Attendance Allowance is worth up to £108.55 per week — yet many people claim less than they should, or are refused when they shouldn't be. These five tips make a real difference.
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age (66+) who need help with personal care or supervision due to a disability or illness. In 2025/26, it pays £72.65 per week (lower rate) or £108.55 per week (higher rate). Crucially, you do not need to actually have a carer to claim — it is based on your need for care, not whether care is being provided.
Yet claims are refused, or awarded at the lower rate, far more often than they should be. Here is how to give your claim the best chance.
Most people underestimate how much help they need — not because they are dishonest, but because they have adapted to their limitations over time and no longer notice the full extent of their difficulties.
Before you even request the AA1 form, spend one week writing down every time you needed help, struggled with a task, or experienced pain or fatigue that affected what you could do. Include:
This diary gives you real examples to draw on when filling in the form — and real examples are far more persuasive than generalisations.
This is the single most common reason AA is claimed at a lower rate than it should be. The form asks what you need help with — and people naturally describe an average day or a good day. But the DWP assesses eligibility based on your condition across the range of days you experience.
If your arthritis flares up on some days and is more manageable on others, you should describe the flare days — not the good days. If you sometimes cannot get dressed without help, say that — even if on other days you manage with difficulty.
A useful test: ask yourself, "Would I be putting myself at risk if I tried to do this without help?" If the honest answer is sometimes yes, that matters for your claim.
Many people forget that the higher rate of Attendance Allowance (£108.55/week) is available if you need help or supervision during the day AND at night. Night-time needs are a separate question on the form, and they are commonly overlooked.
Night-time needs that count include:
If you need supervision at night for your own safety, that is a night-time need — even if you are not waking anyone up to provide it.
The Attendance Allowance form asks about your condition or disability. Many people list their primary diagnosis and nothing else. But the DWP should consider the combined effect of all your conditions on your ability to manage daily tasks.
Make sure you include everything that affects your daily functioning — even if it seems minor on its own:
Two or three conditions that each cause moderate difficulty may together amount to substantial difficulty that justifies the higher rate.
You do not legally need a letter from a healthcare professional to make an AA claim. However, a supporting letter makes a significant difference in practice — especially if your claim is at the borderline between rates, or if the DWP has any doubt about the extent of your needs.
Ask your GP or specialist for a letter that specifically addresses:
Include this letter with your form — don't wait for DWP to request it. Send the form by recorded delivery and keep a copy of everything.
Refusals and lower-rate awards are common — and they are frequently wrong. You have one month from the date of the decision letter to request a Mandatory Reconsideration. Do this in writing, referencing the specific reasons you disagree with the decision.
If the Mandatory Reconsideration is unsuccessful, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. The success rate at tribunal is significant — many people who are refused or awarded a lower rate win their appeal when they have the right support.
Citizens Advice (0808 223 1133) can help you with a reconsideration or appeal — for free.
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