Age and illness can place all sorts of restrictions on your life.  You may find it difficult to get washed and dressed and even walking around can be demanding.  Dealing with these limitations can be difficult and before long it becomes clear you need help.  Fortunately, in many cases the state is able to assist with the expense of this, meaning at least money doesn’t have to be an additional worry.

Attendance Allowance is intended to help pay for the costs of care and supervision, making it possible for you to cope with the daily tasks of looking after yourself.  It is solely for people over 65, so if you are younger you should apply for Disability Living Allowance, which is actually more generous and can continue after the age of 65.

Attendance Allowance is different from many other benefits because it is not means-tested, so your savings and income are completely irrelevant to the decision about eligibility.  It’s also tax-free and you can receive it even if you haven’t made National Insurance contributions.  This means it’s a benefit which often goes unclaimed by people who could be entitled to it, so...

Who Can Claim Attendance Allowance?

You can claim Attendance Allowance if

• You are over 65 years old
• You are disabled or ill
• You have been in need of care for at least 6 months
• You have lived in the UK for 6 of the past 12 months

It makes no difference to the claim whether

• You live alone or with others
• You are working or not
• You have a carer (paid or unpaid)

It is important to note this benefit is given on the basis of the care you need.  It is not judged on the care you actually receive.  The decision is based on your physical or mental needs rather than the specific help you choose to pay for.  If you’re entitled to the benefit, how you spend it is entirely up to you.

You could be eligible for Attendance Allowance if you have difficulty with activities such as the following:

• Dressing or undressing
• Walking or going upstairs
• Washing and bathing
• Using the toilet
• Getting in or out of chairs
• Turning over or settling in bed
• Taking medicine
• Cooking
• Being safe without supervision

Perhaps you are unsteady on your feet or have had a recent fall?  These things may also qualify you for Attendance Allowance, as well as poor eyesight, forgetfulness or a range of illnesses.

In short, don’t assume you have to suffer chronic levels of incapacity in order to deserve Attendance Allowance.  It is always worth finding out.

How Much Attendance Allowance Will I Receive?

Attendance Allowance is paid at two levels:

Lower Rate – £49.30 per week.  If you need care or supervision frequently, but not during both day and night.  Someone to watch over you during the night/or when you are on dialysis.

Higher Rate – £73.60 per week.  If your needs mean care or supervision is needed both day and night.

You can receive Attendance Allowance even if no-one is actually giving you the care you need.

If you have someone who cares for you this does not affect your claim, but they could also be able to claim Carer’s Allowance.  However, claiming this allowance can affect other benefits for both you and the carer, so you should seek advice from the benefits services.

How do I Claim Attendance Allowance?

You can call the Benefits Enquiry Service who will answer any further questions and send you a claim pack:

0800 88 22 00

Alternatively you can phone the Attendance Allowance helpline:

08457 123 456 – the helpline is open 7.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday

You can also make an online claim for Attendance Allowance at the Department for Work and Pensions.

A medical examination isn’t usually required for this process but may be requested in order to understand your exact needs fully.

Once you have submitted your claim you should hear whether you’ve been successful within 2 months.

If you are terminally ill then special rules apply and the process is speeded up and made much easier.  You fill out the same form as above, but include an extra form, DS1500, which can be provided by your doctor, specialist or consultant.  You can make a claim for someone under the special rules without them knowing or without their permission.  Once the claim has been satisfied any documentation will show you have been awarded Attendance Allowance but the special rules will not be mentioned.

What if my Claim is Turned Down?

If you’re unsuccessful in your claim for Attendance Allowance you can ask for a ‘statement of reasons’ to explain exactly why.  You are fully entitled to ask the Disability Benefits Unit to look again at the decision, which is also true if you were awarded the lower rate instead of the higher.  You should do this within one month of rejection.

If you wish to challenge the decision it’s worth visiting your local Citizens Advice Bureau for guidance.  They can suggest the best way of presenting the challenge to make it effective and could even help you draft the letter explaining why you disagree.

If the application is rejected again you then have a further month to take the matter to a tribunal.

What Happens if I go into Hospital or a Care Home?

Essentially, Attendance Allowance is intended to pay for care you need at home, so once you enter a care-giving institution where you don’t pay all the fees you are no longer eligible.  However, there are plenty of finer details to this!

The most common example of this is time spent in hospital.  You will continue to receive your Attendance Allowance for 28 days after admission, but then it will be stopped until you return home.  The same applies to respite care or temporary stay in a care home: after 28 days your payments will stop until you go home.

If you enter a care home permanently there is a simple principle: if you are paying all your care home fees without any financial help from your local authority then you will continue to receive Attendance Allowance.  If you receive help, however, it will stop after 28 days.

If you are receiving temporary help from the council until your home is sold (when you will pay them back for that temporary funding) then your Attendance Allowance should continue as normal.

If your care home is being fully funded by the NHS then your Attendance Allowance will stop.  If the NHS is only part-funding your fees then usually you will continue to receive Attendance Allowance, so long as you are not also receiving help from social services.

This area in reality has simple principles but complicated finer details!  For instance, some people have challenged the denial of Attendance Allowance when they are fully funded by the NHS.  They have won cases based on such questions as whether their care home is a ‘similar institution’ to hospital.  So you may find yourself in circumstances where specialist advice is needed for your particular situation.

Warm Front Scheme

If you live in England and receive Attendance Allowance you may be able to obtain a grant from the Warm Front Scheme – this helps with the costs of home insulation and other heating improvements.

Guidance in Difficult Times

Old age and illness can generate many difficulties and the last thing you need on top of that is confusion about options and possibilities.

That’s why Nobilis has put together this articles base.  We are in the business of caring and whether you are using our in-home care services or not, we’d like to offer any helpful advice and clarification you need.

Feel free to chat with our friendly and knowledgeable team about any issues related to support of the elderly and infirm.  We promise not to turn it into a sales pitch!  Nobilis has a strong reputation as a caring company and we’re not about to undermine that with hard sell.  We simply understand how difficult these times can be and we’re happy to share our experience and understanding to help out.

Call us now on 0845 8620647