How to Fill In the Attendance Allowance Form

Attendance Allowance helps with the extra costs that come with needing help to look after yourself — things like getting dressed, washing, eating, or staying safe. You don't need to actually have a carer to claim it, and it doesn't cover mobility needs on its own — that's more the territory of PIP (Personal Independence Payment), which is for people under State Pension age instead.

It's administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. If you live in Scotland, the equivalent benefit is Pension Age Disability Payment, applied for through Social Security Scotland instead.

To qualify, you generally need to:

• Have reached State Pension age.
• Have a physical disability (including sensory disabilities like blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition severe enough that you need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe.
• Have needed that help for at least 6 months (this doesn't apply if you're terminally ill — special, faster rules apply).
• Meet the residency and immigration requirements — broadly, being in Great Britain when you claim, having been here for at least 2 of the last 3 years, and not being subject to immigration control.

You can't claim Attendance Allowance if you're already getting Disability Living Allowance, PIP, Adult Disability Payment, or Armed Forces Independence Payment. And if you're in a care home with your fees paid by a local authority, you usually can't claim either — though self-funded care home residents can.

For 2026/27, there are two rates:

Rates confirmed for the 2026/27 tax year. Always check the current GOV.UK page for the latest figures, since rates are reviewed every April.

You can claim in one of two ways:

• Online — the claim starts from the date you submit it.
• By post — call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (Monday–Friday, 8am–6pm) to request a form, or print one from GOV.UK. If you request the form by phone, your claim date is backdated to the day you called — as long as you return the completed form within 6 weeks.

You'll need to have to hand:

• Your National Insurance number.
• Your address and contact details.
• Details of your disability or health condition.
• Your GP's name and address.
• Details of any care facility you're currently in, if applicable.

See our full checklist for everything worth gathering before you sit down to start.

The form's hardest part is usually putting everyday reality into words the DWP can act on. Citizens Advice and GOV.UK both suggest a genuinely useful trick: compare how you do each task now to how you used to do it before your condition or disability. That contrast — what's changed, and what help closes the gap — is exactly what the form is trying to capture.

Be specific rather than general. "Sometimes needs help" is harder to act on than "needs someone to remind them to take medication every morning and evening, and to stand nearby while showering in case of falls." Include night-time needs even if they feel separate from the "main" problem — night-time supervision on its own can be enough for a higher-rate award.

If a claim is turned down or under-awarded, it's often because the form didn't fully capture how much day-to-day help is actually happening. Our assistant is built around exactly that gap — see the callout below, or read what to do if a claim is refused.

You should get a text or letter within about 3 weeks of DWP receiving your claim, explaining roughly when to expect a decision. Once a decision is made, you'll get a letter with the outcome and, if awarded, the rate and start date. If you disagree with the decision, the first step is a mandatory reconsideration — covered in detail in our claim refused guide.