What is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free DWP benefit for people over State Pension age (66) who need help with personal care due to illness or disability. You can claim up to £5,959 per year (£114.60 per week at the higher rate). It's not means-tested, so your savings and income don't affect eligibility.

What are the Attendance Allowance rates?

There are two Attendance Allowance rates: Lower rate of £76.70 per week (£3,988/year) for frequent help during day OR supervision at night, and Higher rate of £114.60 per week (£5,959/year) for help or supervision throughout both day AND night. Rates are set by the DWP and reviewed annually.

What is the Attendance Allowance eligibility criteria?

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you must: be State Pension age (66) or over, have needed help for at least 6 months (unless terminally ill), need help with personal care or supervision, and have been in the UK for at least 2 of the last 3 years. You cannot claim if receiving PIP or DLA.

How do I apply for Attendance Allowance?

You can apply for Attendance Allowance by completing form AA1 from the DWP, available online at GOV.UK or by phone on 0800 731 0122. Alternatively, our expert service helps you complete the Attendance Allowance application form correctly with a 95% success rate and no-win, no-fee guarantee.

Can I get help with my Attendance Allowance form?

Yes! Many people find the DWP Attendance Allowance form complex. Our service provides expert help completing your Attendance Allowance application form, ensuring all questions are answered correctly to maximize your chances of approval. We only charge £430 if your claim is successful.

What is the higher rate Attendance Allowance?

The higher rate Attendance Allowance is £114.60 per week (£5,959 per year). You qualify for the higher rate if you need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or if you're terminally ill (under Special Rules for Terminal Illness).

Can I claim Attendance Allowance and PIP together?

No, you cannot claim Attendance Allowance and PIP (Personal Independence Payment) at the same time. Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age, while PIP is for those under State Pension age. If you receive DLA, you may be able to switch to Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age.

Does Attendance Allowance affect Council Tax Reduction?

No, receiving Attendance Allowance does NOT affect your Council Tax Reduction. In fact, getting Attendance Allowance may help you qualify for additional Council Tax discounts, such as the Severe Mental Impairment exemption. Attendance Allowance is also disregarded when calculating Housing Benefit and Pension Credit.

Can I claim Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance?

Yes! You can claim both Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance. Getting Attendance Allowance may actually increase your Pension Credit payments through the Severe Disability Addition. This can add over £81 per week extra to your Pension Credit if you live alone and receive Attendance Allowance.

What is the DWP Attendance Allowance contact number?

The DWP Attendance Allowance helpline number is 0800 731 0122 (free from UK landlines and mobiles). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You can also contact our specialist service on 01702 655034 for expert help with your Attendance Allowance application.

Attendance Allowance Entitlement: Is This Benefit For You?

2026-03-08 by Elder Care

Wondering if you're entitled to Attendance Allowance? Understand eligibility, common conditions, and how Elder Care can simplify your claim for financial support.

Discovering Your Attendance Allowance Entitlement

Are you or a loved one over the State Pension age and needing regular help with daily tasks due to a physical or mental condition? If so, you might be entitled to Attendance Allowance, a valuable benefit designed to provide financial support for care needs. At Elder Care, we understand that navigating benefits can be daunting, which is why we're here to help simplify the process for you.

What Exactly is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for individuals who have reached State Pension age (currently 66 and above) and require supervision or help with personal care. Crucially, you don't need to be receiving care from someone else to be eligible; it's about your *need* for care, even if you live alone.

This benefit is not means-tested, meaning your savings and income won't affect your eligibility. It's paid weekly at two different rates:

Lower rate: £76.70 per week (approximately £3,988.40 per year)
Higher rate: £114.60 per week (approximately £5,959.20 per year)

These payments are made every four weeks, so you could receive either £306.80 or £458.40 directly into your bank account. This money can be used however you wish – perhaps to help with care costs, paying for adaptations around the home, or contributing to everyday living expenses. It can also open doors to other benefits, like Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.

Who Is Eligible? Understanding the Criteria

To be entitled to Attendance Allowance, you must meet the following key conditions:

Age: You must have reached State Pension age.
Health Condition: You must have a physical or mental disability severe enough that you need help with personal care or supervision to keep you safe.
Duration: Your care needs must have existed for at least six months. (This rule doesn't apply if you're terminally ill).

It's important to remember that 'personal care' covers a wide range of activities.

