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Practical guide10 min read

Attendance Allowance: How to Apply and What to Include

For people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. Impact on daily living matters more than your diagnosis.

Checked 2026-05-12

Illustration for guide: Attendance Allowance: How to Apply and What to Include
Your Rights
Applies to
Not specified — check the official sources below
Who it’s for
Disabled people, families and carers
Evidence
Official and primary sources linked below

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Your answer

The answer in 30 seconds

  • Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of illness or…
  • Lower or higher rate depending on whether care/supervision is needed by day, night, or both.
  • Help with extra costs of care (it is paid to the person, not the carer directly).
  • Evidence that helps: Completed AA1 claim form (or online claim where available)
  • Avoid: Describing mobility problems only without personal care or supervision needs

Your next moves

Do these first

  1. 1Check State Pension age and current benefit position on GOV.UK before applying
  2. 2Request form AA1 or apply online if the service is available to you
  3. 3Describe care needs for day and night separately

Full guide

Step-by-step

1

Check State Pension age and current benefit position on GOV.UK…

Check State Pension age and current benefit position on GOV.UK before applying. Start here so the rest of the guide has a clear foundation.

Attendance Allowance (AA) is a tax-free benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care because of illness or disability. It is not based on income in the same way as means-tested benefits,…

  • Lower or higher rate depending on whether care/supervision is needed by day, night, or both.
  • Evidence that helps: Completed AA1 claim form (or online claim where available)
  • Watch out: Describing mobility problems only without personal care or supervision needs

What to do

For people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. Impact on daily living matters more than your diagnosis.
2

Request form AA1 or apply online if the service is…

Request form AA1 or apply online if the service is available to you. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Help with extra costs of care (it is paid to the person, not the carer directly).
  • Evidence that helps: List of care needs by time of day
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Evidence to keep ready

  • Completed AA1 claim form (or online claim where available).
  • List of care needs by time of day: washing, dressing, eating, medication, safety supervision.
  • GP or nurse letter describing care needs (functional, not diagnosis only).
  • Carer or family statement of what help is given daily.
  • Hospital discharge or social care letters if they describe ongoing care needs.
Worked approach: Request form AA1 or apply online if the service is available to you Then record what happened and what you still need.
3

Describe care needs for day and night separately

Describe care needs for day and night separately — AA rates depend on this pattern. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Possible eligibility for other linked support — check current GOV.UK rules before claiming.
  • Evidence that helps: GP or nurse letter describing care needs (functional, not diagnosis only)
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Daytime: I need help with [washing / meals / meds] about [X] times per week. Without help, [risk]. Night: I need [supervision / turning / toileting help] because [reason]. Without help, [risk]. Supervision: [describe when you could hurt yourself or others if alone]
4

Use examples of when supervision is needed for safety (falls…

Use examples of when supervision is needed for safety (falls risk, confusion, seizures). Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Lower or higher rate depending on whether care/supervision is needed by day, night, or both.
  • Evidence that helps: Carer or family statement of what help is given daily
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Worked approach: Use examples of when supervision is needed for safety (falls risk, confusion, seizures) Then record what happened and what you still need.
5

Send copies of supporting letters; keep originals unless asked otherwise

Send copies of supporting letters; keep originals unless asked otherwise. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Help with extra costs of care (it is paid to the person, not the carer directly).
  • Evidence that helps: Hospital discharge or social care letters if they describe ongoing care needs
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Worked approach: Send copies of supporting letters; keep originals unless asked otherwise Then record what happened and what you still need.
6

Note the date you submitted the claim for your records

Note the date you submitted the claim for your records. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Possible eligibility for other linked support — check current GOV.UK rules before claiming.
  • Evidence that helps: Completed AA1 claim form (or online claim where available)
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Describing mobility problems only without personal care or supervision needs.
  • Writing “my partner helps me” without explaining tasks and frequency.
  • Claiming AA while not over State Pension age (wrong benefit — check PIP or other routes).
  • Not reporting changes if care needs increase or decrease later.
Worked approach: Note the date you submitted the claim for your records Then record what happened and what you still need.
7

If awarded, read how payment affects other benefits and report…

If awarded, read how payment affects other benefits and report changes in care needs. Take this step carefully before moving on — it supports everything that follows.

  • Lower or higher rate depending on whether care/supervision is needed by day, night, or both.
  • Evidence that helps: Completed AA1 claim form (or online claim where available)
  • Keep copies of anything you send and any reply you receive.

What to do

Daytime: I need help with [washing / meals / meds] about [X] times per week. Without help, [risk]. Night: I need [supervision / turning / toileting help] because [reason]. Without help, [risk]. Supervision: [describe when you could hurt yourself or others if alone]

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Preparation

What to prepare

Only gather what genuinely helps with this process; you do not need paperwork for the sake of it.

Ready-to-use wording

Templates

Day vs night care summary (for your draft)

When you need wording you can copy and adapt for email, letter, or conversation.

Daytime: I need help with [washing / meals / meds] about [X] times per week. Without help, [risk].

Night: I need [supervision / turning / toileting help] because [reason]. Without help, [risk].

Supervision: [describe when you could hurt yourself or others if alone]

Day vs night care summary (for your draft)

Daytime: I need help with [washing / meals / meds] about [X] times per week. Without help, [risk]. Night: I need [supervision / turning / toileting help] because [reason]. Without help, [risk]. Supervision: [describe when you could hurt yourself or others if alone]

Problems and refusals

If things go wrong

  • Request written decision and reasons.
  • Consider asking for a reconsideration or challenging the decision using the route on your letter — get advice before deadlines.
  • Contact Citizens Advice or Age UK for benefits help if you need support reapplying.
  • Describing mobility problems only without personal care or supervision needs.
  • Writing “my partner helps me” without explaining tasks and frequency.
  • Claiming AA while not over State Pension age (wrong benefit — check PIP or other routes).
  • Not reporting changes if care needs increase or decrease later.

Common questions

Practical answers you can use straight away — expand any question for next steps, example wording, and related help.

For people over State Pension age who need help with personal care. Impact on daily living matters more than your diagnosis.

What to do next

  • People over State Pension age who need care or supervision with personal tasks.
  • People with physical or mental disabilities, including dementia, where care needs are present.
  • Claimants who already receive other benefits — check interaction rules (AA may affect other benefits).

Trust and checking

Official sources

Use these to check the underlying rule or process, especially if your circumstances are unusual.

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