Attendance Allowance

Who gets Attendance Allowance?

You must need care because of illness or disability (either physical or mental) and be aged 65 or more. If you are under 65 and need care you may be entitled to Disability Living Allowance. (See separate leaflet called 'Disability Living Allowance'.) Attendance Allowance takes account of how much care you need. It makes no difference whether or not you are actually getting that care. You may be eligible even if you live alone. Your eligibility to receive Attendance Allowance is not usually affected by your finances, savings, or any other income or benefits that you may get.

How much care do you need to be eligible?

The sort of care that you must need to be eligible includes the following:

• Frequent attention throughout the day in connection with your bodily functions.
• Or continual supervision throughout the day in order to avoid substantial danger to yourself or to others.
• Or prolonged or repeated attention during the night in connection with your bodily functions.
• Or to be watched over for much of the night.

What sort of care?

• You must have needed looking after for at least six months before claiming. (However, if you are terminally ill there is no such qualifying period. See separate leaflet called 'Benefits for the Terminally Ill'.)
• The care needed covers help with things like bathing, eating, drinking, using the toilet, or getting dressed.
• It also includes help with medical treatment like being given medicine or injections, or using a kidney dialysis machine.
• It also takes into account the amount of supervision you need. For example, this could be because of a risk of having dizzy spells or falls.
• You must also need some form of help frequently, not just on odd occasions.
• Help needed with jobs like housework, shopping, or gardening does NOT count.

What if you are away from home?

To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you will normally have lived in the UK for at least six months in the previous year (unless you are terminally ill). Also, usually:

• Attendance Allowance is stopped if you are in an NHS hospital for 28 days or more.
• Attendance Allowance is stopped after 28 days if you move to a care home which is provided with the help of the local authority or another government department.
• Attendance Allowance continues to be paid to private patients paying the full cost of their hospital accommodation. It is also payable to people in private care homes who pay the full cost of their accommodation.

How much is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is tax-free and is paid at two rates. Payment is usually made directly into a bank account, building society account, Post Office account, or National Savings account. The rate that you may get depends on whether you need care during the day, during the night, or both. The rates at April 2009 are as follows (and the rate usually increases each April):

• Higher rate - £70.35 per week.
• Lower rate - £47.10 per week.

How do you claim Attendance Allowance?

You need, or someone on your behalf needs, to complete a claim form. To get a claim form:

• Telephone the Benefit Enquiry Line (details below) to request a form.
• Or go to the Directgov website (details below). This is a government site where you can download a claim form.
• If you live in Northern Ireland, you can go to the website of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland (details below) which has a claim form online.

The form can be signed by someone on your behalf if you are too sick or disabled to do so. There is also a section on the form which can be filled in and signed by someone who knows how your disability affects you, such as a carer, professional care worker, or doctor.

A medical examination is not often necessary. However, you may need to be seen by a doctor for assessment if it is not otherwise possible to obtain a clear picture of how your illness or disability affects you.

If you are not sure if you qualify, then seek expert help and advice. See below for sources of help and advice. If you still remain unsure - then claim! The worst thing that could happen is that your claim will be refused. Many people who are entitled to benefits do not get them because they do not claim as they think that they are not eligible for them.

Also, consider asking advice from one of the sources listed below about all your benefit entitlements.

A note for carers

If you care for someone who is being paid Attendance Allowance, or is intending to claim it, you are likely to be entitled to Carer's Allowance. You may wish to consider claiming for this at the same time. (See separate leaflet called 'Carer's Allowance'.)

Further information, help and advice

Directgov

Web: www.direct.gov.uk.
Directgov provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave, to special educational needs, local NHS services, and benefits. The site also brings together an increasing number of online government services - including being able to download and/or complete certain benefit claim forms online.

Department for Work and Pensions

Their website provides a list of claim forms that you can download or fill in online for benefits, allowances, pensions, etc - www.dwp.gov.uk/eservice/
Contact details of their local offices (Jobcentre Plus offices and other 'social security' offices) can usually be found in the phone book under 'Jobcentre Plus'.
Or, find out about local offices and much more from the website www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL)

England, Wales and Scotland - Tel: 0800 88 22 00 Textphone: 0800 24 33 55
Northern Ireland - Tel: 0800 220 674 Textphone: 0800 243 787
For people with disabilities, their carers and representatives. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. BEL offers confidential advice and information on benefits and how to claim them. In addition they can also send out an extensive range of leaflets and claim packs, and help you to complete a claim form over the phone.

Disability and Carers Service

This is part of the Department for Social Development for people living in Northern Ireland. Telephone:

• Disability Living Allowance: 028 9090 6182
• Attendance Allowance: 028 9090 6178
• Carers Allowance: 028 9090 6186

Textphone: 0800 243 787
Web: www.dsdni.gov.uk

Citizens Advice Bureau

Provides independent advice on many issues including benefits. Listed in the phone book under 'Citizens Advice Bureaux'. Also, see their excellent website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk

References

• Attendance Allowance, Directgov