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.

Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance? A UK Guide

2026-03-08 by Elder Care

Wondering if you or a loved one can claim Attendance Allowance? Learn the criteria, common conditions, and how Elder Care can help you secure this vital benefit.

Understanding Attendance Allowance: More Than Just Physical Needs

Attendance Allowance is a vital non-means-tested benefit designed to help people aged 66 and over with the extra costs of personal care they need due to a physical or mental disability or illness. It's not about how severe an illness sounds, but rather the *actual care and supervision* required. This means if you need help with daily tasks, or someone to watch over you for safety, you could be eligible.

Many eligible individuals don't claim because they mistakenly believe their condition isn't 'serious enough' or that their savings will prevent them from getting help. This is simply not true. Attendance Allowance is not dependent on your income or savings, and you don't need to have someone actually providing the care – it's about your *needs*, even if a family member helps voluntarily, or you simply manage with difficulty.

The Core Eligibility: Aged 66+ and Care Needs

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, two primary conditions must be met:

Age Requirement: You must have reached State Pension age (currently 66 and over).
Care Needs: You must have needed help with personal care or supervision due to a physical or mental disability or illness for at least six months. This 'six-month rule' typically doesn't apply if you're terminally ill.

It's crucial to understand that 'care needs' isn't just about physical assistance. It encompasses a wide range of support, including supervision for safety, help with medication, or managing incontinence. Even if you live alone and struggle, or your family helps without payment, you could still qualify.

Common Conditions That May Lead to Eligibility

Attendance Allowance covers an incredibly broad spectrum of conditions and the resulting care needs. Here are some examples:

Dementia and Alzheimer's disease: Individuals with cognitive decline often need supervision to prevent wandering, help with personal hygiene, meal preparation, medication management, and constant reassurance due to confusion or memory loss.
Arthritis and mobility issues: Severe arthritis can make tasks like dressing, bathing, or even moving around the home incredibly painful and difficult, requiring physical assistance or adapted equipment that carries an extra cost.
Parkinson's disease: This can lead to tremors, stiffness, balance problems, and difficulties with speech and swallowing, necessitating help with many daily activities and often supervision due to fall risk.
Chronic lung or heart conditions: Conditions like COPD or heart failure can cause severe breathlessness and fatigue, limiting independent living and requiring help with personal care, household tasks, and frequent supervision.
Frailty and recurrent falls: If you're generally frail and prone to falling, you might need constant supervision or assistance getting up and down, navigating stairs, or help with personal care to prevent injury.
Incontinence: Managing bladder or bowel incontinence can require significant help with hygiene, changing clothes, and managing continence aids, which constitutes a clear care need.
Sensory impairments: Severe sight loss or hearing loss can create significant safety risks and difficulties with daily tasks, impacting independence and potentially requiring supervision or assistance.
Medication management: If you struggle to remember to take vital medications, or to manage complex medication regimes, this need for supervision or active assistance counts as a care need.

Many people face a combination of these challenges, making the need for help even more apparent.

What Kind of Help Do You Need?

The DWP assesses your care needs based on two main categories:

Personal Care Needs: This includes help with daily activities such as:
Washing, bathing, and showering.
Dressing and undressing.
Eating and drinking.
Using the toilet and managing continence.
Getting in and out of bed.
Administering medication.
Supervision Needs: This refers to the need for someone to watch over you constantly or frequently, for your own safety or the safety of others, due to:
Confusion or memory problems (e.g., wandering, leaving appliances on).
Risk of falls or accidents.
Failing to perceive danger.

If you need help during the day *and* during the night, you could be eligible for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance. If you only need help during the day *or* at night, you might qualify for the lower rate.

The All-Important Application Form: Why Expert Help is Key

The Attendance Allowance claim form (AA1) is notoriously long and detailed, running to over 40 pages. It requires applicants to articulate their care needs in specific, compelling detail, backed up by consistent evidence. Many eligible individuals are unfortunately rejected at first attempt because the form wasn't completed effectively, or their needs weren't clearly evidenced.

Common pitfalls include:

Understating needs: People often minimise their struggles, thinking 'everyone gets by,' or 'my family helps me so it doesn't count.' This can lead to rejection.
Lack of specific examples: Generic statements like 'I struggle to shower' are less impactful than describing *precisely* what happens, how long it takes, the pain involved, and the specific help needed ('I need help getting in and out of the shower safely, and someone to wash my back as I can't reach due to arthritis, which takes over 45 minutes and leaves me exhausted').
Failing to link conditions to care needs: The DWP needs to clearly see *how* your specific physical or mental condition directly leads to your need for help or supervision.
Not detailing 'worst days': The form asks about your needs on a typical day, but it's vital to convey the variability of your condition and what happens on your worst days.

While there is an online application option, it provides even less space for the crucial detail and evidence required for a robust claim, often leading to lower awards or rejections. Our service focuses on meticulously completing the in-depth paper form to maximise your chances of success.

How Elder Care Can Help You Claim with Confidence

We understand that dealing with complex forms when you're unwell or caring for a loved one is incredibly stressful. That's where Elder Care comes in. We offer a professional, warm, and authoritative service to manage your Attendance Allowance application from start to finish.

Our team are experts at translating your daily struggles into the specific language the DWP requires. We ensure your application is comprehensive, accurately reflects your needs, and provides the detail necessary for a successful outcome.

No-Win-No-Fee: You only pay us if your claim is successful. Our success fee is £430, payable only when your benefit is awarded.
Maximising your award: We aim to secure the highest possible Attendance Allowance for you – either £76.70 per week (Lower Rate) or £114.60 per week (Higher Rate). These amount to approximately £3,988.40 or £5,959.20 annually, paid directly to you every four weeks (approximately £306.80 or £458.40).

If you believe you or a loved one might be eligible, don't delay. Let us take the burden of the application process off your shoulders and help you secure the financial support you deserve.

Take the first step today.

Find out if you're eligible by submitting our free online Eligibility Check at /eligibility-check, or call our friendly team on 01702 938110 for a no-obligation chat. We're here to help.

Check Your Eligibility Free