How to claim attendance allowance

If you’re over state pension age and need help due to a disability or health condition, you may be able to claim attendance allowance. It’s designed to go towards care costs. 

You might be eligible for attendance allowance if you:

• are over state pension age
• need care because of a disability or illness
• have needed this care for at least six months

You’ll need to give:

• your national insurance number
• contact information for your GP
• details of any medication you take
• details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you’re staying in one

You’ll also be asked to give details about your health condition or disability, but you don’t need a formal diagnosis to apply.

You can apply online or by post.

The government’s website only accepts a limited number of online applications each week, so you may have to apply by post. You can download the attendance allowance form from the government’s website.

Or you can ask for a form by calling the attendance allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122.

Once you’ve filled it in, send it to:

Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance.

You can get attendance allowance backdated to when you first called for a form, as long as you return it within six weeks.

If you download the form online and your claim is successful, you'll be paid from when the government receives it.

After submitting your application, you should get a text or letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) within three weeks.

This will let you know how long you’ll have to wait for a decision. 

If you’re unhappy with the decision, you can ask for your claim to be looked at again.

This is called ‘mandatory reconsideration’. You must ask for this within a month of the decision date. 

If you’ve been diagnosed with a terminal illness and aren’t expected to live more than 12 months, there’s a fast-track application process for attendance allowance:
 
•    Call the helpline on 0800 731 0122.
•    Ask for a form and tell them you’re terminally ill.
•    Say you’re applying under DWP's 'special rules'.

Medical report

You’ll need an SR1 medical condition report from your doctor, specialist or consultant. This will explain your condition and treatment. You won’t have to pay for this report.

Filling in the form

You don’t need to fill in the full application form if you’re terminally ill. 
 
The notes on page 8 will tell you which sections you need to complete. Don’t forget to tick the question 12 box to show you’re applying under the special rules for people with a terminal illness.

What to expect

You should hear back within about two weeks. If your application is successful, you’ll get the highest rate of attendance allowance for three years.
 
If you don’t hear back within two weeks, call the helpline so they can check if a decision has been made. You can appeal the decision if you’re not happy with the result.

Applying for someone else

If a loved one has been diagnosed with a terminal illness, you can apply and sign on their behalf. You may want to do this if they:

• don’t know their illness is terminal
• are too ill to apply themselves
• are struggling to accept their diagnosis
•  You don’t have to get their permission to apply. When DWP write to them about their claim, they won’t mention that their illness is terminal.