A plain-language guide to the UK's most under-claimed benefit — what it pays, who it's for, and how to apply from abroad.
To receive Attendance Allowance you generally need to be over State Pension age, have a physical or mental disability or illness, have needed help or supervision for at least 6 months, and be habitually resident in the UK, EU, EEA or another eligible country.
Attendance Allowance is not a contributory benefit — you don't need a minimum number of National Insurance contributions to qualify.
This isn't a complete list — if your condition isn't here, it's still worth checking.
Yes — if you moved to an EU country before 31 December 2020, you're covered by the UK-EU Withdrawal Agreement and retain the right to claim Attendance Allowance. You don't need to return to the UK to claim or to receive it.
The key date: your EU/EEA residency must have been established before 31 December 2020. If you moved after that date, different rules apply and it's worth getting individual advice on where you stand.
The Attendance Allowance application is long and detailed, requiring a thorough description of how your condition affects your daily life. Getting that description right — neither understating nor overstating your needs — makes a real difference to the outcome, which is why most first-time claimants use a specialist to complete it.
Attendance Allowance is backdated to the date of your application, not to when your condition started — so the sooner a correctly completed claim goes in, the sooner your payments (and any arrears) begin.