My parent needs help washing and dressing. What can they claim?

Does this count?

Yes. There is no list of qualifying conditions – what counts is the help needed because of a physical or mental disability, not the name of the diagnosis. Needing prompting or reminding counts just as much as needing physical help.

How much

The three checks

• Over State Pension age.
• Needs help or watching over because of an illness or disability.
• Has needed that help for about 6 months.

A worked example

Invented example, not a real claim: someone we'll call Walter takes twenty minutes to put on a shirt because his hands shake, and he has given up trying to do buttons alone. Writing "needs help getting dressed" is not enough on its own – saying how long it takes, what he cannot manage, and what happens if nobody is there is what the form actually asks for.

Often missed

Policy in Practice estimates over 1.1 million pension-age households in Great Britain could be missing out on Attendance Allowance, worth about £5.2bn a year. A claim built around washing and dressing needs is one of the most common – and one of the most under-described.

If you are doing the caring

Carer's Allowance pays £86.45 a week (April 2026 to April 2027). To get it, the carer must care for the person for at least 35 hours a week, earn no more than £204 a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses, be 16 or over, and not be in full-time education. The person cared for must get a disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance. Carer's Allowance can affect the other benefits that the carer and the person they care for get, so get a free benefits check first, from Citizens Advice or Age UK.

How long the need must have lasted

Attendance Allowance usually needs the help or supervision to have already been needed for about 6 months, unless nearing the end of life, when the wait is skipped.

Special rules

There is a fast route for someone who might have 12 months or less to live. The usual 6-month wait does not apply, and a doctor or other medical professional fills in a form called SR1.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

In Scotland, Attendance Allowance has been replaced by Pension Age Disability Payment. It's a different form and a different office. In Northern Ireland, Attendance Allowance is run by the Department for Communities, with its own form.

What to do next

Ring 0800 731 0122 and ask for the claim form. The claim can start from the date of the call, if the form is returned within 6 weeks. DWP sends a text or letter within 3 weeks to say when to expect a decision.