Constant Attendance Allowance: 2026 Guide

Who can claim Constant Attendance Allowance?

Constant Attendance Allowance is not a standalone benefit. It is an increase paid on top of either Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) or a War Disablement Pension.

You may be able to claim if you:

• Receive IIDB at the 100% rate and need constant care because of your assessed condition

• Receive a War Disablement Pension at 80% or higher and need regular care because of the condition(s) your pension is paid for

• Need personal care — such as help with washing, dressing, eating, or using the toilet — or need someone to supervise and prompt you

• Are ordinarily resident in the UK

Important: Care does not include shopping, cooking, cleaning, or similar household tasks. It means personal care and supervision only.

Terminal illness: If you have a War Pension at 80% or higher and a terminal illness caused by service before 6 April 2005, you may be able to get the allowance under special rules.

Nation differences:

• Scotland: Constant Attendance Allowance is administered by Social Security Scotland. It can be paid to individuals aged 16 or above. [VERIFY: current application process on mygov.scot].

• Northern Ireland: Claimants contact the IIDB Centre for industrial injury cases or Veterans UK for war pension cases. The rules are broadly similar.

• England and Wales: Claims are handled by the DWP for IIDB cases and Veterans UK for War Pension cases.

End of section. For more on disability benefits for veterans, see our guide to War Pension Scheme Explained.

How much could you get? (2026 rates)

Constant Attendance Allowance has four rates. The rate you receive depends on how much care you need.

War Pension Scheme rates (from April 2026):

Industrial Injuries Scheme: Rates may differ slightly from the War Pension scheme. [VERIFY: current IIDB Constant Attendance Allowance rates on GOV.UK].

Warning: You cannot receive Constant Attendance Allowance and Attendance Allowance at the same time. If you get both, your Attendance Allowance is reduced by the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance you receive. However, if your Attendance Allowance is higher than your CAA, you may be able to get a top-up.

End of section. For a comparison, see our guide to Attendance Allowance Rates 2026/27.

How to apply: step by step

Step 1: Check which scheme applies to you

If your disability is linked to work (an accident or industrial disease), you claim through the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme. If it is linked to military service, you claim through the War Pension scheme. The application process differs.

Step 2: Gather your documents

You will need your National Insurance number, details of your IIDB or War Pension award, and medical evidence about your care needs. For the War Pension scheme, you may need to include clinic reports, imaging results (X-rays, MRI scans), or GP letters.

Step 3: Complete the application form

For Industrial Injuries cases: Your entitlement to Constant Attendance Allowance will usually be considered automatically at the time of your medical examination for IIDB if a 100% assessment is being considered. If your condition worsens after your claim, you can ask about claiming Constant Attendance Allowance separately.

For War Pension cases: Download the WPS0003CAA form from GOV.UK. Complete it, sign it in black pen, and post it to Veterans UK. You cannot submit this form by email.

Step 4: Return the form within the deadline

If you return the War Pension CAA form within 3 months of the date on your decision letter, payment is normally made from the date your War Pension started. If your War Pension has been in payment for more than 3 months, payment is from the date you asked for the form. If you return it late, payment is only from the date Veterans UK receives it.

Step 5: Wait for the decision

A medical adviser will assess your care needs. You will receive a decision letter confirming your rate. [VERIFY: current processing times on GOV.UK].

Documents you’ll need — checklist

• □ 

  Your National Insurance number

• □ 

  Details of your IIDB or War Pension award (percentage and date)

• □ 

  GP or consultant reports about your care needs

• □ 

  Clinic reports, X-rays, MRI scans (War Pension cases)

• □ 

  Your bank details for payment

• □ 

  Signed WPS0003CAA form (War Pension cases only — sign in black pen)

End of section. For help with forms, see our guide to Veterans UK Contact Details.

Common mistakes that delay or reduce payments

Claiming Attendance Allowance instead of Constant Attendance Allowance. If you already get IIDB or a War Pension, you should claim CAA. If you claim the wrong benefit, you may receive less than you are entitled to.