Common Conditions and Care Needs That Qualify

Many different health conditions can lead to an entitlement for Attendance Allowance. Here are examples of conditions and the type of care needs they might create:

Dementia (e.g., Alzheimer's, Vascular Dementia): This often leads to difficulties with memory, understanding, navigation, and self-care. Needs could include supervision for safety (e.g., preventing wandering, ensuring doors are locked), prompting for medication or personal hygiene, or help with preparing meals and managing finances.
Arthritis and Mobility Issues: Severe arthritis, Parkinson's disease, or general frailty can make moving around difficult and painful. This might mean needing help with getting in and out of bed, dressing, using the toilet, bathing, or even just standing up safely.
Falls Risk: Frequent falls or a high risk of falls means needing supervision to prevent injuries, help with getting up if a fall occurs, or assistance with navigating steps and uneven surfaces.
Incontinence: Needing help with managing continence, changing clothes, or maintaining hygiene due to bladder or bowel issues.
Sensory Impairments: Severe sight or hearing loss can necessitate supervision to avoid accidents, help with reading important documents, or communication support, especially if combined with other conditions.
Medication Management: If you struggle to remember to take your medication, understand dosages, or administer treatments (e.g., eye drops, insulin injections), this counts as a care need requiring supervision or direct assistance.
Mental Health Conditions (e.g., severe depression, anxiety): These can impact motivation, personal hygiene, ability to cook, or safety, leading to a need for prompting, supervision, or encouragement with daily tasks.

Even if your condition fluctuates, or if you only need help at night, you may still be entitled. For example, someone who regularly needs to get up to use the toilet at night and requires assistance to do so safely due to poor balance would likely qualify.

The Application: Why It's Often Challenging

The Attendance Allowance (AA1) application form is notoriously long and detailed – often running to over 40 pages. It asks for comprehensive information about your daily life, your health conditions, and the specific help or supervision you need. It's not enough to simply list your medical conditions; the DWP wants to understand the *impact* these conditions have on your ability to perform daily tasks and how this creates a need for care.

Many applications fail or are awarded at the lower rate because the form isn't completed with enough detail or with the right focus on care needs. Common pitfalls include:

Understating needs: Many older people are resilient and tend to minimise the challenges they face. The form requires you to be candid about your difficulties.
Lack of specific examples: Generic statements like "I find it hard to walk" are less impactful than "I struggle to walk across the living room without holding onto furniture, and often feel unsteady, needing a stick for short distances even indoors."
Not focusing on 'care' or 'supervision': The form is about the help you *need*, not just your medical diagnosis. It's crucial to connect your conditions directly to the care activities you require.
Difficulty articulating needs: It can be emotionally draining and confusing for elderly individuals to meticulously detail their deepest vulnerabilities.

While the DWP has recently introduced an online application, it offers much less scope to provide the necessary detailed evidence compared to the paper form. This reduced opportunity for thorough explanation often leads to a lower rate award or outright rejection, as it's harder to paint a complete picture of your care needs. Opting for a professional, managed service like Elder Care ensures your comprehensive situation is fully and accurately represented.

How Elder Care Can Help Secure Your Entitlement

At Elder Care, we specialise in helping people successfully claim Attendance Allowance. Our service removes the stress and complexity from the application process, offering peace of mind and significantly improving your chances of a successful claim at the correct rate. We operate on a 'No Win, No Fee' basis, meaning you only pay our success fee of £430 if your claim is awarded.

Here's how we make a difference:

Expert Guidance: Our team understands the nuances of the AA1 form and what the DWP looks for. We know how to articulate your care needs effectively.
Comprehensive Support: We'll work with you to gather all necessary information, ensuring every detail of your care needs is thoroughly documented.
Stress-Free Process: We handle the paperwork, freeing you and your family from the burden of the complex application form.
Maximising Your Award: Our goal is to ensure you receive the full Attendance Allowance entitlement you deserve, whether it's the lower or higher rate, by presenting a robust case.

Don't let the complexity of the application stop you from claiming the financial support you're entitled to. Many people over Pension Credit age are missing out on this vital benefit.

Take the Next Step Towards Your Entitlement

Discover if you're eligible for Attendance Allowance today. It's quick, easy, and completely free to check:

Complete our free online Eligibility Check: Visit /eligibility-check
Or call our friendly team on: 01702 938110

Let Elder Care help you secure the benefit you deserve.

Check Your Eligibility Free