Attendance Allowance

You can claim Attendance Allowance if you:

• Are aged 65 or over
• Have a physical or mental disability or illness (including dementia, arthritis, Parkinson's, heart conditions, and mental health conditions)
• Need help with personal care (washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet) or supervision (to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others)
• Have needed this help for at least 6 months
• Are habitually resident in Great Britain

You do not need a carer providing the help. The test is about your need for care, not whether you actually receive it.

Terminal illness: If you have a terminal illness and are not expected to live more than 12 months, you will automatically receive the higher rate under the Special Rules, and payments can start almost immediately without the 6-month qualifying period.

Attendance Allowance is paid at one of two weekly rates:

• Lower rate — £72.65/week: You need frequent help during the day, or prolonged or repeated help during the night. For example, you need help preparing meals, washing, or getting in and out of bed during the night.
• Higher rate — £108.55/week: You need frequent help during both the day and night, or you need someone to watch over you during the day and night, or you are terminally ill.

Payments are made every four weeks directly into your bank or building society account. They are tax-free and do not count as income for other means-tested benefits.

Impact on other benefits: Receiving Attendance Allowance can trigger higher rates of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Reduction because of the severe disability premium. This is an additional payment on top of these means-tested benefits and can be worth hundreds of pounds per year. Contact a benefits adviser to check if you qualify for extra help.

Most people apply using the AA1 paper claim form, which can be obtained by:

• Calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122
• Downloading it from GOV.UK (although the DWP encourages phone or postal requests)
• Asking Citizens Advice, Age UK, or your GP surgery to order one for you

The form asks about your conditions, how they affect you, and what help or supervision you need day and night. Key tips for completing it:

• Describe your worst days — the days when your condition affects you most.
• Include mental health conditions as well as physical ones — anxiety, depression, and dementia all count.
• Include the time things take you and whether you need prompting, supervision, or physical help.
• Ask your GP or specialist for a supporting letter — this is not required but can strengthen your claim.
• Consider getting free help from Age UK or Citizens Advice to complete the form.

Once received, the DWP aims to make a decision within 40 working days. Most decisions are made on the papers without a face-to-face assessment, though this can happen.

Attendance Allowance awards are usually made for a fixed period and then reviewed. If your condition has worsened, you can ask the DWP to review your rate at any time — you do not have to wait for the scheduled review date.

If your condition improves significantly, you must report this to the DWP as your award may be affected.

Challenging a decision: If your claim is refused or you receive a lower rate than you believe you should, you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration within one month of the decision. If the reconsideration is unsuccessful, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal. Age UK and Citizens Advice provide free help with appeals.