Attendance Allowance Contact Number: Helpline and Claims

In short: The Attendance Allowance contact number for England and Wales is 0800 731 0122, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (GOV.UK, November 2026). Scotland and Northern Ireland use different services with different numbers, listed below. The Care Panel is independent and is not part of the DWP or any government body.

Attendance Allowance contact number for England and Wales

The official Attendance Allowance helpline run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is 0800 731 0122. Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, as stated on GOV.UK in November 2026.

• Phone: 0800 731 0122
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
• Relay UK: if you cannot hear or speak on the phone, dial 18001 and then 0800 731 0122
• BSL video relay: available on a computer through the service linked from GOV.UK

GOV.UK does not list a separate textphone number on the pages we checked, so use Relay UK. Call charges are explained on the GOV.UK call charges page. Have your National Insurance number to hand before you ring.

The Care Panel is independent and not connected to the DWP. Each Attendance Allowance contact number here is an official one, so check GOV.UK before you call.

Attendance Allowance contact number for Scotland

Scotland does not pay Attendance Allowance. People of State Pension age who live in Scotland claim Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland instead.

• Phone: freephone 0800 182 2222
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays
• From outside the UK: +44 (0)1382 931 000, which is not free, though you can ask for a callback
• Webchat: available in the same hours through Social Security Scotland
• Post: Social Security Scotland, General Enquiries, PO Box 10301, Dundee, DD1 9FY

The Social Security Scotland page did not list a textphone or Relay number. British Sign Language users can make a video call through Contact Scotland BSL. The weekly amounts match Attendance Allowance: £76.70 and £114.60 (mygov.scot, November 2026).

If you move from England or Wales to Scotland, GOV.UK says Attendance Allowance stops 13 weeks after the move, so make a new claim.

Attendance Allowance contact number for Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, Attendance Allowance is handled by the Disability and Carers Service, part of the Department for Communities. The phone number published for them is 0800 587 0912, open Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, excluding public holidays (Department for Communities, November 2026).

• Relay UK: dial 18001 and then 0800 587 0912
• Email: [email protected]
• Post: DfC Attendance Allowance, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2JS
• Sign language: a video relay service is available for British Sign Language and Irish Sign Language users in Northern Ireland

Claim packs can also be requested by email at [email protected] or collected from a Jobs and Benefits office.

How to claim by phone, post or online

The Attendance Allowance contact number is the quickest way to start a claim in England and Wales, though you can also claim by post or online. The weekly rates shown on GOV.UK in November 2026 are £76.70 (lower) and £114.60 (higher). For a fuller explanation, see our Attendance Allowance guide and rates page.

By phone

Call 0800 731 0122 and ask for a claim form. If you return the completed form within 6 weeks, your claim starts on the date of your call.

By post

Print the claim form from GOV.UK or ask for one by phone. Send it to Freepost, DWP Attendance Allowance. Write only that address on the envelope, with no postcode and no stamp. Your claim starts when DWP receives the form.

Online

Apply through the DWP online service at apply-for-attendance-allowance.dwp.gov.uk. Your claim starts on the date you make it.

What you will need

• Your National Insurance number
• Your address and contact details
• Details of the disability or health condition you need help with
• Your GP surgery or medical centre details
• Details of your care home, hospital or hospice, if you are staying in one

Help with the form is covered in our guide to filling in the form. GOV.UK describes a separate route for people nearing the end of life, so say so when you call.

Report a change or ask about your claim

To report a change, use the same Attendance Allowance contact number, 0800 731 0122. GOV.UK says to contact them straight away if any of the following happens:

• Your level of help or condition changes
• You go into hospital or a care home
• A medical professional says you may have 12 months or less to live
• You plan to leave the UK for more than 4 weeks
• You change your name, address or bank details
• Your doctor’s details change
• You want to stop receiving the benefit

If you are in a care home for more than 4 weeks, also report any change in how the fees are paid, such as starting or stopping NHS or council funding. GOV.UK warns that wrong information or a late report can mean a penalty or repaying money.

The pages we checked did not set out an online way to check progress on a claim. To ask where your claim is, ring the Attendance Allowance contact number with your National Insurance number and your decision letter or claim date to hand, and check GOV.UK for any online option.

If you disagree with a decision

You can ask for a decision to be looked at again, usually within one month of the date on the decision letter. This is called mandatory reconsideration. It is free, and you can ask later if you have a good reason, such as a hospital stay or a bereavement.

If you are still unhappy afterwards, you can appeal to the Social Security and Child Support Tribunal within one month of the reconsideration decision. Appeals are free. Your decision letter says whether you must ask for reconsideration first.

In Scotland, appeals go through the Social Security Chamber. In Northern Ireland, a separate process is described on nidirect. Free advice is available from Citizens Advice. Our comparison of Attendance Allowance and PIP may help if you are unsure which benefit applies.

This page is general information, not legal or benefits advice. For advice on your own situation, speak to a benefits adviser, Citizens Advice or a solicitor.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Attendance Allowance contact number?

For England and Wales the DWP helpline is 0800 731 0122, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, according to GOV.UK in November 2026. Scotland and Northern Ireland use different numbers, which are listed on this page.

Is there a textphone number for Attendance Allowance?

GOV.UK does not list a separate textphone number on the pages we checked. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK by dialling 18001 and then 0800 731 0122. A BSL video relay service is also available on a computer.

Can I claim Attendance Allowance by phone?

You can call 0800 731 0122 to ask for a claim form. If you return it within 6 weeks, your claim starts on the date of your call. You can also claim by post or online through the DWP service.

Does Scotland have Attendance Allowance?

No. People of State Pension age in Scotland claim Pension Age Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland, on freephone 0800 182 2222, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, excluding bank holidays. The weekly rates shown are the same as Attendance Allowance.

What is the Northern Ireland number for Attendance Allowance?

The Disability and Carers Service number for Attendance Allowance in Northern Ireland, published by the Department for Communities, is 0800 587 0912, Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, excluding public holidays. Relay UK users dial 18001 and then that number.

How long do I have to challenge a decision?

You usually need to ask for mandatory reconsideration within one month of the date on your decision letter. A later request may be accepted for a good reason. If you still disagree, you can appeal to the tribunal within one month of the reconsideration decision.

What changes must I report?

GOV.UK says to report changes such as a change in your help needs, going into hospital or a care home, a change of name, address or bank details, or leaving the UK for more than 4 weeks. Call the helpline on 0800 731 0122.

Official sources

• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance, how to claim
• GOV.UK: Attendance Allowance, report a change in circumstances
• GOV.UK: Appeal a benefit decision
• GOV.UK: Mandatory reconsideration
• mygov.scot: Contact Social Security Scotland
• nidirect: Attendance Allowance
• Department for Communities: Disability and Carers Service contacts

This page is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice. The Care Panel is an independent guide and is not part of any government body or care provider. Last checked 9 November 2026.

Related: Attendance Allowance guide · How to fill in the Attendance Allowance form · Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit

Reviewed by The Care Panel team on 9 November 2026. This guide is general information about care in England, not legal, medical or financial advice. Rules and rates change; check with your council or an adviser before making decisions.