Renew an Attendance Allowance claim
This advice applies to Scotland. See advice for See advice for England, See advice for Northern Ireland, See advice for Wales
Changes to Attendance Allowance in Scotland
A new benefit called Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in Scotland from October 2024.
If you already get Attendance Allowance
You’ll keep getting Attendance Allowance until you move to Pension Age Disability Payment. Social Security Scotland will contact you to tell you when that will happen.
Find out more about changes to Attendance Allowance in Scotland on mygov.scot.
If you do not already get Attendance Allowance
You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment on or after:
21 October 2024 - if you live in Aberdeen City, Argyll and Bute, Highland, Orkney or Shetland
24 March 2025 - if you live in Aberdeenshire, Angus, Clackmannanshire, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, Falkirk, Fife, Moray, Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles), North Ayrshire, Perth and Kinross, South Ayrshire or Stirling
22 April 2025 - if you live in Edinburgh City, Dumfries and Galloway, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, Midlothian, North Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, South Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire or West Lothian.
Find out more about Pension Age Disability Payment.
Your Attendance Allowance will be awarded for either a fixed or indefinite period.
If you were told you'd get Attendance Allowance for a fixed period, you'll need to renew your claim before the fixed period ends. You'll still need to meet the eligibility criteria when you claim again.
Your Attendance Allowance will stop if you don't renew your claim.
Your renewal letter
You should get a letter and a new claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You should get the letter about 4 months before your Attendance Allowance is due to end.
Your renewal date will be on the letter - you'll need to send the completed claim form back to the DWP before the renewal date. If you send the form back before the renewal date and you get Attendance Allowance again, there won't be a break in your payments.
If you send the form back late and you get Attendance Allowance again, your payments will only start from the date the DWP received your new claim form.
It's a good idea to reapply as soon as you can - the Attendance Allowance form can take a long time to fill in.
Don't ignore your Attendance Allowance renewal letter - your money will stop if you don't make a new claim.
If you don't get a renewal letter
If you don't get a renewal letter it doesn't mean your Attendance Allowance will continue - you'll still need to reapply.
If your benefit is due to end within 2 months and you haven't got a letter yet, call the DWP's Attendance Allowance helpline. Tell them your Attendance Allowance is ending and you need to renew your claim - they'll send you a renewal claim form.
Attendance Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0122
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 731 0122
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
Video relay - if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Filling in the renewal claim form
Your renewal claim form is the same as your original Attendance Allowance form, so it can take a long time to fill in. If you kept a copy of your original form it could help you answer the questions on your new claim form.
Don't worry if you didn't keep a copy - a specialist at your nearest Citizens Advice can help you with the form, or even fill it in for you.
You can also read our advice on help with the Attendance Allowance claim form.
If you have an 'indefinite award'
You might have been given Attendance Allowance for an indefinite period. This doesn't mean you'll continue to get Attendance Allowance for the rest of your life - it just means there's no fixed date for the DWP to review your claim.
The DWP might want to review your claim if you tell them about a change that could affect your Attendance Allowance. You must tell them if:
your illness or disability gets better or worse
you go into hospital
you go into a care home
Read more about changes that could affect your Attendance Allowance.
If your Attendance Allowance has ended
If your Attendance Allowance ended less than 2 years ago, you can make a new claim for the same illness or disability. You won't have to meet the 6-month qualifying period again. You'll need to meet all the other eligibility criteria.
Contact the DWP's Attendance Allowance helpline to make a new claim. Tell them that your Attendance Allowance ended less than 2 years ago and that you're reapplying for the same condition.
Attendance Allowance helpline
Telephone: 0800 731 0122
Textphone: 0800 731 0317
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 731 0122
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
Video relay - if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You can find out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
If your Attendance Allowance ended more than 2 years ago, you'll need to make a new claim. Your previous claim will be disregarded, even if you're applying for the same illness or disability.
You'll need to meet the 6-month qualifying period and all the other eligibility criteria.