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.

Expert Help to Complete Your Attendance Allowance Form

2026-03-08 by Elder Care

Struggling with the Attendance Allowance form? Elder Care offers expert support to ensure your application reflects your true care needs.

Applying for Attendance Allowance can feel overwhelming, especially when dealing with the detailed AA1 claim form. This crucial benefit, designed to help with extra costs if you need care due to a disability or illness, is often missed or incorrectly claimed by eligible individuals across the UK. At Elder Care, we understand the challenges involved and are here to provide expert, compassionate support every step of the way.

Why is the Attendance Allowance Form so Challenging?

The AA1 form is notoriously long, spanning over 40 pages, and demands a very specific kind of information. It's not just about listing your conditions; it's about painting a clear, consistent picture of your daily and nightly care needs. Many people struggle because:

It requires highly specific examples: General statements about feeling unwell aren't enough. You need to detail precisely how your condition affects particular tasks – for example, how arthritis makes it difficult to dress, or how Parkinson's impacts your ability to prepare meals safely.
The focus is on care, not illness: The DWP wants to know what help you *need*, not just what diagnosis you have. This means focusing on the practical assistance required with personal care (like washing or getting dressed) or supervision needs (like preventing falls or managing medication).
Consistency is key: Your answers across different sections must be consistent. Contradictions, even minor ones, can lead to delays or a lower award.
Evidencing takes time: Gathering the right information – from GPs, specialists, or caregivers – is essential and can be time-consuming.

Understanding Your Care Needs: Examples for the Form

To successfully complete the AA1 form, it's vital to translate your everyday difficulties into the specific language the DWP needs. Here are some examples of how various conditions might necessitate care:

Dementia: A person with dementia might struggle with remembering to eat or drink, managing medication (taking wrong doses or forgetting), personal hygiene, or getting lost even in familiar surroundings. This would require supervision for safety during the day and possibly at night.
Arthritis: Severe arthritis can make it impossible to get out of bed unaided, wash difficult-to-reach areas, fasten buttons, or prepare a meal due to pain and stiffness. This calls for physical assistance with personal care tasks.
Parkinson's Disease: Uncontrolled tremors, balance issues, and slowed movements can lead to difficulties with feeding oneself, dressing, mobility, and a significant risk of falls, requiring constant supervision or hands-on help.
Frailty and Falls: If frailty leads to frequent falls, the need for someone to be present to assist if a fall occurs, or to provide physical support when moving, is a critical care need.
Incontinence: Managing incontinence can require help with changing pads, cleaning, washing clothes, and maintaining hygiene, particularly during the night.
Medication Management: Forgetting to take vital medication, taking too much, or struggling with complicated dispensing systems means supervision or hands-on assistance is required. This is a common but often overlooked care need.

Our team helps you articulate these needs clearly and comprehensively, ensuring no crucial detail is missed.

The Pitfalls of Applying Yourself (and the Online Form)

Many individuals attempt the AA1 form independently, only to find it incredibly stressful and confusing. Common reasons for rejections or lower awards include:

Insufficient detail: Not providing enough specific examples of how care is needed.
Understating needs: Many older people are resilient and tend to minimise their difficulties, which inadvertently harms their claim.
Focusing on medical conditions rather than care needs: The form isn't a medical history; it's a care diary.
Missing evidence: Not including crucial supporting letters from doctors or carers that corroborate the care needs.
Inconsistency: Providing information that conflicts within the form or with supporting evidence.

Regarding the DWP's online Attendance Allowance application, while it exists, it often provides far less opportunity to detail the true extent of your care needs. Its simplified structure can mean vital information, which is critical for a higher award, is simply not captured. This can lead to lower benefits or even rejection, as the DWP doesn't get the full, intricate picture of your daily struggles and required support.

At Elder Care, we strongly advocate for a professionally managed application using the paper form, ensuring every aspect of your care needs is thoroughly documented and strongly evidenced.

Why Choose Elder Care for Your Attendance Allowance Application?

Our service is designed to remove the stress and complexity from your Attendance Allowance application. We offer a comprehensive, no-win-no-fee service because we are confident in our ability to help you secure the benefit you deserve.

Here’s how we help:

In-depth Consultation: We take the time to understand your unique situation, asking the right questions to uncover all your care needs, both day and night.
Expert Form Completion: We will accurately complete the 40+ page AA1 form on your behalf, ensuring all answers are detailed, consistent, and directly address the DWP's criteria.
Evidence Gathering Support: We guide you on what supporting evidence is most impactful and how to obtain it from your medical professionals.
Maximising Your Award: Our expertise means we aim for the highest possible award – the higher rate of £114.60 per week (or £5,959.20 annually), especially for those with significant night-time care needs or extensive day-time care needs.
Stress-Free Process: We handle the paperwork, the intricacies, and the correspondence, leaving you free from worry.

Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit, meaning it won't affect other benefits you receive. The weekly amounts for 2026 are: Lower rate: £76.70 and Higher rate: £114.60. These are paid every four weeks (£306.80 / £458.40 respectively) and can make a substantial difference to your quality of life, helping to cover costs for carers, equipment, or other assistance.

Let Us Help You Secure Your Attendance Allowance

Don't let the daunting AA1 form prevent you from claiming the financial support you are entitled to. Elder Care takes the burden from your shoulders, applying our expertise to achieve the best possible outcome for you.

Ready to get started? Find out if you're eligible for Attendance Allowance by visiting our free online Eligibility Check at /eligibility-check or call our friendly team on 01702 938110. Your success fee of £430 is only payable once your claim is awarded. We are here to help.

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