You could get £54.45 or £81.30 a week to help with personal care because you’re physically or mentally disabled and you’re aged 65 or over.

This is called Attendance Allowance. It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

The other benefits you get can increase if you get Attendance Allowance.

You could get Carer's Allowance to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

Attendance Allowance is paid weekly at 2 different rates - the one you get depends on the level of help you need.

Attendance Allowance rates

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance - check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit.

How you’re paid

All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account, eg your bank account.

Changes of circumstances

It’s your responsibility to tell the helpline if your circumstances change, as this can affect how much you get. For example, you or the person you claim for needs more help, goes into hospital or moves abroad.

Usually your Attendance Allowance won’t be affected if you go:

• into hospital or a care home for less than 4 weeks
• abroad for less than 13 weeks
• abroad for less than 26 weeks to get medical treatment for a condition which began before you left

Attendance Allowance Helpline
Telephone: 0345 605 6055
Textphone: 0845 604 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’re 65 or over and the following apply:

• you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, eg blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both
• your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else's safety

Use the benefits adviser to check your eligibility.

Conditions

You must also:

• be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, eg members and family members of the Armed Forces
• have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years
• be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
• not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)

There are some exceptions to these conditions if you’re living in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.

Medical assessments

You might get a letter saying you need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility. The letter will explain why and where you must go.

At the assessment, you’ll be asked for identification. You can use a passport or any 3 of the following:

• birth certificate
• a full driving licence
• life assurance policy
• bank statements

Use form AA1A to apply for Attendance Allowance by post.

The form comes with notes telling you how to fill it in and where to send it.

You can also get claim packs from the Attendance Allowance helpline.

Attendance Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0345 605 6055
Textphone: 0845 604 5312
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

What you need to know

Attendance Allowance can be backdated to the date of your claim. This is usually the date your form is received or the date you call the enquiry line (if you return the claim pack within 6 weeks).

It usually takes 40 working days to deal with your claim. It can be quicker if you’re terminally ill.

You might need a medical assessment to complete your application.

Special rules - if you’re terminally ill

There are ‘special rules’ so you get Attendance Allowance more quickly if you’re not expected to live more than 6 months. You must:

• complete an Attendance Allowance form
• include a DS1500 medical condition report or send it soon after - these are free and you can only get them from a doctor, specialist or consultant

You can do this on behalf of someone else without their permission. The letter about the money awarded won’t mention ‘special rules’.

Appeal a decision

You can appeal a decision about your Attendance Allowance if you're unhappy with it.