Attendance Allowance

You may qualify for Attendance Allowance if:

• you are over State Pension age. You can find out your State Pension age on Gov.uk
• you have a physical or mental health condition, or disability. This can include sensory conditions such as sight and hearing loss, and cognitive impairments such as dementia. You do not need to have a diagnosis
• you have needed help with your care needs or regular supervision from someone else for at least six months. You can claim whether or not you actually receive this help or supervision
• a medical professional has said you might have less than 12 months to live. If this is the case, you can claim Attendance Allowance straightaway. Visit Gov.uk for more information about benefits if you’re nearing the end of life.

Your care needs could include things like:

• washing and bathing
• dressing and undressing
• getting in or out of bed
• taking medication or having treatment
• communicating to people what you need or making yourself understood.

For more information about who can claim, see our factsheet Disability benefits: How to claim Attendance Allowance.

Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates, depending on the level of care you need:

Your income and savings are not considered when deciding if you qualify for Attendance Allowance, so anyone can claim it regardless of their financial situation. You do not have to spend your Attendance Allowance on care – it’s up to you how you spend the money.

Attendance Allowance will not reduce other benefits you receive, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support. In some cases, you may find that being awarded Attendance Allowance means you’re entitled to higher rates of these other benefits, because of your extra needs.

If you want to apply for Attendance Allowance, it’s best to call the Attendance Allowance helpline to ask for an application form. You can also download a claim form.

If you order a claim form over the phone, your claim can be awarded from the date of your call, rather than the date you return the completed form. You have six weeks from the date stamped on the form to complete and return it.

Our Helpline can help if you have difficulties making a claim – for example, if you have problems reading or filling in forms, understanding complex information, or using a phone or computer. In special circumstances, you may also be able to ask for help from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

The decision maker will use your claim form to work out whether you qualify for Attendance Allowance, so it’s important to give as much detail as possible. You should:

• explain how your condition affects your day-to-day life and what personal tasks you have difficulties with
• answer all the questions if you can and give examples  
• include the time it takes you to carry out specific tasks and how much help you need with them, even if there’s no one to help you
• explain how your needs change and how bad your difficulties can be if some days are better than others
• mention any things you avoid doing because they’re difficult for you – for example, if it’s difficult bending and reaching to put on and take off socks, even while you’re sitting down
• explain what happens when you don’t receive the care you need, especially if this has left you at risk of falls or struggling to manage
• send supporting information if you're able to – for example, from your carer, GP or consultant.

For more tips on filling in your form, see our factsheet, Disability benefits: How to claim Attendance Allowance.

Some people find that if they’ve lived with their health problem for a long time, they overlook or underestimate their difficulties, so it’s a good idea to get help to fill in the form. Our advice team can help you over the phone – book an appointment by calling 0800 319 6789 or emailing helpline@independentage.org. If you want to help someone else to fill in the form, read our tips on how to help someone to claim.

If you’ve made a new claim, you should receive a written response within three weeks. The letter will tell you whether you’ve been awarded Attendance Allowance, and the rate that you’ll get. If you've been awarded Attendance Allowance, it could be either indefinitely or for a fixed period.

Getting Attendance Allowance also means that you may qualify for an increase in any means-tested benefits or tax credits you're currently getting. If you don't get any, you may qualify for the first time. Call our Helpline on 0800 319 6789 to see what other benefits you could get, or use our benefits calculator.

If you feel like something has gone wrong and you want to challenge the decision – for example, if you haven’t qualified for Attendance Allowance, or you received a lower rate than you expected – see our factsheet What to do if you disagree with a benefits decision.

Your Attendance Allowance may change if your situation changes – for example, if you go into hospital, move to a care home or go abroad. Also, if your needs change, the amount you’re entitled to may go up or down. Contact our Helpline to discuss your options with an adviser. You’ll also need to contact the Attendance Allowance helpline.