mod.uk
• Textphone: 0800 169 3458
• Hours: Monday to Thursday, 7:30am–6:30pm; Friday, 7:30am–5pm

If you disagree with a war pension CAA decision, you can appeal directly to Veterans UK rather than the Barnsley centre.

Can You Get Both CAA and Attendance Allowance?

No  you cannot receive full Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) on top of Constant Attendance Allowance. If you qualify for more than one of these, the DWP calculates whichever pays more and adjusts accordingly. In practice, this usually means your AA, PIP, or DLA is reduced by the amount of CAA you receive, rather than stopped entirely, so you’re not left worse off than before.

Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance (ESDA)

If you’re awarded the intermediate or exceptional rate of CAA, you may also qualify for Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance  an additional weekly payment on top of your CAA award. ESDA isn’t automatic in the sense of requiring no assessment, but it’s considered alongside your CAA claim rather than needing a fully separate application. Contact the Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre for the current ESDA rate and confirmation of your eligibility, since this can change between benefit years.

CAA and Other Benefits: What Gets Affected

Beyond AA, PIP, and DLA, CAA can influence other means-tested support:

• Pension Credit: CAA can trigger the Severe Disability Addition.
• Housing Benefit: May qualify you for a disability premium.
• Council Tax Reduction: CAA can be relevant evidence when applying.
• NHS help with costs: Some passported entitlements follow the same rules as AA recipients.

Because these interactions vary by individual circumstance, it’s worth confirming your specific position with the relevant local authority or Veterans UK adviser.

Reviewing and Renewing Your CAA Award

Most CAA awards aren’t permanent. Fixed-term awards are common, with renewal triggered by a further medical assessment closer to the review date. If your condition improves or worsens, you must report this immediately  this can trigger a reassessment outside the normal review cycle and may change your rate.

You must also report other changes, including a change of address, bank details, marital status, or a hospital stay of 28 days or more.

CAA vs. AA: Which Should You Apply For?

• Already receiving IIDB or a War Pension? Apply for CAA  it’s the correct route and typically pays more given the severity thresholds involved.
• A pensioner with no IIDB or war pension link? Apply for Attendance Allowance instead.
• Eligible for both routes? CAA usually takes priority since it’s specifically tied to your 100% IIDB or 80%+ war pension assessment, and AA will simply be reduced by whatever CAA you receive.

Check your existing award letters from IIDB or Veterans UK first  they’ll usually indicate whether a CAA referral has already happened.

Common Confusion Points Explained

The near-identical names of “Attendance Allowance” and “Constant Attendance Allowance” cause genuine mix-ups, even among healthcare professionals filling out supporting letters. If your GP or occupational health adviser writes a letter for you, ask them to specify which benefit you’re claiming and cite either your IIDB or war pension assessment percentage  this avoids delays caused by ambiguous paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Constant Attendance Allowance the same as Attendance Allowance?
No. CAA only applies to people already receiving Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at 100% or a War Disablement Pension at 80%+. Attendance Allowance is a separate, general disability benefit for pensioners with no such link.

Who can claim CAA?
You can claim if you get IIDB with a 100% disability assessment, or a War Disablement Pension of 80% or more, and you need daily care because of your disability.

What are the four rates of CAA?
Part day (£46.80/week), full day (£93.60/week), intermediate (£140.40/week), and exceptional (£187.20/week), based on 2026/27 rates from GOV.UK.

Can I get both CAA and AA?
No. If you’re eligible for both, the DWP pays whichever is higher, and your AA, PIP, or DLA is reduced by your CAA amount rather than paid in full alongside it.

Do I need to be over State Pension age for CAA?
No. Unlike Attendance Allowance, CAA has no State Pension age requirement  it’s tied to your IIDB or war pension assessment, not your age.

How do I apply for CAA?
Industrial injury cases are usually considered automatically at your IIDB medical exam. War pension cases must complete form WPA0003CAA through Veterans UK.

Does CAA affect other benefits?
Yes. It can reduce AA, PIP, or DLA, and may affect means-tested benefits like Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction.

What’s Exceptionally Severe Disablement Allowance?
An extra weekly payment available to those on the intermediate or exceptional CAA rate, paid alongside CAA rather than replacing it.

Who administers war pension CAA claims?
Veterans UK, based at Norcross, handles all war pension CAA claims, separate from the Barnsley centre that manages industrial injury cases.

What happens if I disagree with a CAA decision?
Industrial injury cases can ask the Barnsley Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Centre for reconsideration. War pension cases can appeal directly to Veterans UK.