Attendance Allowance – rates and how to claim :Cross Stitch – Money, tax and benefits
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates depending on how your disability affects you. The claim pack gives some examples of different levels of care needs. You can claim Attendance Allowance online.
| Higher rate | £77.45 |
| Lower rate | £51.85 |
Claim straight away – if you delay you may lose benefit.
You can claim online or get a claim pack by:
- phoning the Benefit Enquiry Line
- downloading the form directly from this page
This is a confidential freephone service for disabled people and carers. You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line and ask them to send you a claim pack. They can send you the claim pack in an alternative format if required – for example, Braille.
They can also arrange for someone to help you fill out the form if required. Please note that the person you speak to may need to arrange for someone to phone you back.
Telephone: 0800 88 22 00
Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
You can also use the Text Relay service.
The Benefit Enquiry Line is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.
If you request a claim pack from the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of your phone call will be treated as your date of claim. This is the date from which Attendance Allowance can be paid, as long as you send your form back within six weeks of that date. If you delay making a claim, you may lose out on benefit.
The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision about your claim.
If you are having technical difficulties – for example, downloading the form, navigating around the form or printing a hard copy – please contact the eService helpdesk:
Phone: 0845 601 80 40
Textphone: 0845 601 80 39
Email: [email protected]
The eService helpdesk is open 8.00 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday and Sunday.
Once you have made your claim, you can get advice on Attendance Allowance from the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline.
Telephone: 08457 123 456
Textphone: 08457 22 44 33
The helpline is open from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.
Email: [email protected]
You can also use the RNID Text Relay service.
It will usually take around 40 working days to deal with your claim, unless the claim is made under the special rules. If a claim is made under the special rules it will be dealt with much more quickly.
If your claim for Attendance Allowance is successful, you may get extra money for severe disability paid as part of:
- Pension Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Council Tax Benefit
If someone claims Carer’s Allowance for providing care to you and they are paid Carer’s Allowance you may not receive this extra amount.
You can download a leaflet with this information and advice about Carer’s Allowance.
For more information, you should contact the office dealing with your claim or contact the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline.
If you receive Attendance Allowance and live in England, you can get a grant from the Warm Front Scheme. This is used to help you with the costs of home insulation and other heating improvements.
If you think a decision about your benefit claim is wrong you can ask the office who made the decision to explain it. You can also ask to have the decision reconsidered and, if you’re still unhappy, you can, in most cases, appeal against the decision.