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Attendance Allowance Claim Form: Attendance Allowance for people of State Pension age or over (claim form AA1)
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AA1 in short
Form AA1 is the paper claim form for Attendance Allowance, a weekly benefit for people of State Pension age or over who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or health condition. You can also apply online. If you live in Scotland, you apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead.
| Issued by | Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) |
|---|---|
| Current version | Rev. November 2025 (Version 7.0) (checked 2026-10-25) |
| Who fills it in | People who have reached State Pension age, live in England or Wales, and have needed help caring for themselves or someone to supervise them for at least 6 months because of a physical or mental disability or health condition. Someone else can fill it in for them. Different rules apply for people nearing the end of life. |
| Who receives it | The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). |
| Where to send it | Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. gov.uk says not to write anything else on the envelope; you do not need a postcode or a stamp. |
| Deadline | No fixed deadline. If you post the printed form, gov.uk says your claim starts on the date DWP receives it. If you phone the helpline for a form, the claim starts on the date of your call if you return the form within 6 weeks. |
| Official links | Official page · Official PDF · Official instructions |
What changed
The current PDF is dated 11/25. gov.uk says people in Scotland now apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead of Attendance Allowance, and the form asks if you have moved from Scotland or claimed Pension Age Disability Payment.
How to fill out AA1, line by line
| Question 1 | Special rules Tick yes if you are claiming under the special rules for people nearing the end of life. You then skip the care questions 21 to 46. Send an SR1 form from a doctor or specialist if you can. |
| Questions 2 to 14 | About you Name, National Insurance number, date of birth, address, contact details, nationality, whether you normally live in Great Britain, time abroad, links to EEA states or Switzerland, and any move from Scotland. |
| Question 15 | Signing the form for someone else Say why you are signing for them, for example as a DWP appointee, a deputy or someone with Power of Attorney for Property and Finance. Send the relevant documents if DWP has not seen them. |
| Questions 16 to 19 | Illnesses, disabilities, treatment and GP List each illness or disability, how long you have had it and the medicines or treatment. Give details of professionals you have seen in the last 12 months, anyone who helps you, and your GP. |
| Question 20 | Consent Tick yes or no to DWP contacting your GP and others, then sign and date. If you say no, DWP may not be able to check that you qualify. |
| Questions 21 to 27 | Reports, tests, home and aids Tell DWP about any reports, surgery waiting lists, tests, your type of home, where the toilet and bedroom are, and any aids or adaptations you use. |
| Questions 28 to 46 | Care needs The date your care needs started and the help you need during the day and night, such as washing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, moving around, falls, medication and supervision. |
| Questions 47 to 49 | Hospital, care home and Constant Attendance Allowance Say if you are in, or have recently left, a hospital, care home or similar place, and who pays for it. Tick if you get or are waiting for Constant Attendance Allowance. |
| Questions 50 to 54 | How we pay you Account holder name, bank or building society, sort code, account number and any building society roll or reference number. |
| Questions 55 to 62 | Statement from someone who knows you Optional. Best filled in by the person most involved with your treatment or care. If you are signing for the claimant, someone else should fill in this part. |
| Questions 63 to 65 | Extra information, declaration and document list Add anything else at question 63, sign and date the declaration at question 64, and list the documents you are sending at question 65. |
Common mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting to sign and date both the consent at question 20 and the declaration at question 64.
- Leaving out full details of your GP at question 19 or other professionals at question 17.
- Not filling in the date your care needs started at question 28.
- Filling in the form in a web browser or Preview on a Mac. gov.uk says to use a PDF reader on a desktop or laptop computer.
- Sending original documents. The form says to send copies because DWP cannot return them.
- Writing anything other than Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance on the envelope.
- Claiming under the special rules without ticking the special rules box at question 1. The notes say that without it DWP cannot normally pay under those rules.
- Applying from Scotland. People in Scotland apply for Pension Age Disability Payment instead.
Questions about AA1
Can I apply for Attendance Allowance online instead?
Yes. gov.uk says you can apply online or by post. If you apply online, your claim starts on the date you make it.
How much is Attendance Allowance?
On the date we checked, gov.uk lists a lower rate of £76.70 a week and a higher rate of £114.60 a week. The rate depends on the level of care you need. It is not means-tested.
Can I fill in the form on my phone?
No. gov.uk says you cannot complete the form on a mobile phone or tablet. Use a desktop or laptop computer with a PDF reader, or print it and fill it in by hand.
Can someone fill in the AA1 for me?
Yes, but the form says you must still sign it yourself unless the other person is legally appointed, for example as an appointee, a deputy or under a Power of Attorney for Property and Finance, or you are too ill to claim, or they are claiming for you under the special rules.
What happens after I send the form?
gov.uk says you will get a text or letter within 3 weeks explaining when to expect a decision, and then a letter with the outcome. You may be asked to attend an assessment if it is unclear how your condition affects you.
Do I need someone caring for me to claim?
No. gov.uk says you do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.
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Sources
Checked against the official sources on 2026-10-25. PDF Editor Hub is not affiliated with the Department for Work and Pensions or any government agency. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form
- https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
- https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/what-youll-get
- https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility
- https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695e704d2a4a53b73d513838/aa1.pdf
- https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/695e70628ab0677c14afdfd6/aa1_notes.pdf
- https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/