How to claim Attendance Allowance

Changes to Attendance Allowance in Scotland

A new benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland from October 2024.

If you already get Attendance Allowance

You’ll keep getting Attendance Allowance until you move to Pension Age Disability Payment. Social Security Scotland will contact you to tell you when that will happen.

Find out more about changes to Attendance Allowance in Scotland on mygov.scot.

If you do not already get Attendance Allowance

You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment on or after:

• 21 October 2024 - if you live in Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney or Shetland

• 24 March 2025 - if you live in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, Falkirk, Fife, Moray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, South Ayrshire or Stirling

• 22 April 2025 - if you live in Edinburgh City, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire or West Lothian.

Find out more about Pension Age Disability Payment.

You can claim Attendance Allowance if you:

• have reached State Pension age

• need care or supervision because you have an illness or disability

• have needed care or supervision for at least 6 months because of your illness or disability

If you’re terminally ill, you can claim Attendance Allowance straight away - you don’t need to wait 6 months. Find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance if you’re terminally ill.

You don't need to have had a formal diagnosis to claim Attendance Allowance. For example, you might still be having tests or appointments to find out what's wrong with you. As long as you've needed help or supervision, or you've had difficulties for 6 months because of your condition you can claim Attendance Allowance. 

You can also claim Attendance Allowance if you live on your own - it's based on the help you need, rather than the help you are already getting. 

If you get Attendance Allowance, you can spend the money however you like - it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer.

You can also apply for Attendance Allowance on behalf of someone else, for example a parent or a friend or other relative. 

Applying for someone else

You might need to apply for Attendance Allowance for someone else, for example if they're too ill to fill in the form or if they don't have the 'mental capacity'. This means they're unable to make decisions.

It's okay to fill in the form for someone if they can sign it themselves. 

If they can't sign the form you'll need to have the legal right to do it for them. You can sign the form for them if you:

• are an appointee

• have power of attorney that lets you manage their benefits

• are a legal guardian

Get permission to apply for someone else

You'll need to get the legal right if you want to apply for Attendance Allowance on behalf of someone who can't sign the form themselves. 

It can take a while to get this permission so it's best to do this as soon as possible so you don't delay the Attendance Allowance claim.

Get an application form

You can either phone for an application form or download a form on GOV.UK. 

It's best to phone because your payments will be backdated to the date you phoned, as long as you return the form in 6 weeks. The date you need to return it by will be stamped on the form. If you download an application form, you'll only be paid from the date that the DWP receive the form.

It’s a quick call - you just need to give your name and address. It's the same number whether you're applying for Attendance Allowance for yourself or for someone else.

Keeping a diary

It's a good idea to keep a diary of your condition for at least a week before you fill in the form - particularly if you have bad days and good days. Fill in our diary template to help you 99 KB . Write down your difficulties, the care or supervision you need and how long it took.

The diary will help you when you answer questions on the form. You can also send it with the form to support your claim.

Fill in the application form

The form can be confusing and difficult to understand - filling it in can also be emotionally difficult and time-consuming.

You don't have to go through it alone - read our advice on filling in the Attendance Allowance form.

Send your application form

It's a good idea to make a copy of your filled-in application form and any other documents you send if you can. This will be useful in case you need to refer to them later, for example if you need to reapply for Attendance Allowance after a few years.

Send the form to:

Freepost

DWP Attendance Allowance

You don't need a postcode or a stamp.

If you're waiting for something like a letter from your doctor, you should still send the form before the 6 week deadline. Include a letter saying you'll send more evidence and give them an approximate date for when you'll send it.

If you send the form late, you should explain why. You'll only get paid from when the DWP receives the form.

After you've sent your form

You'll get a 'decision letter' - this will tell you whether or not you'll get Attendance Allowance. It will also tell you how much you'll get and how long your Attendance Allowance will last for.

The DWP might take a long time before they send your decision letter. If you’re worried, you can call the Attendance Allowance helpline to check they’ve got your form.

If you're terminally ill you should get your decision letter within 2 weeks. You'll be awarded the higher rate of Attendance Allowance for 3 years. Find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance if you're terminally ill.

Next steps

Help with filling in the Attendance Allowance claim form