Up to £108.55 per week for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. Thousands of people who qualify are not claiming it.
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free weekly payment from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people who are over State Pension age and need help because of a physical or mental disability. It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect whether you can get it.
Despite its name, you do not need to have a carer attending to you to receive it. What matters is whether you need that help — whether or not you are actually getting it. Many people who live alone and manage without help are still entitled to AA because their disability means they should have support.
To qualify for Attendance Allowance you must:
Note: If you are under State Pension age, look at Personal Independence Payment (PIP) instead.
Call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm) and ask for an AA1 claim form. They will send it by post. You can also download it from gov.uk/attendance-allowance.
The AA1 form is long — around 40 pages — and can feel overwhelming. Do not rush it. Contact your local Citizens Advice or Age UK who will help you fill it in for free. They know exactly what the DWP needs to see.
The form asks about daily life — washing, dressing, cooking, getting around, safety. Always describe how you are on your worst or most typical bad days, not your good days. Be honest and specific. Vague answers result in refusals.
Send the completed form to the address on the form. Keep a copy. Note the date you sent it — this is your claim date, and payments are backdated to this day.
The DWP usually decides within 40 working days. They may contact your GP or specialist for information — you can ask your GP to support your claim with a letter.
Attendance Allowance is paid from the date you make the claim — not from when your disability started. This means the sooner you apply, the better. There is no automatic backdating to an earlier date unless there are exceptional circumstances.
If your condition has existed for years and you have only just found out about AA, you may be able to claim back a limited period in exceptional cases, but this is not guaranteed. Start your claim as soon as possible.
AA is refused more often than it should be. Around 45% of people who are initially refused and then appeal or request a mandatory reconsideration end up receiving the benefit. Refusal is not the end.
You have 1 month from the date of the decision to ask the DWP to look again. Write to them or call and explain why you disagree. Include new evidence — a letter from your GP, hospital consultant or specialist can make the difference.
If the reconsideration is also refused, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. These are free to use. Citizens Advice or a benefits adviser can represent you. Success rates at tribunal are high.
Getting Attendance Allowance can trigger entitlements to other benefits and discounts:
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