Introduction to Benefits
Navigating the world of benefits can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re living with a disability or health condition. Understanding what support is available is the first step to making life a little easier. Two of the main benefits designed to help with extra costs are Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance. While DLA is now only available for those under state pension age, Attendance Allowance is the key benefit for people who have reached state pension age and need help due to a disability or health condition.
Both benefits are designed to provide financial support for those who need help with personal care or supervision. If you’re not sure which benefit you can claim, it’s important to check the eligibility criteria for each. For those under state pension age, Personal Independence Payment (PIP) may be available instead of DLA. In addition to these, you might also be entitled to other benefits such as Council Tax Reduction, which can help lower your household bills.
Understanding the process to claim Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance is crucial. Each benefit has its own application form and requirements, so taking the time to learn about your options can make a big difference. Whether you’re looking for support for yourself or a loved one, knowing what you’re eligible for and how to claim can help you access the living allowance and disability living support you deserve.
- Want to know more about DLA?
- Claimed and waiting for a decision or been refused?
- Not claiming? Find out if you could be entitled to DLA for your child.
Let's rephrase the question to 'what benefits can I claim aged over 65 if I have a disability?” The answer is 'Attendance Allowance' and I am going to show you exactly what Attendance Allowance is and what makes you eligible. If you are approaching State Pension age and are currently claiming DLA, you will need to claim PIP before reaching State Pension age, as claiming DLA is not possible after this point. When this transition happens, your claim will be assessed for PIP eligibility, and you may need to follow the claim PIP process to continue receiving support.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is the department responsible for handling claims and correspondence for these benefits.
The State Pension Age
Whether or not you can claim Personal independence payment (PIP), Disability living allowance (DLA) or attendance allowance depends less on whether you are 65 and more on when you reach state pension age.
If you are unsure when you will reach state pension age, you can check this online. If you are approaching or have reached state pension age then you can no longer claim Disability living allowance or Personal independence payment (PIP), you need to make an attendance allowance application.
Attendance Allowance is a weekly benefit that is paid to people that have reached the state pension age and it replaces Disability Living Allowance for this age group. It is to help people who have difficulty with bodily functions and need attention or who need supervision to avoid danger to themselves or others. Attendance Allowance is paid every week to help with the extra cost of living with a disability or illness.
The Allowance component is paid to people who require either:
- “Frequent attention throughout the day, night, or both in connection with their bodily functions.”
Or;
- “Supervision to avoid danger to themselves or others.”
Bodily functions are personal things such as getting up from bed or out of a chair, dressing, keeping clean, eating, drinking, communicating or help with medication.
It also includes seeing and hearing. In fact the list includes anything to do with your body and how it works. Attendance Allowance is available regardless of your income or savings, and it does not matter how much you have in savings.
For example, you may be able to dress yourself but be unable to get the clothes yourself from the wardrobe or go about cleaning and ironing them. If this is the case, it would be reasonable to conclude that you needed help to dress each day.
The word ‘reasonable’ is important. To qualify for Attendance Allowance, the help you need need only has to be ‘reasonably required’ and not necessarily ‘medically required’. You also do not have to prove you actually receive the help; you just need to show that the help is ‘reasonably needed’. Attendance Allowance is not affected by pensions or other income, and is designed to help with the cost of care due to illness or disability.
Disability Living: How Attendance Allowance Supports Your Daily Life
Attendance Allowance is more than just a payment—it’s a lifeline for many people living with a disability or health condition. This tax-free benefit is designed to help cover the extra costs that come with needing care or supervision, whether that’s help with washing, dressing, eating, or simply staying safe at home. By providing this financial support, Attendance Allowance helps you maintain your independence and continue living life on your own terms.
Claiming Attendance Allowance can also open the door to other benefits. For example, you may become eligible for a Council Tax Reduction, which can lower your council tax bill, or Extra Pension Credit, which can boost your income in retirement. These additional supports can make a real difference to your quality of life, helping you manage the costs of disability and maintain your comfort and security at home.
Whether you need help during the day, at night, or both, Attendance Allowance is there to support your mobility and daily living needs. It’s designed to adapt to your circumstances, ensuring you get the right level of support for your situation.
Do I need a carer living with me to qualify for Attendance Allowance?
You do not have to have someone who stays with you as a carer or helper to qualify for Attendance Allowance.
If someone provides regular care for you, they may be eligible to claim Carer's Allowance.
The definition of Attendance Allowance says ‘frequent attention’. In this context, frequent means a few times a day, not just once or twice, and at intervals during the day.
Sometimes attention can simply be supervision. For example someone could give supervision to intervene in case you have an accident while you are going about your day. This would still qualify you for Attendance Allowance but the person giving you supervision does not need to live with you.
If you live in a care home and your care is funded by the local authority, you may not be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
What rates are Attendance Allowance Paid at?
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates: Lower and Higher.
If you previously had a DLA award before reaching State Pension age, you may continue to receive DLA, but new claims are not possible.
The lower rate is for people who need attention or supervision during the day or night, and the higher rate is for people needing attention or supervision during both day and night.
During the night the attention needs to be repeated (more than once) and/or prolonged (lasting for about 20 minutes or more each time attention is needed).
Receiving DLA may affect your eligibility for Attendance Allowance once you reach State Pension age.
But what if I live alone? Do I still qualify for Attendance Allowance?
