How to Claim Attendance Allowance

Before You Start

Attendance Allowance (AA) is for people of State Pension age (currently 66+) who have needed help with personal care for at least 6 months due to a physical or mental health condition (unless terminally ill — see terminal illness special rule).

You do not need to already be receiving help — the test is about what you need, not what you currently get. Someone who manages alone but finds tasks difficult, painful or dangerous still qualifies.

Step 1: Request the Claim Form

You cannot fill in the AA1 form online — it must be done on paper. Call the Attendance Allowance helpline to request a form and a date of claim (your payment will be backdated to the date you call, not the date you return the form):

Alternatively, download the form from gov.uk or get help from a local Age UK, Citizens Advice or Macmillan office.

Step 2: Gather Supporting Evidence

Before filling in the form, gather:

• A list of all your conditions and diagnoses, with dates when they started
• A list of all medications you take
• Names and contact details of your GP and any specialists
• Notes about a typical day and night — what you can and cannot do, and what help you need
• Any letters from hospitals, specialists or consultants

Step 3: Fill In the Form — Key Principles

The AA form asks about your care needs on your worst or bad days, not your best. Follow these principles:

• Describe the worst, not the average — if your condition fluctuates, describe how you are on bad days and note how often they occur
• Include the time it takes — if getting dressed takes 45 minutes because of pain, say so
• Include what you can't do safely — even if you technically can do something, if you can't do it safely (risk of falls, burns, accidents), note this
• Include pain and fatigue — if a task causes pain, exhaustion or breathlessness, describe this
• Don't minimise — many people instinctively undersell their difficulties. Be honest and specific
• Include night needs — do you need to get up to the toilet? Do you have night pain, breathing difficulties or anxiety at night? These contribute to the higher rate
• Include mental health — anxiety, depression, dementia, memory problems are all relevant to the "attention and supervision" questions

Key Questions on the Form

The form asks about "personal care" tasks — but AA covers more than just washing and dressing. Include:

• Bodily functions: Getting in/out of bed, washing, bathing/showering, dressing, using the toilet, eating and drinking, taking medication
• Moving around: Getting up from a chair, walking, using stairs
• Night needs: Turning over in bed, getting to the toilet, managing pain, breathing difficulties, anxiety at night
• Supervision: Do you need someone nearby to watch over you for safety reasons (falls risk, confusion, epilepsy, severe breathlessness)?

Step 4: Get a Supporting Letter from Your GP

You can ask your GP or consultant to write a supporting letter to include with your form. This is not required, but it significantly strengthens your claim. Ask the GP to confirm:

• Your diagnosis and how long you have had it
• The functional limitations caused by your conditions
• Whether your condition is likely to be long-term

Step 5: Return the Form

Return the completed form (with any supporting evidence) to the address on the form. Keep a copy of everything you send. Post by recorded delivery if sending originals.

DWP will write to your GP to request information — your GP should respond promptly. You can help by warning your GP to expect the request.

Step 6: Wait for a Decision

DWP aims to decide within 40 working days, but it often takes longer. Payment is backdated to when you first called to request the form.

If you are awarded AA, it is paid every 4 weeks directly into your bank account. It is usually awarded for an indefinite period (especially for progressive conditions), but DWP may review at any point.

If You Are Refused or Get the Lower Rate

Refusals and lower-rate awards are common — and many are successfully challenged:

• Ask for a mandatory reconsideration — within 1 month of the decision letter. Write to DWP explaining why you disagree, with additional evidence if possible
• Appeal to an Independent Tribunal — if the mandatory reconsideration is refused. Free and you do not need a solicitor. Success rates at tribunal are around 65% for those who appeal
• Get help from Citizens Advice, Age UK or a welfare rights adviser — they can help you write your reconsideration request and prepare for tribunal

Age UK helpline: 0800 169 6565

Terminal Illness: Special Rule

If someone has a terminal illness (expected to die within 12 months), they automatically receive the higher rate of Attendance Allowance without needing to satisfy the 6-month waiting period. The GP completes a DS1500 (now SR1) form. Payment starts immediately. Ask the GP to complete this proactively.