Checklist
Attendance Allowance Checklist
The Attendance Allowance form runs to 30 pages, but most of the friction disappears if you've gathered the right details first. Here's what's worth having ready before you start — see our complete guide for the full walkthrough of the process.
Personal & contact details
- National Insurance number
- Full name, date of birth, and address
- Phone number and/or email address
- Bank, building society, or credit union account details for payment
Health details
- GP's name, address, and phone number
- Any hospital consultants or specialists involved in care, with their details
- A list of current medications and what they're for
- Details of any recent hospital stays or planned treatment
Evidence that helps (optional, but useful)
- Recent letters from a GP, consultant, or occupational therapist
- A care plan, if one exists (from social services or a care agency)
- Notes on falls, incidents, or near-misses in the last 6 months
- Any assessment reports (e.g. an OT home assessment)
Notes on day-to-day care needs
- How personal care is managed — washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet
- Whether help is needed to stay safe (e.g. supervision near stairs, the cooker, or when outside)
- Night-time needs specifically — even brief or occasional help counts
- How things have changed compared to before the condition or disability — this comparison is exactly what the form is trying to capture
- How needs vary day to day, if they do (e.g. "better" and "worse" days)
If claiming on behalf of someone else
- Confirm whether you're filling the form in as an appointee/on their behalf, or just helping them complete it themselves
- Have the claimant's details to hand alongside your own contact details
- See our carer's guide (linked below) for the specifics of claiming for a parent or relative
Frequently asked questions
Do I need medical evidence to claim?
No — you can submit the form without supporting letters or reports, and DWP may contact your GP directly. That said, having recent evidence to hand can make it easier to describe needs accurately and consistently.
What if I don't have all of this ready?
You can still start your claim — for a postal claim, calling the helpline to request a form backdates your claim date to the day you called, as long as you return the form within 6 weeks, which gives time to gather everything on this list.
Claiming for a parent or relative rather than yourself? Read our carer's guide next.