Attendance Allowance › Stroke
Attendance Allowance and Stroke: Do You Qualify?
Last updated: April 2026 · Reviewed by: Silverwings Benefits Team · Source: DWP
A stroke can change daily life in ways that aren't always obvious from the outside, and recovery rarely follows a straight line. Attendance Allowance exists for exactly this kind of situation: extra help or supervision needed because of your health, whatever the underlying cause and however long ago it happened.
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 stroke 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 Stroke Can Affect Daily Life
These are the kinds of everyday difficulties that can be relevant to an Attendance Allowance claim. Not everyone with stroke 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.
One-sided weakness or paralysis
Struggling to dress, wash or prepare food when one arm or leg doesn't respond reliably, or needing help with buttons, laces or standing up from a chair.
Speech and communication difficulty
Finding it hard to follow conversations, answer the phone, or explain what you need, sometimes meaning someone else has to communicate on your behalf.
Fatigue
Post-stroke tiredness is often severe and unpredictable, meaning tasks that were once automatic now need rest breaks or help partway through.
Memory and cognitive changes
Forgetting to take medication, losing track of appointments, or needing reminders and prompting to stay safe and organised.
Swallowing difficulty
Needing help preparing food to a safe consistency, or supervision while eating and drinking to reduce choking risk.
Emotional impact
Anxiety, low mood or a fear of another stroke that makes someone reluctant to be left alone, especially at night.
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?
Stroke-related claims are often under-assessed because recovery can look better from the outside than it feels day-to-day, especially when describing a reasonable day rather than a hard one. Getting this right matters — which is exactly the kind of detail our team focuses on.
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.