Help With Your Attendance Allowance Application
Applying for Attendance Allowance can involve explaining in detail how an illness or disability affects everyday life. Elders with Roots helps older people and their families understand the application and complete the form accurately and thoroughly.
- £76.70 or £114.60 per week (2026/27 rates)
- Not means-tested — income and savings don't affect it
- No carer needed — you don't need anyone already helping you
- Full support completing the application
What Is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people who have reached State Pension age and need help with personal care, or supervision to stay safe, because of an illness or disability. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
It is not means-tested, so your income and savings do not affect whether you can get it. You do not need to have a carer, or to be receiving any care already, to apply. Attendance Allowance does not include help with mobility or getting around outside — it looks at the care and supervision you need in daily life.
Worth knowing:
- You don't need a carer or a formal diagnosis to apply
- It isn't means-tested — an award can sometimes increase other support, such as Pension Credit. How it interacts with your other benefits depends on your situation, so we'll check that with you
Could You Qualify for Attendance Allowance?
You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if all of the following apply:
Eligibility depends on your individual circumstances — the list above is a guide, not a guarantee. If you're not sure, it's still worth talking it through with us.
What Does Attendance Allowance Look At?
The application focuses on the help and supervision you need with everyday life — for example, difficulties with tasks such as:
Moving around your home safely, including stairs and falls
Getting in and out of bed, or up from a chair
Washing, bathing, or using the toilet
Getting dressed or undressed
Preparing or eating meals
Remembering or managing medication
Needing someone to check on you for your safety, day or night
Communicating, hearing or seeing well enough to manage daily tasks
Whether you qualify at the lower or higher rate depends on whether you need help during the day, during the night, or both — not on the name of your condition.
How Much Is Attendance Allowance in 2026/27?
Lower Rate
£76.70
per week if you need help during the day or night
Higher Rate
£114.60
per week if you need help both day and night
Rates are reviewed each April. You can check the current figures on theGOV.UK Attendance Allowance guidance.
How We Help With Your Application
Free Consultation
We'll discuss your situation and talk through whether an application looks worthwhile — a friendly, no-pressure conversation.
Complete the Form Together
We'll help you describe, in the detail the DWP needs, how your condition affects daily life — making sure nothing important is missed. We do this during a home visit.
Submit Your Application
We'll submit your application to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and keep you updated on progress.
Ongoing Support
The DWP can take several weeks to process claims. We'll stay in touch and help with any queries.
Applying for a Parent or Relative
Many Attendance Allowance applications are started by adult children or other family members who've noticed an older relative struggling with everyday tasks — or who simply don't know the benefit exists.
You can contact us on their behalf to talk through whether an application is worth pursuing and what it involves. We can then work with your relative directly — including home visits — to complete the form with them.
Ask About Help for a RelativeWhat Does Our Attendance Allowance Service Cost?
We do not charge you anything up front.
If your Attendance Allowance application is successful, we ask for a one-time fee of £349. This helps cover the cost of our support. The fee only becomes payable once your award is confirmed — we'll discuss the details with you then.
No upfront Elders with Roots fee
£349 only if your application succeeds
No recurring fee — it's a one-off charge
No fee at all if your application is unsuccessful
What Happens After Your Application?
Once the DWP has your form, it can take several weeks — sometimes up to around 12 weeks — to receive a decision letter.
If your claim is approved, payments are normally backdated to the date you first asked for the claim form, as long as the form was returned within the time limit given.
If the DWP refuses your claim, or awards the lower rate when you believe the higher rate applies, you can ask them to look at the decision again (a "mandatory reconsideration") and, if needed, appeal. We can talk you through what that involves.
An Attendance Allowance award can also increase your entitlement to other support — for example Pension Credit — so it's worth having a wider benefits check at the same time.
Common Questions About Attendance Allowance
Can someone help me fill in an Attendance Allowance form?
Yes — that's exactly what we do. We can sit down with you (at home if needed), go through the form question by question, and make sure your difficulties are described fully and accurately.
Can I claim Attendance Allowance without a carer?
Yes. You don't need to be receiving care already — Attendance Allowance is based on the help you need, not the help you currently get.
Is Attendance Allowance means tested?
No. Your income and savings don't affect whether you can get it.
Can I apply for Attendance Allowance for my parent?
You can't claim on their behalf without their involvement, but you can help them through the process — and you can contact us first to discuss their situation. We'll then work with them directly.
Do I need a diagnosis?
No specific diagnosis is required. What matters is how your illness or disability affects the care and supervision you need day to day.
What information will I need?
Your National Insurance number, details of your condition(s), and a realistic picture of the help you need with daily tasks — including things you've adapted to or stopped doing because they became too difficult.
Can Attendance Allowance affect other benefits?
Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested, and an award can increase entitlement to some other support, such as Pension Credit. How it interacts with your individual benefits varies, so we check your wider position as part of helping you.
How long does an application take?
Completing the form thoroughly usually takes one detailed visit with us. DWP decisions can take several weeks — sometimes up to around 12 weeks — after submission.
Information reviewed: October 2026 · Sources: GOV.UK Attendance Allowance guidance
Ready to Apply for Attendance Allowance?
Let us help you complete your application with confidence