Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It is paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

Eligibility

You can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply (unless you might have 12 months or less to live):

• 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

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)

• Not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP)

Rates

• Lower Rate of £72.65 a week if you require frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.

• Higher Rate of £108.55 a week to help with personal support if you’re both physically or mentally disabled and State Pension age or older. If you require help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.

Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs.

You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.

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

To find out more:

http://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance or Telephone: 0800 731 0122

Textphone: 0800 731 0317