Attendance Allowance

If you are of State pension age and have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you, you may be eligible to claim ‘Attendance Allowance’ which could be as much as an extra £86.90 per week…

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.

It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get, depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

You could get £60 or £89.60 a week to help with personal support if you’re both:

· physically or mentally disabled

· State Pension age or older

It does not cover mobility needs, but other benefits may increase if you get Attendance Allowance.

You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.

If you have a Carer they could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.

Attendance Allowance is paid weekly at 2 different rates - the one you get depends on the level of help you need.

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested - what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.

RATES

Lower rate - £60

Frequent help or constant supervision during the day or supervision at night

Higher rate - £89.60

Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or you’re terminally ill

If your circumstances change, you could get a different rate. You must report any change in your circumstances.

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance - check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit.

ELIGIBILITY

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply:

· you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both

· your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety

· you have needed that help for at least 6 months (unless you’re terminally ill)

You must also:

· be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the Armed Forces.

· have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)

· be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands

· not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)

IF YOU ARE TERMINALLY ILL

If you’re not expected to live for more than 6 months, there are ‘special rules’:

· there’s no qualifying period for how long you’ve had your illness.

· if you’re eligible, you’ll automatically get the higher rate of Attendance Allowance.

IF YOU ARE IN A CARE HOME

You cannot usually get Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority.

You can still claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.

Pure Heart Homecare - www.purehearthomecare.co.uk

Attendance Allowance helpline
 Telephone: 0800 731 0122
 Textphone: 0800 731 0317

Source: gov.uk