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The information in this section is a guide only. The office dealing with your claim can answer any questions you may have about claiming and getting Attendance Allowance.

Who can get Attendance Allowance?

You may get Attendance Allowance if any of the following apply:

If you're  under age 65, you may get Disability Living Allowance.

Attendance Allowance isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.

• Disability Living Allowance (disabled people section)

Special rules - if you're terminally ill

If you have a progressive disease and aren't expected to live for more than another six months there are special rules to help you get the benefit quickly and easily.

• Who can get it - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)

Medical examinations

You won't usually need a medical examination when you claim Attendance Allowance.

 If you're asked to have one you can find out more from the link below.

• Medical examination - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)

How much do you get?

The amount you get depends on how much your disability affects you.

There are two rates of Attendance Allowance.

• Rates and how to claim - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)

How it's paid

Attendance Allowance is normally paid directly into any account of your choice that accepts Direct Payment of benefits. This might be a bank, building society or other account provider.

You may be able to get someone else to collect your Attendance Allowance - for help with this contact your bank, building society or other account provider.

To get more information on how you can be paid other ways you can contact the office dealing with your claim - details are in the 'Rates and how to claim' section.

• The difference between Direct Payment and 'direct payments'

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If you start to get Attendance Allowance, it might increase the amount of other benefits and financial support you're entitled to.

You may get an extra amount for severe disability with:

Attendance Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out income-related benefits and other entitlements.

• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Pension Credit

Rates and how to claim

Claim straight away - you may lose benefit.

You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

Find out more in 'Rates and how to claim' - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section), below. 

• Rates and how to claim - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)
• Benefits online service Opens new window

What else you need to know

To get Attendance Allowance you must be in Great Britain or treated as living here, and meet certain other conditions about your residence and presence.

Also, changes to your circumstances can affect the amount of Attendance Allowance you get, or whether you get it.

• What else you need to know - Attendance Allowance (disabled people section)

Attendance Allowance - British sign language and subtitled film

A short film about Attendance Allowance - which is presented in British Sign Language, narrated and also subtitled - can be downloaded from Directgov. The information is also available on DVD, which you can request to be delivered to you.

• Disability benefits - British Sign Language and subtitled films (disabled people section)

More about Attendance Allowance

• Who can get it (disabled people section)
• How to claim (disabled people section)
• What else you need to know (disabled people section)

More useful links

• Guide to financial support for disabled people (disabled people section)
• Information for carers (caring for someone section)
• Support to stay in your own home (over 50s section)