Attendance Allowance

Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

Who does it help?

Attendance Allowance is money for people aged of 65 or over who have care needs – i.e. you need help with things like getting dressed or going to the toilet or having someone to look after you so you do not hurt yourself. It could include help outside the home. It does not matter if no one actually gives you this help, as long as you can show you need it. Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs.

To get Attendance Allowance, you must not be living in a council care home or in hospital. You must have had care needs for at least six months before you can get benefit, unless you are terminally ill.

Is it means-tested?

Attendance Allowance will usually be paid in addition to any other benefits and it does not depend on how much other money you have.

What help does the benefit provide?

You can spend Attendance Allowance as you want. You do not have to spend it on someone looking after you.

It is usually paid into your bank or building society account. However you can arrange to get it at a post office in some cases. It can be paid for a minimum of six months or longer if you carry on having care needs. If you go into hospital, it will stop after four weeks.

If you start to get Attendance Allowance, it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you have a right to. For example, you may get extra:

Attendance Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these benefits.

Also if you start getting Attendance Allowance, someone looking after you might have the right to a benefit called Carer's Allowance.

How much does it pay?

It is paid at two rates depending on how often you need care.

The lower rate is £47.10 a week. You get this if you need frequent care throughout the day or night.

The higher rate is £70.35 a week. You get this if you need frequent care throughout the day and night or if you are terminally ill.

Is this a taxable benefit?

Attendance Allowance is not a taxable benefit.

How to claim

Claim on form DS2.You can get this by phoning the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 882200. They can also help you fill it in over the phone.

Or you could get a claim pack sent to you by filling in leaflet DS704, which you can get from post offices and local benefits offices.

You can also get the Attendance Allowance form (link opens in a new window) from the Directgov webiste or in Northern Ireland from the Department for Social Development's website (link opens in a new window) in Northern Ireland.

You can also claim AA online (link opens in a new window) on the Department for Work and Pensions website or, in Northern Ireland, claim AA online (link opens in a new window) on the Department for Social Development’s website.

Part of the form must be filled in by someone who knows about your care needs. This could be a friend, relative or carer.

After your claim form is received, you may have to have a medical examination although this would not usually happen.

You cannot make a backdated claim for Attendance Allowance.

Documents you need

You have to give your national insurance number and evidence of who you are, for example, a driving licence or birth certificate.

Further help

There are many organisations to help you if you have a disability. They can give you general information, as well as information about Attendance Allowance. See Useful Links.

For general enquiries about Attendance Allowance, you can call the Benefit Enquiry helpline on: 0800 882 200.

Once you have made a claim for Attendance Allowance, you can get further advice from the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline who should have access to your records. You can call them on: 08457 123 456.

The Citizens Advice website can give you more information about Attendance Allowance (link opens in a new

The Government's website Directgov has more information on Attendance Allowance (link opens in a new window) .

Find an adviser tool.

Frequently asked questions relating to Attendance Allowance

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