What is Attendance Allowance? Am I eligible to receive it? How much can I get? This benefit is to help those with a severe disability and who require daily help. If this applies to you, you might be eligible. Your Benefits will walk you through how to receive Attendance Allowance payments.

How much is attendance allowance in 2022?

Attendance Allowance comes in two different rates and is usually paid every 4 weeks or so. The amount of help that you require on a day-to-day basis will affect which rate you can claim. Your savings and how much you earn will not affect the amount of money you receive. 

The two different Attendance Allowance rates for the year 2022 2023 are the following:

Because AA is paid every 4 weeks, but the price above is the amount received per week, beneficiaries will receive the amounts in their accounts every month. What this means is that you need to multiply the amounts above by 4.

Like all benefits, payments are made directly into your account (bank, building society or credit union). Lastly, if you experience a change of circumstances at any time, you must report it and might receive a different rate.

What is attendance allowance?

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a financial benefit for people with disabilities severe enough that they require to be looked after in day-to-day life. The benefit aims to provide extra money to help with the extra costs that such a situation might cause.

This benefit comes in two different rates, and which one you get depends on the level of care you require. Additionally, you may apply for this benefit thanks to the Attendance Allowance claim form, linked below.

Who can claim attendance allowance?

You are eligible for Attendance Allowance (AA) if all of the following apply to your situation, you:

• Reached State Pension age;
• Have a physical disability (sensory disabilities like blindness are included), a mental disability (learning difficulties are included), or both;
• Require someone’s help to care for yourself or someone to supervise you because of the severity of your disability, for your own or someone else’s safety;
• Required that help or supervision for at least 6 months (this does not apply if you are terminally ill (not expected to live for more than 6 months)).

Additionally, any eligible terminally ill person will automatically receive the higher rate of AA. The rates are detailed in the table above.

Although you need to require help because of your condition, you do not need to have someone caring for you in order to receive Attendance Allowance.

What this means is that you do not need to prove that you require daily or nightly assistance by showing that you indeed have someone caring for you. It can help your claim. However, it is not necessary. Instead, you can indicate your difficulties living life without a person helping you daily. 

On top of the previous conditions, the following must also apply, you:

• Are in Great Britain while claiming Attendance Allowance (exceptions include members and family members of the armed forces);
• Have resided in Great Britain for a minimum of 2 of the last 3 years (this is not a requirement for refugees and humanitarian protection status);
• Are a habitual resident in either the UK, Isle of Man, Ireland or the Channel Islands;
• Are not subject to immigration control (this does not apply to sponsored immigrants).

How to claim attendance allowance

To apply by post, use the Attendance Allowance form. The forms are on the Gov.UK website. Fill in the form, and once completed, you can send the claim form to the following address:

Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance

No postcode or stamp is required. If you need help, you can call the Attendance Allowance helpline. They are able to send you a copy of the form, or alternative formats like large print, braille or audio CD.

You can backdate this benefit to your claim date. The claim date is usually the date during which the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) received your Attendance Allowance form.

If you called the enquiry line, that date is your claim date, if you returned the claim pack within 6 weeks of that call. As such, it might be better to call, because as long as you return the necessary documents within those 6 weeks, you will be able to claim benefits beginning with your call date.

What if I am terminally ill?

If you are terminally ill, the rules are different so that you receive your benefits quicker. You will need to complete an Attendance Allowance form. As said above, you will need to complete it and send the completed form to the following address:

Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance

No postcode or stamp is required. Then, ask for form DS1500 from a doctor or other healthcare professional. They will fill it in themselves, and then either give you the form or send it directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). If you need to send the form yourself, use the same address as for the Attendance Allowance form.

Your-Benefits offers a simulator service to help you find the benefits you qualify for. However, we also offer a service to help with administrative tasks. Do not hesitate to reach out to our experts for help or to learn more.

Attendance allowance change of circumstances

Giving wrong information or failing to report a change in circumstances can lead to being taken to court or having to pay a fine. As such, it is very important to report changes in circumstances as soon as possible. These changes can also affect how much you get.

If any of the following happens to you, you must contact the Attendance Allowance Helpline straight away, you:

• Require a different level of help or your condition changes from your original claim;
• Are moved into a hospital or a care home;
• Travel abroad for more than 4 weeks;
• Are incarcerated;
• Change your name, address or bank details;
• Wish to no longer receive this benefit;
• Change doctors, or their details change;
• Experience a change in your immigration status (if you are not a British citizen).

Here is the contact information for the Attendance Allowance helpline:

• Telephone: 0800 731 0122;
• Textphone: 0800 731 0317;
• Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 731 0122;
• Monday to Friday, 8am to 3:30pm.

You may also need to repay benefits if you failed to report a change straight away, gave wrong information when reporting a change, or were simply overpaid by mistake.

Can I get aa if I do not live in the uk?

UK nationals living in the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland may still be able to receive Attendance Allowance (AA).

If it is unclear how your illness or disability affects you, you might need to attend an assessment. However, assessments are not scheduled by default. If you require one, a letter detailing why and where will be sent to you. You will need to be examined by a healthcare professional during this assessment.