How to fill in the Attendance Allowance form, question by question
Checked 21 September 2026 against GOV.UK · Sources at the bottom
The AA1 form asks the same kind of thing over and over: can the person do this alone, does it hurt or take too long, and does someone else have to step in. Answer plainly and specifically. This page walks through every care question on the form, in order, with what it's really asking and one example answer for each.
Jump to a question
Special rules for terminal illness
What it's really asking: Is the person not expected to live longer than 12 months. If so, the claim moves under “special rules” - faster, and the long list of care questions below is skipped entirely.
What to include: A simple yes or no. A doctor or specialist fills in a separate SR1 form and can send it straight to DWP. If there's no SR1 yet, send the AA1 anyway - don't wait, or payment could be delayed.
Example answer: “No.”
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Signing on someone else's behalf
What it's really asking: Are you signing the form for them, rather than them signing it themselves - because you hold power of attorney, are their appointee, or are filling it in on their behalf.
What to include: Tick the reason that applies (power of attorney, appointee, deputy, and so on). If you're signing, someone else who knows the person well needs to write the separate statement part of the form.
Example answer: “I hold Power of Attorney for Property and Finance.”
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Illnesses and disabilities
What it's really asking: What illnesses or disabilities does the person have, how long they've had them, and what treatment or medicine they're on.
What to include: One row per condition. Name it plainly, say roughly how long it's been going on, and list any medicine or treatment with dosage - or write “none” if there isn't one.
Example answer: “Arthritis, about 4 years, physiotherapy, one tablet a day.”
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Where the toilet is, where they sleep
What it's really asking: Is the toilet upstairs or downstairs, and where do they sleep - because both affect how often help is needed and how far someone has to travel to give it.
What to include: Upstairs, downstairs, or “other” with a short note (for example, a stairlift or a commode in the living room).
Example answer: “Downstairs. She sleeps downstairs now because she can no longer manage the stairs more than once a day.”
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Aids and adaptations
What it's really asking: What equipment they use - a walking frame, grab rails, a stairlift, a perching stool - and whether a health professional prescribed it.
What to include: One row per aid: what it is, how it helps, and any difficulty still using it even with the aid.
Example answer: “Walking frame, helps get up and down stairs, none.” Tick “prescribed” if it came from a health professional.
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When the help started
What it's really asking: Roughly when did they start needing this kind of help.
What to include: An approximate month and year is enough - an exact date isn't needed.
Example answer: “About March 2025.”
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Getting into and out of bed
What it's really asking: Does the person find it hard, or need help, getting into bed or getting out of bed.
What to include: Which of the two is hard, whether someone actually has to help (not just encourage), whether they need reminding to get up in the morning or go to bed at night, why (stiff joints, poor balance, confusion), how long help takes, and what happens without it.
Example answer: “Finds it hard to get into bed and get out of bed, and needs help to get out of bed, every day, because of stiff joints and poor balance. Without help, she could fall. Last month she tried to get up alone and was found on the bedroom floor.”
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Toilet and incontinence needs
What it's really asking: Difficulty using the toilet, or incontinence needs - pads, a catheter, or personal hygiene.
What to include: How many times a day it's hard, how many of those times someone else actually has to help, the reason, how long it takes, and what happens without help.
Example answer: “Finds it hard using the toilet (5 times a day) and with incontinence needs (3 times a day), and needs help with all of these, because of stiff joints and shaking hands. He needs his clothing managed and wiping. He wears pads and I change them.”
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Washing, bathing and appearance
What it's really asking: Washing, bathing, showering, or looking after personal appearance.
What to include: Which parts are hard (getting in and out of the bath, using a shower, general hygiene, appearance), how many times a day, what help is actually given, and a real example if there's one.
Example answer: “Find it hard to use a shower and with washing and drying, and need help with it, because of breathlessness and tiredness. I have gone a week without a shower because I could not face it. My son now comes on Sundays to help.”
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Dressing
What it's really asking: Putting on or fastening clothes and footwear, taking them off, or choosing the right clothes.
What to include: Which parts are hard, how many times a day, what help is needed, and why.
Example answer: “Find it hard to fasten clothes or footwear and need help with it, because of breathlessness. Socks and shoes are the worst. Bending over makes me gasp.”
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Moving around indoors
What it's really asking: Walking around indoors, going up or down stairs, getting in or out of a chair, or transferring to and from a wheelchair.
