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How to claim

Claim straight away - if you delay you may lose benefit.

You can claim online or get a claim pack by:

Claim online

To claim Attendance Allowance online use the link below and follow the on-screen instructions.

• Benefits online service Opens new window

Call the Benefit Enquiry Line

This is a confidential freephone service for disabled people and carers. You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line and ask them to send you a claim pack. They can send you the claim pack in an alternative format if required - for example, Braille.

They can also arrange for someone to help you fill out the form if required. Please note that the person you speak to may need to arrange for someone to phone you back.

Telephone: 0800 88 22 00

Textphone: 0800 24 33 55

You can also use the Text Relay service.

The Benefit Enquiry Line is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

If you request a claim pack from the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of your phone call will be treated as your date of claim. This is the date from which Attendance Allowance can be paid, as long as you send your form back within six weeks of that date. If you delay making a claim, you may lose out on benefit.

The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision about your claim.

Download a form to print at home

You can download a claim form (AA1A) to print off and fill in using a pen. Or complete the form on your computer and print off. The form comes with notes that will help you fill it in and tell you where to send it. We will treat the day we get your form back as the date of your claim.

If you are going to complete the form on your computer, it is recommended that you save the form on your computer before completing it. To do this simply right click with your mouse on the link below and choose the 'Save Target As' option. You cannot save the form once you've opened it in an internet browser.

Once you have filled in the form, you can print and sign it.

• Download 'Attendance Allowance claim form AA1A' (PDF, 194K) Opens new window

• Download 'on-screen Attendance Allowance claim form AA1A' (PDF, 1,223K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

If you are having technical difficulties with the claim form

If you are having technical difficulties - for example, downloading the form, navigating around the form or printing a hard copy - please contact the eService helpdesk:

Phone: 0845 601 80 40

Textphone: 0845 601 80 39

Email: eservicehelpdesk@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

The eService helpdesk is open 8.00 am to 9.00 pm Monday to Friday and 8.00 am to 4.00 pm Saturday and Sunday.

Once you have made your claim

Once you have made your claim, you can get advice on Attendance Allowance from the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline.

Telephone: 08457 123 456

Textphone: 08457 22 44 33

The helpline is open from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

Email: dcpu.customer-services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

You can also use the RNID Text Relay service.

It will usually take around 40 working days to deal with your claim, unless the claim is made under the special rules. If a claim is made under the special rules it will be dealt with much more quickly.

Effect on other benefits and entitlements

If your claim for Attendance Allowance is successful, you may get extra money for severe disability paid as part of:

If someone claims Carer's Allowance for providing care to you and they are paid Carer's Allowance you may not receive this extra amount.

You can download a leaflet with this information and advice about Carer's Allowance.

For more information, you should contact the office dealing with your claim or contact the Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance Helpline.

• Download 'Attendance Allowance additional information' (PDF, 45K) Opens new window

• Help with PDF files

The Warm Front Scheme

If you receive Attendance Allowance and live in England, you can get a grant from the Warm Front Scheme. This is used to help you with the costs of home insulation and other heating improvements.

• Warm Front Scheme

If you think a decision about your benefit is wrong

If you think a decision about your benefit claim is wrong you can ask the office who made the decision to explain it. You can also ask to have the decision reconsidered and, if you're still unhappy, you can, in most cases, appeal against the decision.

• How to appeal against a benefits decision

If you're not happy with the service you receive

If you have any complaints or comments about the way your claim was handled or the service you received, contact the Disability and Carers Service.

• Making a complaint about the Disability and Carers Service

More useful links

• Financial support contacts

• Attendance Allowance