Please note that this website has a UK government accesskeys system.
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who need someone to help look after them because they are physically or mentally disabled. Find out if you are eligible and how to claim.
You may get Attendance Allowance if:
Normally, you must have had these care or supervision needs for at least six months. However, if you are terminally ill, there are special rules for claiming the benefit.
If you are under age 65, you may be able to get Disability Living Allowance.
Attendance Allowance is not usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
We have special rules for people who are terminally ill. This means people who have a progressive illness and are not expected to live more than another six months. You can get the higher rate of Attendance Allowance straight away.
You will not usually need a medical examination when you claim for Attendance Allowance, but sometimes it is necessary in order to assess how your condition affects you.
The amount you get depends on how much your disability affects you. There are two rates of Attendance Allowance.
| Attendance Allowance | Weekly rate |
|---|---|
| Higher rate | £71.40 |
| Lower rate | £47.80 |
Claim straight away - if you delay you may lose benefit.
You can get a claim pack by:
You can also claim online.
Attendance Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice which accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This might be a bank, building society or other account provider.
You may be able to get someone else to collect your Attendance Allowance if you wish. For help with this please contact your bank, building society or other account provider.
If you would like more information about how you can be paid by other means, please contact the office dealing with your claim.
If you start to get Attendance Allowance, it might increase the amount of other benefits or credits you are entitled to. You may get an extra amount for severe disability with Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit or Pension Credit.
Attendance Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out these income-related benefits and credit.
Changes to your circumstances can affect the amount of Attendance Allowance you get or whether you get it.
To get Attendance Allowance you must also meet certain conditions about your residence and presence.
Download an information leaflet about the Disability and Carers Service in PDF format
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