People with dementia can claim Attendance Allowance, and most with moderate to severe dementia qualify for the higher rate. The benefit is not means-tested, is not affected by savings, and is tax-free. Here is a full guide to claiming for someone with dementia in 2026/27.
What Is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance (AA) is a benefit for people aged 65 and over who need help with personal care or supervision due to a physical or mental disability. Dementia qualifies as a mental disability for AA purposes.
| Rate | Weekly amount 2026/27 | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Lower rate | £72.65/week | Needs help or supervision during the day OR during the night |
| Higher rate | £108.55/week | Needs help or supervision during the day AND during the night |
AA is not means-tested — savings, income, and property do not affect the award.
Why Dementia Often Qualifies for the Higher Rate
The higher rate requires need both day and night. Dementia typically creates night-time needs through:
- Wandering or leaving the home at night — a serious safety risk requiring supervision
- Waking confused, distressed, or disoriented — needing reassurance and settling
- Falls or accidents at night — due to impaired spatial awareness
- Incontinence overnight — needing prompting to use the toilet or changing
Even one of these needs, if it occurs regularly, can satisfy the night-time component and qualify for the higher rate.
Daytime needs that are typical in dementia include:
- Needing supervision while cooking or using appliances (fire/gas safety)
- Prompting to eat, drink, or take medication
- Help with washing, dressing, or bathing
- Supervision to prevent accidents or wandering
- Confusion that requires someone present to communicate or redirect
How to Fill In the Attendance Allowance Form for Dementia
The claim form (AA1) asks about the person’s care needs. The most common mistake is understating needs. When completing the form on behalf of someone with dementia:
Describe the worst days, not the average. DWP assesses whether the person “reasonably requires” help — this includes help that would be needed on bad days even if not every day.
Be specific about night-time. Describe exactly what happens at night: how often, how long it takes to settle the person, what risks exist if left unsupervised.
Include safety risks. Dementia-related safety risks (leaving the gas on, wandering in the street at night, not recognising danger) are highly relevant to the supervision descriptor and should be described in detail.
Medical evidence to include:
- GP diagnosis letter or dementia assessment report
- Memory clinic correspondence
- Hospital letters from neurologists or psychiatrists
- Care needs assessment from the local council
- Evidence from community dementia nurses or social workers
Worked Example: Geoffrey, 79, Alzheimer’s Disease
Geoffrey was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease 3 years ago. He lives with his wife Margaret.
Night-time: Geoffrey wakes 3–4 times per week, confused and distressed. On two occasions in the last month he has got up and tried to leave the house. Margaret has to be ready to intervene at night.
Daytime: Geoffrey cannot be left unsupervised — he has previously left the gas on and cannot remember whether he has taken his medication. He needs prompting to eat and to wash.
AA assessment: Geoffrey clearly needs supervision both day and night. Award: Higher rate Attendance Allowance — £108.55/week (£5,645/year, tax-free).
Margaret can also claim Carer’s Allowance of £83.30/week if she provides 35+ hours of care and earns under £151/week net.
Applying Under the Special Rules (Terminal Dementia)
If a person has been told their dementia is in the advanced stage and they are not expected to live more than 12 months, their GP or consultant can complete an SR1 form. This:
- Automatically awards the higher rate of Attendance Allowance
- Removes the normal 6-month qualifying period
- Means the claim is processed much faster (usually within days)
The person does not need to know they are making a special rules claim — a family member or carer can request the SR1 form from the GP.
What Attendance Allowance Unlocks
Receiving Attendance Allowance can trigger access to other benefits and support:
- Carer’s Allowance for the person caring for them (if they care 35+ hours/week)
- Pension Credit — AA income is disregarded in PC calculations; having AA may trigger additional PC amounts
- Council Tax Reduction — some councils offer additional reduction for AA recipients
- Motability — AA at the higher rate qualifies for the Motability scheme (vehicle or powered wheelchair)
- Blue Badge — AA higher rate recipients are eligible for a Blue Badge in most councils
See our Attendance Allowance care home rules, Carer’s Allowance guide, and Attendance Allowance guide.