Attendance Allowance
Eligibility
You can get Attendance Allowance if you鈥檝e reached State Pension age and the following apply:
- you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
- your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else鈥檚 safety
- you have needed that help for at least 6 months
There are different eligibility rules if you鈥檙e nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness). You might be able to get Attendance Allowance more quickly and at a higher rate.
You must also:
- be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces
- have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you鈥檙e a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
- be in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- not be subject to (unless you鈥檙e a sponsored immigrant)
- not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or
If you live in Scotland
You will need to instead of Attendance Allowance if you live in:
- Aberdeen City
- Aberdeenshire
- Angus
- Argyll and Bute
- Clackmannanshire
- Dundee City
- East Ayrshire
- Falkirk
- Fife
- Highland
- Moray
- North Ayrshire
- Orkney Islands
- Perth and Kinross
- Shetland Islands
- South Ayrshire
- Stirling
- Western Isles
If you live in one of these areas and you already get Attendance Allowance, you do not need to apply for Pension Age Disability Payment.
If you live in another part of Scotland, apply for Attendance Allowance.
If you live in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
You might still be able to get Attendance Allowance if you鈥檙e a UK national and you live in or move to the EU, European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.
Read guidance to find out if you can get benefits in the EU, EEA or Switzerland.
If you鈥檙e in a care home
You cannot usually get Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority. You can still claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.
If you need an assessment
You鈥檒l only need to attend an assessment to check your eligibility if it鈥檚 unclear how your disability or health condition affects you.
If you do need an assessment you鈥檒l get a letter saying why and where you must go. During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you.