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Attendance Allowance: What It Is, Who Can Claim, and Why It Matters

Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for people over State Pension age who need extra support because of illness, disability or dementia. You do not need to have a formal dementia diagnosis to apply.


Many people miss out because they think it is only for personal care, or that they are “not bad enough”. In reality, Attendance Allowance is about how a condition affects everyday life, not about how independent someone looks on the surface.


What is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It is designed to help with the extra costs of living with a health condition, including dementia, Parkinson’s disease, mobility issues, sensory loss or long-term illness.

It is not means tested, so savings and income do not affect eligibility.


You can spend it however you need to.


A few things carers often say they wish they had known:

  • Attendance Allowance is about how life is on a difficult day, not a good one

  • You are not being negative by describing needs clearly

  • If you call first, payment can be backdated to the date of the call


How much is it?

There are two weekly rates:

  • £72.65 per week if support is needed either during the day or at night

  • £108.55 per week if support is needed during the day and at night


Rates are set nationally and reviewed each year.


Who can claim?

You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if:

  • You are over State Pension age

  • You have a physical or mental health condition

  • You need help, supervision or reassurance to stay safe

  • You have needed this support for at least 6 months (unless you are terminally ill)


You do not need:

  • A carer

  • A formal diagnosis

  • To already receive care services


Many people with early or moderate dementia qualify, as do people with Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, heart conditions, stroke effects, sensory loss or long-term mental health conditions.


What counts as needing support?

Support does not just mean hands-on care. It can include:

  • Help with washing, dressing or using the toilet

  • Support with medication

  • Supervision to stay safe

  • Help with communication or understanding

  • Reassurance when anxious or confused

  • Needing someone nearby in case something goes wrong

If someone would be at risk without support, that counts.


Why Attendance Allowance matters

Attendance Allowance often unlocks other support, including:

  • A 25% Council Tax discount in Wealden if you care for someone with dementia

  • Higher amounts of other benefits

  • Help with care costs

  • Access to grants and local support


Even if the money itself feels modest, the knock-on effects can make a big difference.


Before you start the form

Many carers tell us the hardest part is not whether someone qualifies, but how to explain day to day life clearly.


It can really help to pause before applying and make some notes.


This is not about getting answers “right”. It is about being honest about the effort, supervision and reassurance that go into staying safe.


To help with this, we have included:

  • a short video that talks through the form question by question

  • a simple preparation sheet you can download and use as notes


Most people find it easier to watch the video once, jot things down, and then come back to the form later.


A video guide to filling in the form

The video below talks through the Attendance Allowance form in plain English and explains what the questions are really asking.


Carers often say it helps to:

  • watch the video all the way through first

  • use the preparation sheet to write down examples

  • then watch the video again while filling in the form


The focus is on everyday life, not medical language. It encourages you to describe what happens on a difficult day, not a good one.



Download: getting ready before you apply

We have created a simple preparation sheet called:

Attendance Allowance: getting ready before you apply


It helps you think through:

  • what support is needed day to day

  • what supervision or prompting happens quietly in the background

  • what would happen if that support was not there

  • examples you can use in the form


You can use it as rough notes. It does not need to be neat, and you do not send it to anyone.


👉 Download the preparation list here:


Applying in Wealden and East Sussex

Attendance Allowance is a national benefit, but many local organisations in Wealden and East Sussex can help with applications.


Getting help to apply:


You can get free, local support from:


Medical evidence and forms

You do not usually need a long medical report, but you may be asked for supporting evidence.

A Summary Care Record from your GP is often accepted and can save time. You can request this directly from your surgery.

If you need help with medical evidence or wording, ask. Many people under-describe their needs on the form.


How to apply

You can apply by:

If you call first, your claim can be backdated to the date of the call.

Take your time with the form. It is not a test. It is about explaining what life is like on a difficult day, not a good one.


If you are supporting someone else

If you are filling in the form for someone you support:

  • Use real examples

  • Explain what would happen if support was not there

  • Focus on safety, stress and effort, not just tasks

Many carers tell us this is one of the hardest parts. You are not being negative. You are being accurate.

Need to talk it through?

Attendance Allowance can feel overwhelming, especially if forms and official language are not your thing.


If you would rather talk things through first, our Concierge team is here to listen and help you work out what support might be available.



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