Attendance Allowance

1) What Attendance Allowance is

Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people who have reached State Pension age and need help or supervision with personal care or to stay safe because of a disability or long-term health condition.

It is not means-tested. That means the amount of money you have in savings or your income do not affect whether you can get it or how much you get. It is about how your condition affects your daily life.

2) Who can claim it

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you must:

• Be at State Pension age or older (check the latest age for your year of birth).
• Have a physical or mental disability or health condition (including sight or hearing impairment, dementia, long-term illness).
• Need help or supervision for your personal care or to keep yourself safe (for example help to wash, dress, move around, or constant watching over).
• Have needed that help for at least six months, unless you are terminally ill.
• Be living in Great Britain when you claim, and usually have been for 2 of the last 3 years.
• Not already be getting certain other benefits that would make you apply for something else instead (for example, in Scotland there is a different benefit for new claims).

You do not need to have a carer or someone looking after you right now — what matters is that you need the help or supervision, whether or not you currently get it.

3) How much you can get

There are two weekly rates for Attendance Allowance depending on how much help or supervision you need:

• Lower rate: for people who need help during the day or supervision at night.
• Higher rate: for people who need help or supervision during both day and night, or who are terminally ill.

For example, from April 2025-26 the rates are approximately £73.90 per week for the lower rate, and £110.40 per week for the higher rate. (Check on GOV.UK for the current rate.)

Because it is not means-tested, you keep all the money you receive. You can spend it however you like — it does not have to go on care services.

4) How to claim

To claim, you need to:

1. Get the claim form (form AA1) from the DWP website, or call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 to ask for a form sent to you.
2. Complete the form with details of your condition(s), how they affect you, when you started needing help, and what help or supervision you need. You can ask someone to help you with the form if you find it difficult.
3. Send the completed form to the address on the form (Freepost address — no stamp needed). If you were sent the form by phone request, your claim date may be the date you asked for the form, if you return it within the time limit.
4. Wait for a decision letter from DWP telling you whether you have been awarded Attendance Allowance, at what rate, and from what date your payment will start.

It is important to be clear about how your condition affects you — not just what your diagnosis is. Describe what you can’t do, how often help is needed, whether you need someone to stay awake at night, and if you have had the need for at least six months.

5) What it covers and what it doesn’t

Attendance Allowance covers help or supervision with personal needs because of disability or long-term illness. Some of the tasks or issues that count include:

• Washing, bathing, dressing, using the toilet.
• Getting in and out of bed, moving around inside or outside.
• Helping you remember or manage medication/treatment.
• Supervision to keep you safe — for example if your condition means you fall, wander, forget things, etc.

Tasks which do not count as much or at all include things like general housework, shopping or gardening unless they link to your personal care needs. The key is the impact of your condition on your ability to function and your need for care or supervision.

You can get it whether you live at home or in certain types of care home — but if your care home costs are paid for by your local authority, it may affect eligibility for new claims.

6) Changes, reviews and condition adjustments

If your health condition or disability changes — for better or worse — you must tell DWP. The decision may be reviewed and your rate may change.

If you originally got the lower rate but your condition has worsened and you now need help during both day and night, you can ask for a review of your case and possibly move to the higher rate.

If you are terminally ill (meaning you might have a year or less to live), you may be able to get the higher rate more quickly and the six-month rule may not apply.

7) How it interacts with other benefits

Although Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, it can help you get other benefits or increase what you get from them, such as:

• Pension Credit — as extra money that can increase your award.
• Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction — your local council may treat it as income, but many people still find their entitlement increases.
• Carer’s Allowance — if you receive Attendance Allowance and someone cares for you, they might qualify for Carer’s Allowance.

Because Attendance Allowance is tax-free and not means-tested, it’s safe in the sense that your savings or pension do not stop you getting it. But always check how your other benefits are calculated.

8) Common mistakes people make

• Thinking you must already receive help — you just need to *need* the help or supervision, not necessarily actually get it.
• Under-estimating how your condition affects you — it’s not only when you cannot do something at all, but when you find it very difficult, unsafe or slow without help.
• Not applying because you’re worried about affecting other benefits — for many people AA leads to more, not less, support.
• Applying too late — if your need has been for six months (or you are terminally ill), apply as soon as possible; back-dating may apply only from the date you ask for the claim form or send it back.
• Failing to report changes of condition or address/benefit situations — this can lead to issues later or incorrect payments.

9) Worked examples

Example A: Mrs Smith, day-only help

Mrs Smith is 78. She has arthritis and needs help dressing and bathing each morning. She does not need help at night. She claims Attendance Allowance and is awarded the lower rate (because she needs help during the day but not through the night).

Example B: Mr Jones, day and night supervision

Mr Jones is 84 and has dementia. He needs someone to check on him during the day and someone awake at night because he wanders in his sleep. He claims Attendance Allowance and is awarded the higher rate (because his care needs span both day and night).

Example C: Mrs Lee, terminal illness

Mrs Lee is 70 and has a life-limiting illness with the doctor saying she may have fewer than 12 months left. She applies for Attendance Allowance and is awarded the higher rate immediately, because of the terminal illness condition.

10) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

11) Useful UK links and resources

• GOV.UK – Attendance Allowance overview
• GOV.UK – How to claim Attendance Allowance
• GOV.UK – What you’ll get (rates)
• Citizens Advice – Attendance Allowance help
• Age UK – Attendance Allowance guide