What to include: Which of these is hard, whether help is needed or just encouragement, and why - plus a real example, such as a recent fall or stumble at home.
Example answer: “Finds it hard walking indoors, getting in or out of a chair and transferring to and from a wheelchair, and needs help with all of these, every day. He freezes in doorways and I have to talk him through each step.”
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Falls and stumbles
What it's really asking: Does illness or disability cause falls or stumbles - the form only allows one answer, even if both happen.
What to include: What happens, why, and whether there's any injury; whether they've been referred to a Falls Clinic; whether they need help getting up afterwards; when it last happened; and roughly how many times in the last month and the last year.
Example answer: “She has fallen on the stairs twice this year. Last time was about two weeks ago. She needed help getting up because her legs wouldn't hold her.”
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Eating and drinking
What it's really asking: Cutting up food, eating, or drinking.
What to include: Which part is hard, how many times a day, whether someone else has to help or just remind them, and what happens without help.
Example answer: “Finds it hard cutting up food, and needs help with it, because of shaking hands and weak grip. I cut everything up and he uses a spoon. Drinks go in a beaker with a lid.”
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Medication and treatment
What it's really asking: Taking medicines, or with medical treatment or therapy.
What to include: What's hard (taking medication itself, or treatment/therapy), how many times a day, whether they need help or reminding, and what happens if it's missed.
Example answer: “Finds it hard taking medication and needs reminding, because of memory problems. Took a double dose of co-codamol in April because she forgot she had already taken it.”
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Communicating
What it's really asking: Communicating with other people - understanding unfamiliar people, being understood by them, concentrating or remembering, using the phone, reading letters or forms, or asking for help when it's needed.
What to include: Which of these is hard, whether someone else has to step in, and why (poor hearing, confusion, memory problems).
Example answer: “Finds it hard understanding unfamiliar people, remembering things and using the phone. Gave her bank details to a cold caller in May.”
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Days a week needing help
What it's really asking: How many days a week does the person have difficulty, or need help, with the care needs just described in Q29-37.
What to include: A number, 0 to 7. Be honest - “every day” only if it really is every day.
Example answer: “7 days a week.”
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Hobbies and social activities
What it's really asking: Does the person usually need help from another person to take part in hobbies, interests, or social or religious activities, at home or when out.
What to include: What they do or would like to do, what help another person gives, and how often - separately for at home and when out.
Example answer: “Listening to music. Someone to put the radio on. Most days.”
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Watching over them by day
What it's really asking: Do they usually need someone to keep an eye on them during the day, and if so, how many days a week and why - a risk of danger, wandering, confusion, or similar.
What to include: The reasons that apply, how long they can safely be left alone, and a real example of what's happened when they weren't watched.
Example answer: “Needs someone to keep an eye on her in the day, because of not being aware of common dangers and confusion. Can safely be left alone for about 30 minutes. Left the gas hob on twice in the spring.”
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Help during the night
What it's really asking: Difficulty or need for help during the night - turning over in bed, sleeping comfortably, toilet or incontinence needs, medication, treatment, or reminding for any of these - and on how many nights a week.
What to include: Which categories apply, roughly how many times a night, and how long each time takes.
Example answer: “Needs help at night turning over in bed (three or more times a night) and with toilet needs (twice a night). He cannot turn over on his own and gets very stiff and sore.”
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Watching over them at night
What it's really asking: Do they usually need someone to watch over them at night, why, and how many nights a week.
What to include: The reasons (confusion, wandering, risk of harm), roughly how long the watching lasts each time, and a real example.
Example answer: “Needs someone to watch over him at night, because of confusion and hearing voices. On average this lasts about 15 minutes. He has vivid dreams and acts them out, and hit the bed rail last month.”
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Anything else
What it's really asking: Anything not already covered by the questions above - good days and bad days, anything that varies, or a detail that didn't fit elsewhere.
What to include: Keep it short and specific. This is not a second chance to repeat everything already said.
Example answer: “Some days are much worse than others. On a bad day none of the above happens without help. On a good day some of it might not be needed.”
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A quicker way to do all of this
Working through the form by hand takes a while, and it's easy to under-describe what's actually happening. The free Attendance Allowance helper asks the same questions in plain English, one at a time, and writes the form wording for you from what you say - nothing is invented and nothing is promised. Your answers stay in your browser; nothing is sent to a server.
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More on filling in the form
Sources
- How to claim Attendance Allowance, GOV.UK - checked 21 September 2026