Who Attendance Allowance is for and how to claim
Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age who have a physical or mental disability and need help with personal care or supervision. This page explains eligibility and how to claim.
We explain the system. We do not advise on individual cases.
Who Attendance Allowance is for
Attendance Allowance is for people over State Pension age who need help or supervision because of a physical or mental health condition or disability. It is not means-tested, is tax free, and does not depend on national insurance contributions. You do not have to have someone actually caring for you to claim — what matters is that you need that help.
How to claim
You claim using the Attendance Allowance claim form, available from GOV.UK or the helpline. The date you ask for the form can sometimes fix the start of your claim, so it is worth noting when you request it.
Filling in the form
The form asks about the help and supervision you need with everyday activities, by day and by night. It helps to describe what you struggle with, how often, and what could happen without help — across good and bad days. See how to describe your difficulties.
Next steps
- Read about day and night needs and the lower and higher rate.
- See evidence and forms.
- Official source: GOV.UK — how to claim Attendance Allowance.
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Last reviewed: June 2026. We review this website regularly. Benefit rules and amounts can change — for current forms, deadlines and rates, always check GOV.UK. See how we keep this up to date.