Attendance Allowance is a benefit delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for people of State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of an illness, disability or mental health condition. Successful claimants will receive either £81.85 or £92.40 each week depending on the level of support they need, which is paid every four weeks and works out at £247.40 and £369.560 respectively.
A little extra money can go a long way and you can use it however you like to meet your needs and help you stay independent in your own home longer - the money doesn’t have to be spent on a carer. The benefit, designed specifically to help older people, is tax-free and won't affect any other State support you receive.
It is not means-tested either, so, unlike Pension Credit, income from any retirement earnings or savings will not be taken into account. If your claim is successful you could also qualify for the £150 disability cost of living payment due to be made to six million people this summer.
The latest figures from the DWP show that in May 2022 there were 1,403,754 people across Great Britain claiming the benefit, including 123,786 living in Scotland.
Below is a quick guide to the benefit to help you decide if you should make a claim along with an overview of the lengthy application form and top tips to make the process a bit easier.
Who can claim Attendance Allowance?
You can claim Attendance Allowance if you meet all of the following eligibility requirements:
are over State Pension age (if you haven't reached it, you may be eligible for Personal Independence Payment instead)
could benefit from help with personal care, such as getting washed or dressed, or supervision to keep you safe during the day or night
have any type of disability or illness, including sight or hearing impairments, or mental health issues such as dementia
have needed help for at least six months prior to making a claim (If you’re terminally ill you can make a claim straight away)
Help with filling in the Attendance Allowance claim form
Filling in the Attendance Allowance form can be difficult - there are some personal questions which can be emotionally draining, but don't worry, help is available and you don't have to fill in the form alone. Contact your nearest Citizens Advice or Age UK and ask if they can help you with it.
The form is long and can take a fair bit of time to complete, so you might need to ask for an appointment if you want help. ou can also ask a friend, relative or carer if you would rather they help you with it.
Make sure you read the notes that come with your Attendance Allowance claim form before you start filling it in.
There is a checklist of things you will need to have with you when you fill the form in, for example:
your National Insurance number
your GP's details
a list of any medication you take
What you should write about on the form
The DWP will use your form to decide whether to award you Attendance Allowance support.
They will be looking to see:
what difficulties you have, or how much help you need
how often you have difficulties or need help
what sort of help you need
You do not have to be getting any help at the moment - the important thing is that you need it. (for example, you might need to hold on to furniture to move around your home).
How to answer questions about personal tasks
Questions 27-43 on the form ask about your care needs with personal tasks.
It is really important that you use the blank boxes to explain if you:
have difficulty or need someone to help you with personal tasks - for example washing, getting out of bed or getting dressed - at least three times during the day
have difficulty or need someone to supervise you throughout the day to make sure you stay safe - for example to stop you falling or to look after you if you have seizures or blackouts
have difficulty or need someone to help you with personal tasks repeatedly (two or more times) during the night or just once if it's for 20 minutes or more - for example if you need help getting out of bed, going to the toilet or changing the sheets if you have an accident
need someone to watch over you or supervise you during the night to make sure you're safe - they need to help you at least 3 times, or just once if it's for 20 minutes or more, for example in case you have a fit while you're asleep, or to stop you falling over if you have to get up
Keeping a diary
It is worth keeping a diary of your needs for at least a week before you fill in the form, Citizens Advice have a diary template you can download for free here. The diary can give you a good idea about your 'care needs' - this is the help you need to complete personal tasks.
Help with personal tasks does not mean help with things like housework, gardening or general tasks around the home.
Personal tasks means things like:
getting in or out of bed
having a bath or shower
getting dressed
being reminded or encouraged to eat or drink
Citizens Advice also recommend including any help you need during the night too. You should also write in the diary how many times you need help with tasks.
If you get help to fill in the form from your nearest Citizens Advice or Age UK, remember to take your diary with you.
Tips for filling in the form
You should read all these tips before you start filling in your form.
Remember to write about the help you need or the difficulty you have
Remember you don't actually have to be getting any help to get Attendance Allowance - the important thing is that you need it and that you explain why you need it on the form.
Write in the blank boxes
It's really important that you explain the help or supervision you need in the blank boxes for Q27-43. Don't just tick the boxes or write how many times you need help or supervision.
Don't expect the person making the decision to know about your condition
The person making a decision on Attendance Allowance won't be a medical expert, so don't assume they'll know about your condition. It's important you give as much detail as possible on the form about how much help you need.
Don't think that any detail is too small to include, for example you should tell them if doing the tasks:
is painful for you
takes you a long time
puts you or someone else in danger
makes you feel breathless
makes you unsteady
Use an extra sheet of paper if you need to.
Remember to say how many times you need help with tasks
It's really important that you explain how many times you need or get help each day for the 'care needs' questions.
You should also explain how many times you have difficulties. For example if you need help or have difficulty getting to and from the toilet, remember to write the total amount for the day.
It's fine to repeat yourself in different answers
You might feel like you're repeating some of your answers.
It's fine to write about the same thing again if it's relevant to more than one question. For example if you have mobility problems and have difficulty getting to the toilet, you should explain this in Q28: 'Do you usually have difficulty or do you need help with your toilet needs?'.
You should also explain you have difficulty getting to the toilet in Q31: 'Do you usually have difficulty or do you need help with moving around indoors?'.
Mention the adaptations you use in the relevant question
You're asked to write down your adaptations and aids in Q25: 'Please list any aids or adaptations you use'. but you should also write about them in the relevant 'care needs' questions.
For example if you use a grab rail to get in and out of the shower you should also mention it in Q29: 'Do you usually have difficulty or do you need help with washing, bathing, showering or looking after your appearance?'.
Explain if you have good days and bad days
If your illness or disability means you have good and bad days try to explain how many of each you have in an average week. Filling in the Citizens Advice diary template can help you do this. Explain what help you need on a good day and on a bad day.
Explain if certain tasks take you longer
If you can do some personal tasks on your own but they take you a long time, explain this on the form. It might help if you can compare how long it takes you to a friend or someone else you know who doesn't have your condition.
How do I claim Attendance Allowance?
Get a claim form by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 (textphone: 0800 731 0317), or you can download a claim form from the Gov.UK website here.
There are two versions of the form available for download - one to fill in online and another to print off and return by post.
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