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 - £72.65 Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night Higher rate - £108.55 Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you’re 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. If you get Constant Attendance Allowance at the same time, your Attendance Allowance will be reduced by the amount of Constant Attendance Allowance you get. How you’re 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 both your disability 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 There are different eligibility rules if you’re 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. 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 you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status) be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant) not get Disability Living Allowance ( DLA ) , Personal Independence Payment ( PIP ) or Adult Disability Payment ( ADP ) If you live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein You might still be able to get Attendance Allowance if you’re 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 you’re 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 illness or disability 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. To apply, you’ll need: your National Insurance number your address and contact details details of the health condition or disability that you need extra help for details of your GP surgery or medical centre 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 have been told you’re nearing the end of life Start now Apply by post You can either: print and send the Attendance Allowance claim form contact the helpline to request a claim form There’s a different process for Attendance Allowance in Northern Ireland . There’s a different way to claim if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness). Attendance Allowance helpline Telephone: 0800 731 0122 Textphone: 0800 731 0317 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges Where to send the form Send the completed form to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance 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 you’re 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 you’re unhappy with the service you’ve received.

Report a change in circumstances

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 you’re not a British citizen You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances. Attendance Allowance helpline Telephone: 0800 731 0122 Textphone: 0800 731 0317 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges 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 .

Claiming Attendance Allowance if you’re nearing the end of life

If you’re 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’. You may also be able to get other benefits if you’re nearing the 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 £108.55 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 cannot apply online. 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 ) complete an Attendance Allowance claim form Send the completed claim form to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance You will not need to go to a face-to-face assessment. 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. Attendance Allowance helpline Telephone: 0800 731 0122 Textphone: 0800 731 0317 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges

Attendance Allowance

Overview

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

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg), British Sign Language (BSL) and Easy Read format.

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.

You could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if you’re both:

physically or mentally disabled
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 do have a carer, they could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Step 1 Check when you can retire
and Check how much pension you could get
1. Find out how much State Pension you could get (your forecast)
You may also be paying into a:
- workplace pension
- personal pension
1. Find out if you’ll pay tax on your pension
2. Find contact details for a lost pension
Step 2 Increase your pension
You might be able to increase the amount you get if you delay your pension.
1. Find out about delaying your pension
You might be able to pay voluntary contributions to fill in gaps in your National Insurance record (such as, from when you were not working or claiming benefits).
1. Check if you can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions
For advice about increasing your workplace or private pension, speak to a financial adviser.
1. Find a financial adviser through Unbiased
Step 3 Check what other financial support you could get
Check what financial help you could get if you:
You can also get free bus travel if you:
- apply for a bus pass
Step 4 Decide when to retire
1. Get advice on planning your pension and deciding when to retire

Attendance Allowance

Overview

Step 1 Check when you can retire

and Check how much pension you could get

Step 2 Increase your pension

Step 3 Check what other financial support you could get

Step 4 Decide when to retire

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Attendance Allowance

Overview

Part of Plan your retirement income: step by step

Step 1: Check when you can retire

and Check how much pension you could get

Step 2: Increase your pension

Step 3: Check what other financial support you could get

Step 4: Decide when to retire

Is this page useful?

Help us improve GOV.UK

Help us improve GOV.UK

Step 1 Check when you can retire

Step 2 Increase your pension

Step 3 Check what other financial support you could get

Step 4 Decide when to retire