PGµç×Ó

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

There’s a different way to claim if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness).

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 or health condition.

You could get £73.90 or £110.40 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply:

• you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition
• ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð State Pension age or older

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 live in Scotland

You will need to apply for instead of Attendance Allowance.

If you currently get Attendance Allowance

You do not need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment - you’ll automatically be moved to Pension Age Disability Payment from spring 2025.

When the move begins, you’ll get letters from the Department for Work and Pensions and Social Security Scotland.

.

If you move from Scotland to England or Wales

If you get Pension Age Disability Payment, you must:

• apply for Attendance Allowance

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 - £73.90	Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night
Higher rate - £110.40	Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð nearing the end of life

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.

How ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð paid

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

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply:

• you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
• your disability or health condition 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:

• be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces
• have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
• be in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• not be subject to (unless ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð a sponsored immigrant)
• not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP),Ìý or

If you live in Scotland

You will need to apply for instead of Attendance Allowance.

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

You might still be able to get Attendance Allowance if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð 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 ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð 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 disability or health condition 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.

You can apply for Attendance Allowance online or by post.

There’s a different way to claim:

• ÌýÌý
• if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness)

To apply, you’ll need:

• your National Insurance number
• your address and contact details
• details of the disability or health condition that you need extra help for
• details of your GP surgery or medical centre
• details of your care home, hospital or hospice if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð currently staying in one

Apply online

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

You cannot apply online if you:

• are an appointee
• have power of attorney

If you live in Scotland

If you live in Scotland, you need to instead of Attendance Allowance.

Apply by post

You can either:

• print and send the Attendance Allowance claim form
• contact the helpline to request a claim form

Where to send the form

Send the completed form to:

Do not write anything except the freepost address on the envelope. You do not need a postcode or a stamp. 

The form comes with notes telling you how to fill it.

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 ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð 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 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 ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð unhappy with the service you’ve received.

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 could get Attendance Allowance at a higher rate under ‘special rules for end of life’)
• 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 ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð not a British citizen

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.

If ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness) you might be able to get Attendance Allowance more quickly and at a higher rate.

This is sometimes called ‘special rules for end of life’.

Eligibility

You’re eligible if: 

• you’ve reached State Pension age
• your doctor or medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live

It can be difficult to predict how long someone might live for. If a medical professional has not talked to you about this, you can still ask them to support your claim under the special rules for end of life.

What you’ll get

You’ll get the higher rate of £110.40 per week.

You could also get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction.

The letter about the money awarded will not mention ‘special rules’.

How to claim

You can claim for yourself or someone else can make a claim for you (they do not need your permission). 

You need to:

• ask a medical professional for form SR1 - they’ll either fill it in and give the form to you or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)
• apply for Attendance Allowance online or by post

You will not need to go to a face-to-face assessment.

Apply online

To apply, you’ll need:

• your National Insurance number
• your address and contact details
• details of the disability or health condition that you need extra help for
• details of your GP surgery or medical centre
• details of your care home, hospital or hospice if ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð currently staying in one

Apply by post

You can either:ÌýÌý

• print and send the Attendance Allowance claim formÌýÌý
• contact the helpline to request a claim formÌýÌý

Send the completed claim form to:

After you apply

After you send your claim, you’ll be contacted by phone or sent a letter within 3 weeks to explain 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 ²â´Ç³Ü’r±ð 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 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 already get Attendance Allowance

Contact the Attendance Allowance helpline straight away if you already get Attendance Allowance and a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.