To get Attendance Allowance, you must satisfy the following criteria:

• You have required care needs for at least six months

• You are not living in a council care home or in hospital

• You live in the UK (when making a claim for Attendance Allowance) the UK is where you normally live and you have lived in the UK for six months in the last year

There are special rules for certain people who are living in, or have returned from a European Economic Area country. The rules can be complex, so if this applies to you, we recommend that you seek advice from a welfare benefits specialist. 

Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates and how much you receive will depend on the level of care needs you have.

• The lower rate of Attendance Allowance is paid at a rate of £73.90 per week. This rate will be awarded if you need frequent care throughout the day or night
  
  

• The higher rate of Attendance Allowance is paid at a rate of £110.40 a week. This rate will be awarded if you need frequent care throughout the day and night or if you are terminally ill

There is no restriction on how you spend your Attendance Allowance. It is not necessary to spend it on someone to look after you.

In addition to the rates above, you will also qualify for a Christmas Bonus every year, which is usually £10. The bonus is paid automatically and will not affect any other benefits you might receive.

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and will therefore not affect your income and savings.  Income and savings are not taken into account when deciding if you qualify. In addition your income may increase as you may become entitled to further benefits or an increase to those benefits. You may become entitled to:

• Pension Credit

• Housing benefit

• Council tax reduction

Attendance Allowance is usually ignored as income for working out other benefits. Because you have a disability this increases the entitlement you have which in turn means you may qualify for a benefit listed above when you did not qualify previously.

Benefit cap

If either you or your partner receives Attendance Allowance, the Benefit Cap will not affect you in any way, as anyone in receipt of Attendance Allowance will be exempt. The benefit cap limits the total amount in some benefits that working-age people are able to receive. Visit our web page 'The Benefit Cap' for more information.

Carers allowance 

If you start to receive Attendance Allowance, someone looking after you might be able to claim a benefit called Carer's Allowance. 

Payments will normally go directly into your bank, building society or Post Office account. If you are having difficulty in opening or managing one of these accounts it will be paid by Payment Exception Service.

Attendance Allowance is normally:

• Paid every four weeks

• Paid for a minimum of six months or for longer if you continue to have care needs

• Stopped if you go into hospital (after four weeks).   

Backdating 

A claim for Attendance Allowance cannot be backdated. You will be paid from the date of claim providing you return the completed form within the time allocated. The date of your claim will be either;

• The date you telephoned to request a claim form 

• The date your claim form is received if you downloaded the form 

You must report any changes in your circumstances that are likely to affect your entitlement to Attendance Allowance.

To make a claim for Attendance Allowance in England, Scotland or Wales, you can claim online (every Monday at the moment) or telephone the Attendance Allowance helpline for a claim form:

T: 0800 731 0122

Textphone: 0800 731 0317

Monday to Friday, 8 am to 6 pm

Alternatively you can download an Attendance Allowance claim form from the Gov.UK website visit: https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim

To make a claim for Attendance allowance in Northern Ireland telephone the Disability and Carers Service for a claim form:

T: 0800 587 0912

T: 0800 012 1574

Alternatively you can download a claim form from the NI Direct website. Visit: www.nidirect.gov.uk/

The claim form comes with accompanying notes explaining how to fill in the form and where to send it. Once received, you may have to have a medical examination although this would not normally happen for this benefit.

Additional documents you may need 

You will need to provide your national insurance number but if you do not have a national insurance number, send in the claim form anyway to save any delays. Proof of your identity, such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence is also likely to be requested.

There are special rules if you are terminally ill and you have been told by your doctor that you are expected to die within six months. You will be given help to receive the highest rate of Attendance Allowance straight away.

It will not be necessary to demonstrate that you have had care needs for six months prior to claiming and nor do you need to have been living in the UK for six months in the last year.

You can request a form called DS 1500 from your doctor or healthcare professional and fill in the special rules section of the Attendance Allowance claim form.

The DWP produce a 'Guide to completion' for factual medical reports.'

The claim form can be completed on your behalf without your knowledge under the special rules, for example by your partner, relative or friend. However, regardless of who makes the claim on your behalf, the money will be paid directly to you.

If you have had your claim for Attendance Allowance refused or you are not happy with the award made you can ask for the decision to be looked at again, and/or appeal.

There is usually a time limit of one month to dispute a decision, so you should seek advice immediately once you have received the decision.