Attendance Allowance Contact Number: DWP Numbers and Addresses 2026
The DWP Attendance Allowance helpline is 0800 731 0122, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and free from all UK phones. If you can’t hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK by dialing 18001 then 0800 731 0122. Send completed claim forms to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance no stamp or postcode needed.
DWP Attendance Allowance Helpline 0800 731 0122
The Attendance Allowance helpline is your first point of contact for requesting a claim form, checking on an existing claim, or reporting a change. The number is 0800 731 0122, and it’s free to call from landlines and mobiles across the UK.
Opening hours by day of week
The helpline runs Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It is closed on weekends and bank holidays. There are no evening or Sunday hours, so plan your call within the working week.
Best time to call to avoid queues
Phone lines to government departments are usually busiest first thing in the morning and around lunchtime. To improve your chances of getting through quickly, try calling mid-morning (around 10am to 11:30am) or mid-afternoon (around 2pm to 4pm). Mondays and the day after a bank holiday tend to be the busiest, so avoid those if you can. Waits vary day to day, so keep some time free in case you’re held in a queue.
What to have ready before you call
Having your details to hand keeps the call short and smooth. Before you dial, gather:
- Your National Insurance number
- Your address and contact details
- Details of the disability or health condition you need help with
- Details of your GP surgery or medical centre
- Details of any care home, hospital, or hospice you’re staying in
What the helpline can and cannot help with
The helpline can send you a claim form, answer general questions about the process, tell you the status of a claim, and take reports of changes in your circumstances. The helpline staff cannot make a decision on your claim, tell you whether you’ll be awarded a particular rate, or give tailored financial or benefits advice. For that kind of guidance, the free advice lines further down this page are a better fit.
Language support
If you’d prefer to speak Welsh, call the same number and say “Welsh” when connected. The DWP also offers interpretation in over 100 languages through a translation service, so you can ask for an interpreter when you get through.
Accessibility Contact Options
The DWP offers several routes for people who can’t use a standard phone call or need information in an alternative format.
Relay UK for deaf or hearing-impaired callers
If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, use Relay UK: dial 18001 followed by 0800 731 0122. This connects you through a relay assistant who types what’s said and reads your typed replies aloud.
BSL video relay service
A British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service is available for the Attendance Allowance line. On a computer, you can connect through the DWP’s video relay service to speak with an interpreter in real time. There’s also a mobile and tablet option, so you can sign your query from most devices.
Braille, large print, and audio format requests
If you need correspondence in Braille, large print, or audio, ask the helpline when you call. The DWP can arrange for letters and forms to be issued in these formats.
Easy Read AA1 form request
An Easy Read version of the AA1 claim form, which uses simpler language and pictures, can be requested through the helpline. This is helpful for anyone who finds the standard form hard to follow.
Textphone alternatives
A textphone service is available on 0800 731 0317 for callers who use text-based devices. Relay UK is the recommended modern route, but the textphone line remains an option.
Freepost Addresses for Applications and Correspondence
Most Attendance Allowance post goes to a single freepost address, but some stages of a claim have their own routes.
Main claim address
Send your completed AA1 claim form to:
Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance
Write nothing else on the envelope no postcode and no stamp are needed. If you want proof of delivery, you can send it through a Post Office tracked service.
Mandatory Reconsideration address
If you disagree with a decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. The best route is the CRMR1 form on GOV.UK, or a letter sent to the DWP office named on your decision letter. Always check that letter for the exact return address, as it confirms where your reconsideration should go.
Appeals to HM Courts and Tribunals Service
If the mandatory reconsideration doesn’t change the outcome, you can appeal to an independent tribunal using the SSCS1 form. The completed SSCS1 goes to HM Courts and Tribunals Service at the address printed on the form itself. Send it within one month of your mandatory reconsideration notice.
Change of circumstances address
Report a change in your circumstances by calling the helpline on 0800 731 0122, or by writing to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. Reporting changes matters because they can affect the rate you receive.
Complaints address
If you’re unhappy with the service, you can complain to the DWP through its official complaints procedure on GOV.UK, which explains how to submit a complaint online or in writing.
Special Rules (SR1) submission
If you’re claiming under the Special Rules for end of life, the process is faster and the SR1 form (completed by a medical professional) supports your claim. Call the helpline for the current submission route, as end-of-life claims are prioritized.
Overseas Contact for Attendance Allowance
Rules change once you leave the UK, so use the right route if you’re abroad or living overseas.
If you’re temporarily abroad
For queries while temporarily overseas, correspondence is generally handled at Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton, WV98 2AD. Confirm the current address with the helpline before posting anything from abroad.
