Attendance Allowance for Dementia: How to Describe Supervision Needs on the AA1 Form

Dementia creates care needs that are easy to understate on the AA1 form. The person might walk, dress themselves, and eat without physical help — yet they need someone nearby constantly to keep them safe. That supervision is exactly what Attendance Allowance is designed for, but the form asks about physical tasks, and families often struggle to describe cognitive needs in terms that match what DWP decision-makers look for.

Why Dementia Claims Often Qualify for the Higher Rate

Attendance Allowance pays at two rates in 2026/27: the lower rate (£76.70 per week) for day or night needs, and the higher rate (£114.60 per week) for both day and night. Dementia frequently qualifies for the higher rate because supervision needs do not switch off at bedtime.

During the day, a person with dementia may need someone to:

• Prompt them to eat meals and take medication at the right times
• Intervene if they leave the hob on, run a tap and walk away, or try to leave the house unsupervised
• Guide them through washing and dressing when they become confused about the sequence
• Prevent falls caused by spatial disorientation or misjudging steps

At night, the same person may:

• Wake confused and attempt to get dressed or leave the house
• Need guiding to the toilet because they cannot find it in the dark
• Require someone awake or alert enough to respond to calls or movements several times

When both day and night needs are present, the claim meets the threshold for the higher rate.

How to Describe Cognitive Needs on the Form

The AA1 form does not have a specific dementia section. It asks about washing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility, and supervision in general terms. For each section, describe what actually happens — not what the person can do on their best day.

Washing and bathing: "Mum can physically wash herself but forgets to do it. If nobody prompts her, she will go several days without washing. When reminded, she sometimes cannot work out the taps or forgets to rinse. I run the water, check the temperature, and stay in the room because she has tried to step out of the bath without draining it."

Eating and drinking: "Dad will sit at the table but not start eating unless I put the plate in front of him and say 'eat your lunch.' He sometimes forgets he has eaten and asks for another meal. He takes four medications — I put them in a dosette box and hand them to him at the right times because he cannot manage the timing himself."

Supervision and safety: "She cannot be left alone. She has turned on the gas hob without lighting it twice in the past month. She tries to leave the house in her slippers to 'go to work' (she retired 15 years ago). I or my sister are with her from 7am to 10pm, and I sleep in the next room with a monitor."

Night needs: "He wakes two or three times most nights. Sometimes he is trying to get dressed because he thinks it is morning. I get up, guide him back to bed, and settle him. On bad nights this happens four times and I am up for 20 minutes each time."

The key throughout: describe what happens on a typical difficult day, how often it happens per week, and what the consequences would be if nobody were there.

Evidence That Strengthens a Dementia Claim

DWP decision-makers assess the form on paper. Strong supporting evidence includes:

• A memory clinic letter or consultant psychiatrist report confirming the diagnosis and its severity
• A GP summary noting the diagnosis, medications (such as donepezil or memantine), and any recorded incidents
• Community mental health team notes if the person has been referred
• A care diary kept over seven to fourteen days, recording specific incidents of confusion, wandering, safety interventions, and night-time disturbances with dates and times
• Carer statements from family members describing the daily routine in factual terms

You do not need to pay for a private medical report. Existing NHS records and a detailed, factual care diary can support a claim, but they do not guarantee an award. DWP decides from the information available and may ask a healthcare professional to examine the claimant if it cannot get a clear picture.

The Claimant's Voice

If you are filling in the form for a parent or partner with dementia, the form should describe their experience. The AA1 asks helpers to report about the claimant, not themselves. Where the claimant can contribute — even partially — include their own words alongside your observations.

The claimant normally signs the form. A helper may sign if they are already a benefit appointee, a deputy, or hold a Property and Finance LPA; if the claimant is too ill or disabled, or lacks capacity, and the helper wishes to be appointed to deal with their benefits; or if the helper completes the form in the claimant's absence or without their knowledge. A Health and Welfare LPA alone is not an accepted basis to sign.

Next Steps

Our Attendance Allowance Claim Guide includes a 7-day care diary template and an AA1 question-by-question walkthrough — both designed to help families translate the daily reality of living with dementia into the evidence DWP needs to see. Free help is also available from the Alzheimer's Society helpline (0333 150 3456), Dementia UK's Admiral Nurse line (0800 888 6678), and your local Citizens Advice.

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