Complete guide to Attendance Allowance. Who qualifies, current rates, how to claim, tips for a successful application, and how it helps pay for home care.
~1.6M
People currently claim Attendance Allowance
£110.40
Higher rate per week (2025/26)
£73.90
Lower rate per week (2025/26)
£5,741
Higher rate annual amount
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free, non-means-tested benefit for people of State Pension age or over who need help with personal care or supervision due to a disability or illness. Unlike many other benefits, it is not dependent on your National Insurance contributions or how much money you have saved.
Around 1.6 million people across the UK currently claim Attendance Allowance. It is paid at two rates depending on the level of care you need: a lower rate if you need help during the day or night, and a higher rate if you need help both day and night or if you are terminally ill.
The key advantage of Attendance Allowance is that you do not need to have a carer already in place to claim. You simply need to demonstrate that you need help. Many people use the allowance to pay for home care visits, but you are free to spend it on anything that helps with your care needs.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates, depending on whether you need help during the daytime or nighttime, or both.
LOWER RATE
£73.90
Per week
~£3,843 per year
For daytime care or nighttime care needs — but not both.
HIGHER RATE
£110.40
Per week
~£5,741 per year
For daytime AND nighttime care needs, or if terminally
Most CommonNEXT INCREASE
April 2026
expected
Annual review
Rates usually increase each April in line with inflation
To claim Attendance Allowance, you must meet all of the following criteria:
State Pension age or over (currently 66 for both men and women, rising to 67 from April 2026)
Have a physical or mental disability or illness
Need help with personal care OR supervision to keep yourself safe
Have needed help for at least 6 months (or are expected to need help for 6+ months)
Live in England, Scotland, or Wales
Not in a care home funded by your local authority (though you CAN claim if you are self-funding in a care home)
To qualify for Attendance Allowance, you must show that you need help with personal care or supervision. Here is what the Department for Work and Pensions considers as needing help:
You might need help during the day if you struggle with:
You might need help at night if you require:
You might need supervision (having someone keep an eye on you) if you:
Contact the Department for Work and Pensions to request the Attendance Allowance claim form (AA1). You can:
The AA1 form is detailed and asks about your daily activities, your difficulties, and the help you need. Take your time filling it in. The form typically covers:
The stronger your supporting evidence, the more likely your claim will be successful. Gather letters and reports from:
Send your completed form and supporting evidence by post to the address on the form. Keep a copy of everything you submit. Consider sending it by special delivery so you have proof of posting.
Most Attendance Allowance claims do not require a medical examination. The decision maker will review your form and supporting evidence. You should receive a decision letter within 4-8 weeks. If you are terminally ill, the process is much faster (usually within days).
If your claim is approved, payment usually begins from the date you applied (or from three months before if you were eligible longer). You can backdate your claim up to three months. Payment is made every four weeks directly into your bank account.
Here are the most important things to remember when completing your Attendance Allowance claim:
The assessment considers your worst days and what you need on those days, not your best days. Be honest about when you struggle most.
Do not downplay how your condition affects you. Explain the full impact on your daily life, including psychological and emotional effects.
Rather than saying 'I struggle with washing', write 'I need help washing because I have severe arthritis and cannot raise my arms above shoulder height. I need assistance getting in and out of the bath.'
Explain the consequences of not having help. For example, 'Without help, I would fall when trying to wash my hair' or 'I would not eat or drink without reminders.'
Include any falls you have had, near-misses, or times you have had an accident. These are important examples of why you need help.
Nighttime support is crucial for the higher rate. Describe clearly if you need help at night, how often, and what help you need (turning over, toileting, supervision).
Ask a friend, family member, or professional (GP, social worker, Citizens Advice) to help you fill in the form. A second pair of eyes helps ensure nothing is missed.
List all medications you take and include information from your GP about side effects that affect your daily activities (drowsiness, instability, confusion).
Use phrases like 'I need help with...' rather than 'I can't...'. Focus on what you need rather than what you cannot do.
Photocopy your completed form and all supporting evidence before posting. Keep these for your records in case you need to appeal.
Speak to our team now and get the support you need to complete your application correctly the first time
Contact Us NowThe AA1 form has several key sections. Here is guidance for completing each section effectively:
List all your health conditions, disabilities, and illnesses, even if they seem unrelated. Include mental health conditions, mobility issues, sensory impairments, and any condition affecting your daily life. Provide dates of diagnosis if possible.
This is the most important section. For each activity, describe what you find difficult, what help you need, and how often you need it. Use specific, detailed language. For example, instead of 'I can't walk properly', write 'I use a walking frame and need someone to hold my arm.