If you live alone don’t worry. You can still qualify for Attendance Allowance. If no one currently helps you day to day, don’t worry you can still claim for Attendance Allowance.
When you are filling in your application form, you need to explain how having someone to help would make things easier, perhaps less painful or not as time consuming. For example, you might need help getting to the doctor, attending medical appointments, or managing daily tasks.
Remember as well that if you get tired or breathless doing something during the day mention it. If it takes you a long time to do things, mention them too.
If you need or want any help to complete the Attendance Allowance form, contact us. We can help with the form. Other examples of situations where help is needed include managing medication, getting to your doctor, or support with personal care.
What happens after I fill in and send off the Attendance Allowance Form?
So you’ve made your claim and you get a letter telling you what the DWP has decided. If you are happy with the decision, that’s the end of it. However, you must report any changes in your circumstances, as these can affect your Attendance Allowance award. Check to see what date your award ends - about 6 months before the end date you should receive a set of forms to claim again. Very often, however, awards are made for “life” with no end date.
What happens if the DWP refuse my Attendance Allowance application?
If the DWP refuse your application, you have one month to do something about it. This “one month” runs from the date on the letter you receive, not the date you get it. For example if the letter is dated 15th March your one month ends on 14th April.
The first step is to ask for a ‘reconsideration'. There are some things to consider with this ‘reconsideration'. If you have not been awarded the Allowance, then you have nothing to lose.
However, say you have been awarded the lower rate and you feel you should have the higher rate. What can you do? Again you have the 1-month time limit.
You can say you are happy with the award you have been given but feel you should have been given the higher rate. The decision maker at the DWP is not bound by this - he or she can look at what you have been given and you could end up with nothing. So there is a risk.
We can help you with all of this. We help people with Attendance Allowance reconsiderations all the time and have a lot of experience with reconsiderations and appeals processes.
Unfortunately, not many award decisions are actually changed by the reconsideration process. However, after a reconsideration, you then have the option to appeal anyway. We always recommend an appeal.
If you leave it more than a month to do anything about the decision, you may find you have to make a fresh claim unless you can meet certain conditions. If you have been given the lower rate of the Allowance one such condition may be a change in circumstances which could give you a chance at a supersession (see below).
What is a change of circumstances?
A change in something personal to you. For example if your condition has become worse and you now need to do things more slowly or there are things you cannot do, this may be a change in circumstances. However, your condition getting worse by itself may not count as change in circumstances unless it has a personal effect on you.
What if you get one rate and would like the other?
You may receive the lower rate and because you have a change in circumstances, would like to claim higher rate. To do so is not quite as simple as filling in a claim form. The process is actually called a supersession when you already receive one of the two components.
You may receive the lower rate and because you have a change in circumstances, would like to claim higher rate. To do so is not quite as simple as filling in a claim form. The process is actually called a supersession when you already receive one of the two components.
You must write to the DWP explaining that you wish to apply for this and why. They then usually send you a special claim form to complete. You can say you are happy with the Allowance you have been given but feel you should now be getting a higher rate. The decision maker at the DWP is not bound by this - he or she can look at what you have been given and you could end up with nothing. So there is a risk. Again we can help with ALL of this.
Get help today with an Attendance Allowance Reconsideration or Appeal
Can I Get Help With Attendance Allowance claims, reconsiderations and appeals?
You absolutely can get professional help with Attendance Allowance claims, reconsiderations and appeals. Not many people realise this but you do not have to go it alone, there are organisations (like our own, Benefit Answers) that can actually help you with the paperwork, letters to the DWP and managing the entire process on your behalf.
You can benefit from years of experience handling with Attendance Allowance claims all day long and working with people across the UK with a wide range of needs.
We are often able to ensure you are awarded Attendance Allowance in the first place as well as make successful reconsiderations and appeals if the DWP refuse your application.
You are perfectly within your rights to ask for help and to have representations made on your behalf.
If you have any questions at all about your Attendance Allowance, or any other kind of benefit query, please use our ‘Ask a Question’ form and one of our benefits team will write back to you as soon as we can with an answer.
Can I get a council tax reduction if I claim attendance allowance?
Receiving Attendance Allowance does not directly reduce your council tax, but it may help you qualify for other benefits or discounts that can lead to a reduction in your council tax bill.
Next Steps
If you’re thinking about claiming Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance, it’s important to take a few simple steps to get started. First, check the eligibility criteria for each benefit to make sure you qualify. Gather any documents that show how your disability or health condition affects your daily life—this could include medical letters, care plans, or a list of the help you need.
Don’t hesitate to seek advice if you’re unsure about the process.
Taking these steps will help you make a strong claim and ensure you get the support you need. Remember, you’re not alone—there’s plenty of advice and support available to help you through the process.
Additional Support
In addition to Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance, there are other forms of support available to help you manage daily life with a disability or health condition. Local authorities may offer services such as home adaptations, mobility aids, or personal care support. Charities and community organisations can also provide practical help, advice, and social opportunities to improve your wellbeing.
If you’re already receiving a living allowance or disability living benefit, you may be entitled to further assistance, such as help with transport, housing benefit, or carer’s allowance if someone looks after you. It’s always worth exploring all the options to make sure you’re getting the full range of support you’re entitled to. If you need help finding out what’s available, don’t hesitate to ask for advice—there are many organisations ready to help you live life to the fullest.
