Who Is Eligible for Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is for people of State Pension age in Great Britain who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or long‑term health condition. It is not means‑tested, so your income, savings and capital do not affect whether you can claim.

If you are unsure whether you or a relative qualify, our team specialises in reviewing Attendance Allowance eligibility and preparing strong applications on your behalf.

Core eligibility criteria

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, you must meet all of the following conditions:

• You are State Pension age or over when you make your claim.

• You have a physical or mental disability, sensory impairment, learning difficulty or long‑term health condition that means you need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety.

• You have needed that help or supervision for at least six months, unless you are claiming under the “special rules” for terminal illness (where a medical professional has said you may have 12 months or less to live).

• You are in Great Britain when you claim and meet the usual residence and presence conditions (normally at least two of the last three years in Great Britain, and habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands).

• You are not subject to immigration control (unless you are a sponsored immigrant).

• You do not already receive certain other disability benefits, such as Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment.

• You do not need to be receiving care already; what matters is that your condition means you need that level of help or supervision.

What counts as “help” or “supervision”?

Eligibility depends on the nature and frequency of the help or supervision you require, not on a specific diagnosis. You may qualify if you need assistance or oversight with personal care tasks such as:

• Getting dressed or undressed

• Eating and drinking

• Washing, bathing or showering

• Using the toilet or managing continence

• Getting in and out of bed or a chair

• Taking medication or managing treatments

• Communicating your needs

You may also qualify if tasks take you much longer than usual, are painful, or you need physical support (for example, leaning on furniture or using a rail) or supervision to stay safe. This can include people with mental health conditions, dementia, learning difficulties, or sensory impairments such as blindness or deafness.

Day and night needs

Attendance Allowance looks at your needs across the whole 24‑hour period. Broadly, you may be considered for:

• Lower rate if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.

• Higher rate if you need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or if you are terminally ill with a prognosis of 12 months or less to live.

Examples of “night needs” include requiring someone to be awake and watching over you to prevent danger, or needing help to turn in bed, use the toilet, or manage seizures or breathing problems during the night.

Residence and immigration conditions

In addition to the disability and age tests, you must satisfy residence and immigration rules. Typically, you must:

• Be present in Great Britain when you claim (with some exceptions, for example for members of the armed forces and their families).

• Have been in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years (this does not apply to refugees or those with humanitarian protection).

• Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

• Not be subject to immigration control unless you are a sponsored immigrant.

If you have lived abroad, have complex immigration status, or split your time between countries, it is worth seeking specialist advice before you apply.

How we can help with eligibility and claims

Because the rules focus on the impact of your condition rather than the diagnosis itself, many people who are eligible are unsure whether they qualify. Our service helps you:

• Review your situation against the eligibility criteria and explain your likely entitlement.

• Identify which day and night needs are relevant and how to describe them clearly.

• Gather supporting information from GPs, specialists or care providers where appropriate.

• Complete and submit a well‑evidenced Attendance Allowance application that reflects your true care needs.

If you would like us to assess your eligibility for Attendance Allowance or help with a new or refused claim, contact our team for a confidential discussion.

Or call us on: