Attendance Allowance › Incontinence
Attendance Allowance and Incontinence: Do You Qualify?
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by: Silverwings Benefits Team · Source: DWP
Incontinence is one of the most common reasons people qualify for Attendance Allowance — and also one of the least talked about. Many people feel embarrassed to mention it, even to close family, which means it's often left out of benefit claims entirely, even when it has a real day-to-day impact.
Important: there\u2019s no list of qualifying conditions
Attendance Allowance isn\u2019t awarded because of a diagnosis \u2014 it\u2019s awarded based on the help and supervision you need day-to-day because of your health. Two people with incontinence can have very different levels of need, and both routes below start with a free, no-obligation check.
Check If You're Eligible — Free, 60 Seconds
Check If You’re Likely to Qualify
A few quick questions about the help you need day-to-day — no jargon, no medical terms. Takes about 2 minutes.
No obligation · No cost to check
How Incontinence Can Affect Daily Life
These are the kinds of everyday difficulties that can be relevant to an Attendance Allowance claim. Not everyone with incontinence experiences all of these, and some people experience difficulties not listed here \u2014 this is general context, not a checklist to copy onto a form.
Night-time needs
Needing to get up multiple times during the night, change bedding, or having someone check on you because of frequent night-time accidents.
Skin care
Incontinence can cause soreness, rashes or skin breakdown if not managed carefully, sometimes needing help with washing and applying creams to prevent this.
Laundry and hygiene management
The practical burden of frequently washing bedding, clothing, or managing continence products can be a significant, repeated daily task.
Anxiety about accidents
Many people restrict where they go and what they do because of a fear of having an accident in public — a real and valid daily impact, not just a physical one.
Needing prompting to use the toilet
For some people, especially those with memory difficulties too, needing reminders or help getting to the bathroom in time is part of daily supervision.
Help with continence products
Needing assistance putting on or changing pads, or managing catheters, which some people find physically difficult to do alone.
How Much Could You Get?
£76.70/wk
Lower Rate
Help needed by day or night
£114.60/wk
Higher Rate
Help needed by day and night
Tax-free, not means-tested \u2014 see full details on our main Attendance Allowance page.
Why Not Apply Alone?
Incontinence-related claims are often under-assessed simply because it's an uncomfortable topic to raise in detail. It's one of the most common reasons for a successful claim, and every conversation about it is treated confidentially and without judgement — which is exactly the kind of detail our team focuses on getting right.
DWP figures show 59% of new disability benefit claims are disallowed nationally. We\u2019ve helped hundreds of people apply successfully since October 2023, on a success-based fee basis \u2014 you only pay if your application succeeds.
Check If You're Eligible
Our free eligibility check takes just a couple of minutes. No obligation, no pressure.
Not sure Attendance Allowance is the right fit? Check everything you could be owed, free.