How to claim Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance can be claimed online through GOV.UK or by post. There is no charge for claiming, no agent is needed, and the form can be completed by someone else on your behalf. The route you choose affects one thing that matters: the date your claim starts.
The three routes
| Route | How it works | Claim start date |
|---|---|---|
| Online | Apply through GOV.UK. | The date you submit the claim. |
| Print and post | Print the claim form, complete it, and send it to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance (no postcode or stamp needed). | The date the DWP receives it. |
| Helpline form | Call the helpline and ask for a claim form to be sent to you. | The date of your call, if you return the form within 6 weeks. |
The helpline is 0800 731 0122 (Relay UK: 18001 then 0800 731 0122), Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The 6-week phone-form rule is the one most often missed: a form requested by phone and returned within six weeks backdates the claim to the call, which can be worth several weeks of payments. A printed form sent by post does not get that treatment — its start date is the date it arrives.
What you need before you start
- Your National Insurance number.
- Your address and contact details.
- Details of the disability or health condition you need extra help for.
- Details of your GP surgery or medical centre.
- Details of any care home, hospital or hospice you are currently staying in.
After you apply
After you send your claim, you will get a text or letter within 3 weeks explaining when you can expect a decision. Once a decision is made, you will get a letter explaining the outcome, and if you are awarded Attendance Allowance, that letter will tell you when your first payment arrives. If you disagree with a decision, you can challenge it by asking for mandatory reconsideration. The GOV.UK guide does not state the reconsideration deadline on its overview page, so this site does not invent one: check the decision letter for the deadline that applies to your case, and act promptly, because challenge deadlines are strict.