What is Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for older people who may need extra help to stay independent at home, due to an illness or disability.

How much could I get?

You could get:

• £61.85 a week if you need help either in the day or at night
• £92.40 a week if you need help both in the day and at night.

Amounts Accurate January 2023 according to .gov Website

The benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks.

How could Attendance Allowance help me?

A little extra money can go a long way. You can use it in any way you like to meet your needs and stay independent in your own home. The money doesn’t have to be spent on a carer.

There are some other upsides to Attendance Allowance too:

• Claiming Attendance Allowance won’t reduce any other income you receive.
• It’s tax-free.
• If you’re awarded Attendance Allowance, you may become entitled to other benefits, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction, or an increase in these benefits if you’re already receiving them.
• Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested so it doesn’t matter how much income and savings you have.

For further information click the link : Attendance Allowance – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Am I eligible to claim Attendance Allowance?

How do I claim Attendance Allowance?

1. Get a claim form by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122(textphone: 0800 731 0317), you can download a claim form from the GOV UK website:

AA Download forms

Fill in the form. Be really clear about how your illness or disability affects your life and don’t underestimate your needs.

If you need any help filling in the form, you can refer to our tips below so as to increase your chances of being awarded Attendance Allowance.

Before you send it in, don’t forget to attach any supporting information, such as GP letters, your care plan, or prescription lists.

Send in the form to the address on the form or submit it online.

The Department for Work and Pensions may contact you to ask for more information or arrange for a doctor to visit. It’s a good idea to prepare for that visit by writing things down that you would want the doctor to know about.

You will get a letter with the decision on whether or not you’ll get Attendance Allowance, how much, and from what date.

If you’re not happy with the outcome, you can appeal.

If you think a decision made about your benefits is wrong, you can ask the office that made the decision to explain or reconsider. Challenging a benefit decision might sound daunting, but don’t be put off – the process may be easier than you think.

To challenge a benefit decision, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration. Only after the outcome of a mandatory reconsideration can you make an appeal.

Tips to help with the Attendance Allowance claim form

• Don’t leave things out, even if you feel you can manage well enough.
• Describe any accidents or falls you’ve had.
• Explain the effects of all your disabilities and health conditions, and how they interact with each other.
• List things that you struggle to do unaided, even if you’ve developed ways to cope.
• If an activity takes you much longer than it would somebody without a disability, or if it’s difficult to do safely, include this too.
• Say if you need reminding or encouraging to do things, as this also counts as help.
• Focus on how frequently you need help. For example, if you need help looking after your appearance, this could add up to six or seven times a day, if you include help to check your clothes are clean after a meal, help to find a coat and matching shoes, and so on.
• Give plenty of information in your own words about your personal circumstances. Don’t worry if you need to repeat yourself.
• Bear in mind that Attendance Allowance doesn’t usually take into account problems with housework, cooking, shopping and gardening.

What should I do next?