Attendance Allowance

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1. Overview

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg), British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read format.

It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

You could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if you’re both:

It does not cover mobility needs.

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.

You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.

If you do have a carer, they could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

2. What you'll get

Attendance Allowance is paid weekly at 2 different rates - the one you get depends on the level of help you need.

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested - what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.

Attendance Allowance rates

Rate Level of help you need
Lower rate - £72.65 Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night
Higher rate - £108.55 Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live

If your circumstances change, you could get a different rate. You must report a change of circumstances.

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance - check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit.

If you get Constant Attendance Allowance at the same time, your Attendance Allowance will be reduced by the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance you get.

How you’re paid

All benefits are paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.

3. Eligibility

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply (unless you might have 12 months or less to live):

  • you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both
  • your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
  • you have needed that help for at least 6 months

You must also:

If you might have 12 months or less to live

You can get Attendance Allowance more quickly and at the higher rate if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live. This is sometimes called ‘special rules’.

If you live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein

You might still be able to get Attendance Allowance if you’re a UK national and you live in or move to the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

Read guidance to find out if you can get benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.

If you’re in a care home

You cannot 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.

If you need an assessment

You’ll only need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility if it’s unclear how your illness or disability affects you.

If you do need an assessment you’ll get a letter saying why and where you must go. During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you.

4. How to claim

You can apply for Attendance Allowance online or by post.

To apply, you’ll need:

  • your National Insurance number
  • your address and contact details
  • details of the health condition or disability that you need extra help for
  • details of your GP surgery or medical centre

Apply online

The new service will accept a limited number of applications each week.

You cannot apply online if you’re either an appointee or have power of attorney, or have been told you meet the ‘special rules for end of life’.

Start now

Apply by post

You can claim by either:

There is a different process for Attendance Allowance in Northern Ireland.

Send the completed form to:

Freepost
DWP Attendance Allowance

You do not need a postcode or a stamp. The form comes with notes telling you how to fill it in.

Attendance Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0122
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

After you apply

After you send your claim, you’ll get a text or letter within 3 weeks that explains when you can expect a decision.

Once a decision is made, you’ll get a letter explaining the outcome.

When you’ll be paid

If you’re awarded Attendance Allowance, the decision letter will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.

If you apply online, your claim will start on the date you make your claim.

If you print and post the form, your claim will start on the date the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) receives it.

If you call the helpline to get a form, your claim will start on the date of your call (if you return the form within 6 weeks).

If you might have 12 months or less to live

You can get Attendance Allowance more quickly if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live. This is sometimes called ‘special rules’.

You cannot apply online. You must complete an Attendance Allowance claim form. You should also ask a doctor or medical professional for form SR1 - they’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the DWP.

You can do this on behalf of someone else without their permission. The letter about the money awarded will not mention ‘special rules’.

If you disagree with a decision

You can challenge a decision about your claim. This is called asking for mandatory reconsideration.

Complaints

You can complain to DWP if you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received.

5. Report a change in circumstances

If your circumstances change, the amount you get from Attendance Allowance may go up or down.

You must contact the Attendance Allowance helpline straight away if:

  • the level of help you need or your condition changes - you’ll need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed
  • you go into hospital or a care home - you’ll need to provide the address, the dates you’ve been there for, and how your stay is paid for
  • a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
  • you plan to leave the country for more than 4 weeks
  • you go into prison
  • you change your name, address or bank details
  • you want to stop receiving your benefit
  • your doctor’s details change
  • your immigration status changes, if you’re not a British citizen

You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.

Attendance Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0122
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122
British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

If you’ve been paid too much

You may have to repay the money if you:

  • did not report a change straight away
  • gave wrong information
  • were overpaid by mistake

Find out how to repay the money you owe from benefit overpayment.