Missing the 3-month deadline for War Pension claims. If you do not return your form within 3 months of the date it was sent, you can only be paid from the date Veterans UK receives it. Do not delay.

Not describing your care needs in enough detail. The medical adviser needs to understand what help you need and why. Describe your worst days, not your best.

Assuming you cannot claim because you do not pay a carer. You can still get Constant Attendance Allowance even if you do not pay the person looking after you.

Forgetting to report hospital stays. If you are admitted to hospital for more than 4 weeks, payment of CAA is withheld from the 28th full day of treatment. Tell Veterans UK or the DWP straight away.

End of section. If your payment stops unexpectedly, see our guide to War Pension Payment Problems.

What happens after you apply?

Timelines: Once your claim is assessed, you receive a decision letter confirming your rate and start date. [VERIFY: current processing times on GOV.UK].

How payments work: CAA is normally paid with your IIDB or War Pension and is usually paid in arrears. If you have an underlying entitlement to CAA, you may be paid at a daily rate of one-seventh of the weekly rate for days spent out of hospital.

If you disagree with the decision: You can ask for a review or appeal. For War Pension decisions, you have the right to appeal to a tribunal. [VERIFY: current appeal time limits on GOV.UK].

If you go into a care home: If you permanently enter a local authority funded care home, your CAA payment is suspended from the day after the 28th day of residence.

End of section. For appeals, see our War Pension Appeals Guide.

Related support you might be missing

• Carer’s Allowance: If your carer provides at least 35 hours of care a week, they may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance. Getting CAA can help your carer qualify.

• War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement (WPMS): If you have a War Pension and need help getting around, you may be able to get WPMS. [VERIFY: current WPMS rate on GOV.UK].

• Pension Credit: If you are over State Pension age and on a low income, getting CAA may increase your Pension Credit entitlement.

• Council Tax Reduction: Getting CAA can increase your entitlement to Council Tax Reduction. Contact your local council.

Quick summary checklist

• IIDB 100% or War Pension 80%+ required.

• Four rates — from full day to exceptional.

• War Pension CAA full day rate: £93.60 a week (2026).

• You cannot get CAA and Attendance Allowance together.

• War Pension claims: return form within 3 months.

• Scotland: administered by Social Security Scotland.

• Carer’s Allowance: your carer may benefit from your CAA award.

FAQs

What is Constant Attendance Allowance?
Constant Attendance Allowance is an extra payment for people who receive Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit at 100% or a War Disablement Pension at 80% or higher, and who need daily personal care because of their condition. It has four rates depending on care needs.

How much is Constant Attendance Allowance in 2026?
Under the War Pension scheme, the full day rate is £93.60 a week, the intermediate rate is £140.40, and the exceptional rate is £187.20. Industrial Injuries rates may differ. [VERIFY: current IIDB rates on GOV.UK].

Can I get Constant Attendance Allowance and Attendance Allowance together?
Generally, no. If you get CAA, your Attendance Allowance is reduced by the amount of CAA you receive. However, if your Attendance Allowance is higher than your CAA, you may be able to get a top-up.

How do I claim Constant Attendance Allowance for a War Pension?
Download the WPS0003CAA form from GOV.UK, complete it, sign it in black pen, and post it to Veterans UK. Return it within 3 months of your decision letter to get the maximum backdating.

Is Constant Attendance Allowance means-tested?
No. Constant Attendance Allowance is not means-tested. Your income and savings do not affect your claim. It is paid on top of your IIDB or War Pension.

Conclusion

Constant Attendance Allowance is a vital top-up for severely disabled people whose condition is linked to work or military service. If you receive IIDB at 100% or a War Pension at 80% or higher and need daily personal care, you may be able to claim. The War Pension full day rate is £93.60 a week in 2026. Do not confuse it with Attendance Allowance — you cannot usually get both. If you live in Scotland, Social Security Scotland administers the allowance.

For more help, see our guides to War Pension Scheme Explained, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, and Carer’s Allowance.