Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is available if you're in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, you've reached State Pension age and need help with personal care or day-to-day needs.

Find out whether you qualify, how to claim and what information you need to apply.

you're State Pension age (check your State Pension age on the gov.uk website)
you've had care or supervision needs for the last 6 months (the 'qualifying period')
you've been living in the UK for 2 of the last 3 years and your immigration status doesn't prevent you claiming
you're 'habitually resident' in the UK, and
you're terminally ill, or
you satisfy one of the disability tests.

What are the disability tests?

To get Attendance Allowance, you must have a severe physical or mental disability (or both) that means you reasonably need (but you don't necessarily receive) the following help:

care from another person several times throughout the day to help with your 'bodily functions'. This can include help getting in and out of bed, getting dressed and undressed, washing and other personal hygiene needs, going to the toilet, taking medication, eating, cutting up food, drinking and communicating with other people, or
continual supervision (being checked on or watched regularly – but not non-stop) throughout the day to make sure you're safe and/or not a danger to yourself or others, or
care from another person at least twice each night, or for 20 minutes or more, to help you with your 'bodily functions' (as described above), or
another person to be awake and watch over you to make sure that you're safe or not a danger to others, at least 3 times each night, or for 20 minutes or more each night.

How much will I get from Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is paid at 1 of 2 weekly rates, depending on the amount of help you need:

The lower rate is £73.90 and applies if you need the above care or supervision throughout the day or the night.
The higher rate is £110.40 and applies if you need care or supervision throughout the day and the night.

'Special rules' claims

If you're terminally ill and unlikely to live more than 12 months, you will be able to get the higher rate under 'special rules'.

In this case, your doctor, consultant or specialist nurse will need to confirm that you have a terminal illness (they can do this using a SR1 form, which they should keep at the surgery/hospital).

There is no 6-month 'qualifying' period for terminal illness claims. Under the rules, someone else can apply on your behalf with or without your knowledge. Special rules claims are reviewed every 3 years.

How is Attendance Allowance paid?

Attendance Allowance is usually paid every 4 weeks directly into a bank, building society or Post Office card account.

How do I claim Attendance Allowance?

You can claim online on the gov.uk website.

You can also download the Attendance Allowance claim form AA1 on this page to print out and fill in.

You or someone acting for you can also request the form by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (textphone 0800 731 0317). You can find out about Attendance Allowance eligibility in Northern Ireland by calling 0800 587 0912 (textphone 0800 012 1574).

If the Attendance Allowance helpline sends you the paper claim form, it will be stamped with the date you asked for it. If Attendance Allowance is awarded to you, it will be paid from this date, as long as you return the claim form within 6 weeks.

If you download the form, the date the Department for Work and Pensions receives it is treated as the start date for the claim.

Once you send off the completed claim form, the Department for Work and Pensions (or the Disability and Carers Service in Northern Ireland) may contact your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse for further information. Or it may send one of its doctors to your home to assess you before they approve your claim (this is very rare).

When can I make a claim?

You must have been in need of care or supervision for 6 months before you can start being paid Attendance Allowance.

You can make your claim during this 6-month qualifying period, but the benefit will not be paid until it has ended. If you apply under the special rules for terminal illness, there is no 6-month qualifying period.

How long is Attendance Allowance awarded for?

Attendance Allowance may be awarded to you for an indefinite period (where there's no set end date) or for a fixed period of time.

If it's for a fixed period, you’ll normally be sent a renewal claim form 4 months before your existing claim runs out.

Does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?

Receiving Attendance Allowance can increase the amount of any means-tested benefits (such as Pension Credit) you get. Attendance Allowance can be paid in addition to any other social security benefits.

Attendance Allowance is not taxable. It's not based on National Insurance contributions. It's also not means-tested.

So any income or savings you have don't affect whether you're awarded it or how much you get.

However, your local authority might take Attendance Allowance into account when considering if you need to contribute to the cost of any care and support services you receive from them.

Can I claim Attendance Allowance alongside PIP or DLA?

No. If you already get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you'll continue to get that benefit and you won't be able to claim Attendance Allowance.

What if I go into hospital or a care home?

Your payment will stop after you've been in hospital for a total of 4 weeks (either in 1 stay, or several stays, where the gaps between stays are no more than 4 weeks each time).

You can't usually get Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority. You can still claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.

What if I am refused Attendance Allowance?

What if I'm refused Attendance Allowance?

If you feel that you've been wrongly refused Attendance Allowance, it's worth asking the Department for Work and Pensions (the Disability and Carers Service in Northern Ireland) for a 'mandatory reconsideration' of its decision.

You have 1 month from the date of the decision to do this. You can ask for a mandatory reconsideration over the phone, but it's best to confirm in writing.

It can help if you get a letter from your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse, pointing out what your care needs are. The letter may simply state that they have read the diary you've kept of your care needs and they agree that those needs are a result of your condition.

If you've asked for a mandatory reconsideration and the Department for Work and Pensions doesn't change its mind, you have another month to appeal to an independent tribunal.

To do this, fill in an SSCS1 appeal form on the gov.uk website. In Northern Ireland, download form NOA1(SS) from the NI Direct website.

There are organisations that can offer help and advice (some for free) with your appeal, such as Citizens Advice, local welfare rights groups or local solicitors.

What if there's a change in my condition?

If you get the lower rate of Attendance Allowance and your condition progresses, you can ask the Department for Work and Pensions (the Disability and Carers Service in Northern Ireland) to look at your claim again and consider the higher rate.

They may do this if you need help to keep yourself safe, you need to be looked after both during the day and the night, or if you develop a terminal illness.

Before putting in your request, try to get some advice and information about the process. If the Department for Work and Pensions receives information that your care needs have decreased, your benefit may be withdrawn.

Before asking for a review, you should consider how your needs have increased on a daily basis. What extra support and help do you need now that you didn't need when you first claimed Attendance Allowance? Keeping a diary of your daily and more importantly night-time care needs might help you with this.

It can be helpful to get medical support before you ask for a review. A letter from your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse stating your current care needs will help.

The letter may simply say that they've read the diary of your care needs and agree your condition would create the needs you've mentioned.

When you ask for a review, you need to contact:

Attendance Allowance Unit (for England and Wales) on 0800 731 0122 (textphone 0800 731 0317)
Disability and Carers Service – Attendance Allowance (for Northern Ireland) on 0800 587 0912 (textphone 0800 012 1574)

You'll normally be sent a review form to complete. If your condition improves, you'll also need to get in touch with the Attendance Allowance Unit or Disability and Carers Service as soon as you can.

They'll normally send you a review form, so they can reassess your award.

It's always important to provide full, accurate information to the Attendance Allowance Unit or Disability and Carers Service, and to let them know if your circumstances change.

Download attendance allowance information

Helpline and local advisers

Our helpline and Parkinson's local advisers are here to answer any questions you have about Attendance Allowance.

Call us on 0808 800 0303.

Find out more about our helpline and local advisers

Last updated July 2024. If you'd like to find out more about how we put our information together, including references and the sources of evidence we use, please contact us at [email protected]