International phone contact
Freephone numbers often don’t work from outside the UK. If you’re calling from overseas, use the international dialing format for the DWP and check GOV.UK for the current international contact number before you call.
British nationals in the EEA or Switzerland
If you live in the EEA or Switzerland, your entitlement may be affected by cross-border social security rules. The DWP’s International Pension Centre handles many of these queries, so ask the helpline to point you to the right team.
Northern Ireland cross-border queries
Northern Ireland runs its own system. For cross-border questions, use the Northern Ireland number below rather than the DWP helpline.
Regional Alternatives Not the DWP
Attendance Allowance isn’t handled the same way everywhere in the UK.
Scotland Pension Age Disability Payment
People of State Pension age in Scotland now claim Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) instead of Attendance Allowance. Contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm.
Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, the Disability and Carers Service handles Attendance Allowance. Call 0800 587 0912 for claim forms and queries.
Wales Welsh-language line
Welsh speakers can use the standard number, 0800 731 0122, and say “Welsh” when connected to be served in Welsh.
When the Helpline Isn’t the Right Number
The DWP helpline can’t give advice on your wider finances or fill in your form for you. These free services can.
Financial adviser referrals
To find a regulated, independent financial adviser, use unbiased.co.uk, which lets you search for local advisers.
Citizens Advice
For free, confidential welfare and benefits advice, call Citizens Advice on 0800 144 8848. They can help you understand eligibility and check your entitlements.
Age UK Advice Line
Age UK offers a free advice line for older people on 0800 678 1602, covering benefits, care, and money worries.
MoneyHelper
MoneyHelper, which includes Pension Wise guidance, is available on 0800 011 3797 for free, impartial money guidance.
Independent Age
The Independent Age helpline on 0800 319 6789 provides free information and advice for older people, including help with benefits.
What to Do If You Can’t Get Through
Long queues happen. Here’s how to move your claim forward without the phone.
Alternative online application route
You can apply online through the DWP’s Attendance Allowance service, which lets you start a claim without calling at all.
Local authority welfare rights teams
Many councils run welfare rights teams that offer free, one-to-one help with benefit claims. Search your local council’s website for their contact details.
Requesting a call-back
If a call-back option is offered when you phone, take it you keep your place in the queue without holding the line.
Sending correspondence by post as a fallback
If you can’t get through and need to act, write to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. Keep a dated copy of anything you send.
Scam Warning Impersonation of DWP
Scammers sometimes pose as the DWP to steal money or personal details. A little caution protects you.
Numbers that pretend to be DWP but charge fees
Some websites advertise “connection” or “claim line” numbers that charge premium rates to put you through to the free helpline. The only number you need is 0800 731 0122, and it’s free. Don’t pay to be connected.
What DWP will never ask for on the phone
The DWP will never ask you to pay a fee to claim, request payment by gift card or bank transfer, or pressure you to hand over passwords or PINs. If a call demands any of these, hang up.
Reporting suspected scams
Report suspected scams to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040. If you’ve lost money, contact your bank straight away.
Legitimate premium services vs the free helpline
Paid claim-help services aren’t always scams, but you never need to pay to contact the DWP or submit a claim. Free advice from Citizens Advice or Age UK does the same job at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the free Attendance Allowance phone number?
The free Attendance Allowance phone number is 0800 731 0122, open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It’s free from UK landlines and mobiles.
Can I email the DWP about Attendance Allowance?
The DWP does not offer a public email address for Attendance Allowance queries. Use the helpline, the online service, or write to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance instead.
What is the DWP AA postal address?
Send claim forms and correspondence to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. You don’t need a postcode or a stamp just those three lines on the envelope.
Is the 0800 731 0122 number open on weekends?
No. The Attendance Allowance helpline is open Monday to Friday only, 8am to 6pm, and is closed on weekends and bank holidays.
How long is the average wait on the helpline?
Wait times vary and aren’t published as a fixed figure. Calls are usually answered fastest mid-morning and mid-afternoon, and slowest on Mondays and the day after a bank holiday.
Can someone else call on my behalf?
Yes. A friend, family member, or carer can call for you, but you’ll usually need to be present to give consent so the DWP can discuss your claim with them.
What’s the fastest way to speak to a decision-maker?
Helpline staff can’t make decisions, and you can’t call a decision-maker directly. The quickest way to progress a decision is to submit a complete, well-evidenced claim online or by post.
Can I visit a DWP office in person?
Attendance Allowance is handled by phone, post, and online rather than at a walk-in office. For face-to-face help, contact your local council’s welfare rights team or Citizens Advice.