Be clear about whether you need help with personal care (physically helping you), supervision (someone being present and watchful), or prompting (reminders to do things). Describe both daytime and nighttime needs separately and clearly.
Many claims fail because people describe their best days rather than their worst, or because they are too brief in their descriptions. Avoid:
Describing good days or days when you manage well
Being too general (e.g., 'I struggle with mobility' rather than specific details)
Leaving sections blank or answering with single words
Failing to mention mental health conditions or supervision needs
Not explaining the consequences of not having help
Not mentioning falls, incidents, or near-misses
If you have been diagnosed with a terminal illness (where you are not expected to live more than six months), different rules apply. You automatically qualify for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance regardless of your current care needs.
To claim under the terminal illness rules, you need: A form DS1500 or SR1 completed by your GP or hospital consultant, This form confirms your terminal diagnosis and that life expectancy is 6 months or less, You do not need to show that you need care or supervision.
Claiming under the terminal illness route is fast-tracked. Your claim will be processed within days (sometimes hours) rather than weeks. You receive the higher rate of Attendance Allowance automatically. There is no requirement to wait for evidence of care needs or to demonstrate that you need supervision.
Contact your GP or hospital consultant and ask them to complete the DS1500 form to confirm your terminal diagnosis. You will need to discuss your condition with them and ask them to submit the form to the Department for Work and Pensions on your behalf (or you can submit it yourself).
Attendance Allowance is a flexible benefit. You can use it to pay for home care visits, help with daily living, or anything else that supports you in managing your care needs. This flexibility makes it particularly valuable for funding private home care.
Many people combine Attendance Allowance with council-funded home care to create a comprehensive care package. For example, you might receive council-funded care for morning personal care, and use your Attendance Allowance to fund evening companionship visits.
If you claim the higher rate of Attendance Allowance (£110.40 per week), this equips you to pay for approximately 3-4 hours of home care per week at the national average rate of £32/hour. Many people use their Attendance Allowance to top up council-funded care or to arrange entirely private care.
Your Attendance Allowance is not ring-fenced. You can use it to pay for:
Receiving Attendance Allowance can make you eligible for several other benefits and support:
If someone cares for you for at least 35 hours per week, they may be eligible for Carer's Allowance (£81.90 per week). Your receipt of Attendance Allowance makes them eligible to claim.
If you are on a low income, Pension Credit provides extra money to top up your income. If you qualify for Attendance Allowance, you get an additional 'premium' (extra money) added to your Pension Credit award.
If you are severely mentally impaired (often linked to dementia), you may qualify for a council tax discount or exemption. Attendance Allowance can be used as evidence of qualifying condition.
If you receive Housing Benefit, Attendance Allowance increases your applicable amount, potentially resulting in higher Housing Benefit payments.
Whilst Attendance Allowance alone does not automatically qualify you for a Blue Badge (disabled parking permit), it is one of the factors assessed. If you have mobility difficulties linked to your care needs, you may be eligible.
This scheme provides a one-off payment of up to £150 towards your winter heating costs. Pensioners receiving certain benefits, including those on Pension Credit, are eligible.
If your Attendance Allowance claim is refused, this is not the end of the road. You have the right to challenge the decision, and many claims succeed on appeal, particularly if you provide new evidence.
Within one month of receiving the refusal letter, you can request a Mandatory Reconsideration. This means the decision will be reviewed by a different decision maker. When requesting reconsideration, provide:
If the Mandatory Reconsideration is unsuccessful, you have the right to appeal to an independent tribunal. Many people succeed at this stage because tribunals take a more holistic view of your needs. You can:
Free help is available from:
These organisations can help review your decision, gather evidence, request reconsideration, and prepare an appeal.
There are specific rules about claiming Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home:
If you pay for your own care home fees, you can claim Attendance Allowance. Your allowance is paid to you and can be used to help offset the cost of your care home fees.
If your local authority pays for your care home care, you cannot claim Attendance Allowance. Your allowance will stop after 28 days in a council-funded care home. Once you leave the care home or switch to self-funding, you can make a new claim
If you are admitted to hospital, your Attendance Allowance stops after 28 days. It restarts when you are discharged (provided you meet the other criteria). If your hospital stay is longer than 28 days, notify the Department for Work and Pensions to prevent overpayment.
We can help you understand how Attendance Allowance can contribute towards funding your home care. Contact us for a free, no-obligation assessment and advice about your eligibility.
Get in Touch: www.livingpluscare.co.uk/contact