Attendance Allowance

Contents

Overview

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

It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need and if you need care at night because of your disability or health condition.

It does not cover mobility needs.

You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.

Eligibility Criteria

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 a health condition
your disability or health condition 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

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 Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP)

How to Apply

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 disability or health condition that you need extra help for
details of your GP surgery or medical centre
details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you’re currently staying in one

You can apply online

To apply by post you can either:

print and send the Attendance Allowance claim form
contact the helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request a claim form

Last Updated on June 10, 2026 by Ashford Advice