Attendance Allowance Pitfalls | Things to Know and What to Avoid

A large number of Attendance Allowance claims are rejected. Claimants unintentionally withholding information is the main reason for the low success rate.

Applications are often rejected when claimants don’t put down specific symptoms and are unclear when talking about the effect a disability or illness has on their day-to-day life.

Here, we’ve covered the most common reasons for applications being rejected, along with Attendance Allowance pitfalls and mistakes for claimants to avoid. We’ve also provided guidance with filling in the form for Attendance Allowance.

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Attendance allowance pitfalls to be aware of:

1. Withholding information
2. Exaggerating or understating your needs
3. Not reapplying if your circumstances have changed
4. Not applying based on your financial situation
5. Not applying because you have a carer

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Know Whether You’re Eligible For Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a pensioner benefit for people beyond the State Pension age. It’s aimed at people who require additional care and support.

There are two different Attendance Allowance rates: It pays £72.65 a week at the lower rate and £108.55 a week at the higher rate for 2024/25.

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, you need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You must have reached the State Pension age (currently 66 and higher for men and women in the UK)
• You require help to look after yourself. This could be due to a physical or mental disability, or because of an illness
• You need to have had this illness or disability for at least six months (unless you might have six months or less to live)
• You must have been in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years

It isn’t a means-tested benefit, meaning your income and savings don’t affect your eligibility either way (such as when you undergo a financial assessment for care fees).

You can claim Attendance Allowance in a care home if you’re a self-funder. If the local authority pays, you’ll receive it for the first 28 days spent in a care home only.

How it Works With Other Benefits

If you already claim Personal Independence Payments (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance, you won’t be able to claim Attendance Allowance.

Here’s the list of medical conditions that are eligible for PIP in the UK.

With that said, some benefits or tax credits could go up when you start claiming Attendance Allowance. If you get in touch with your benefits office and tell them you’ve started receiving Attendance Allowance, they’ll be able to let you know what this will do to the other benefits you receive, as well as what else you’re entitled to - including care home benefits.

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Why Are Applicants Rejected?

It’s estimated that around 60% of Attendance Allowance applications are rejected. Applicants are most commonly rejected for Attendance Allowance due to:

• Not stating the specific issues or symptoms that affect them
• Not being clear enough with how significant their condition is, or the effect it has on their day-to-day life
• The complicated application form means mistakes are often made, and relevant information isn't included
• You need to have required support for at least six months before applying, which stops many people from being approved

Many people don't know that they can claim Attendance Allowance either. Our 2024 Care Seeker Survey found that 20% of people are unaware of any benefits available to them.

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Attendance Allowance Pitfalls and Mistakes to Avoid

Below, we’ve gone over the most common mistakes and pitfalls that crop up where Attendance Allowance and applying for it are concerned. Often, people are unaware of exactly what information they should and shouldn’t include in their application, as well as when they can and can’t apply.

Withholding information

When it comes to claiming Attendance Allowance, you must be accurate and specific as to why you or your loved one require it.

The things you may wish to include are:

• Your medical condition
• Whether you’ve had any accidents or falls (and the effect of these)
• What activities do you find tough when completely unaided?
• How often support is required to successfully complete these activities
• Does your disability or health condition make particular tasks difficult while still remaining safe?
• Do you receive personal care or supervision during the day?
• Do you need the above support to stay independent at home?

Exaggerating or understating your needs

Not being truthful about the exact nature of your needs will likely work against you when a decision is made about your eligibility. The same applies to many other similar benefits, including carer benefits.

Not reapplying if your circumstances have changed

Attendance Allowance claims are usually reviewed every 12 or so months to recheck for eligibility. This means if your or your loved one’s initial application was rejected, you can always apply again. This is particularly true if your circumstances have changed since you originally applied.

Not applying based on your financial situation

Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested and doesn’t require a financial assessment. So, you’ll be eligible, regardless of how high or low your income is. Similarly, it isn’t affected by your savings, or whereabouts in the UK you or your loved one live. You also don’t pay council tax on it.

Not applying because you have a carer

Many people don’t realise you’re eligible to apply for Attendance Allowance, regardless of whether or not you have a carer.

Similarly, people living in care homes are still eligible, as long as the local council or authority partially or fully funds their care.

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How To Fill in an Attendance Allowance Application

This is the information you’ll need when filling in the Attendance Allowance claim form:

• The details of your GP (you might also need appointment letters or a diagnosis from your GP or another healthcare professional)
• National Insurance number
• A list of any prescriptions or medications you receive
• A hospital number (if relevant) and details surrounding any hospital stays you’ve had

You might also need to provide:

• A care plan created by your local council
• Reports from an occupational therapist explaining the equipment and home adaptations needed for you to continue living there safely

You can apply by filling in the Attendance Allowance Claim form. This link also includes notes on how to fill in the claim form.

Alternatively, you can contact the Attendance Allowance helpline and ask them for a pack, or for advice with filling it out.

Once done, send the completed form to:

Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance

When it comes to the Statement section at the end of the form, we’d recommend getting a third party - such as a family member or your GP - to put something in here. Having them do this will help to provide further validation of your needs and give crucial information where needed.

Remember, if your care needs change, you can always contact the Department for Work and Pensions to resubmit your application with new information.

When filling out an application, be sure to keep the points we’ve gone over in mind, as these are the most common Attendance Allowance mistakes and pitfalls people make.

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