PIP isn’t the only support available to disabled people
Attendance Allowance is a benefit provided by the DWP that offers financial support to individuals with disabilities and it is often overlooked. Claimants can receive between £73.90 and £110.40 per week.
Contrary to its name, Attendance Allowance does not require you to have a carer or attendant. Instead, the benefit is designed to help individuals with disabilities maintain their independence. The allowance can be used to cover various expenses, such as grocery deliveries, home accessibility upgrades, or other costs that help you avoid relying on carers or attendants.
Many people are unaware of this benefit or mistakenly believe they are ineligible because they do not have a carer. This is illustrated by the story of 88-year-old Lily from Durham, who discovered she was eligible for Attendance Allowance with the help of Age UK.
Lily said: “Since Age UK Durham helped me claim Attendance Allowance I don’t have to worry. All these years I could have been having help, but I didn’t know.”
Her experience highlights the importance of raising awareness about this benefit to ensure that those who need it can access it. To qualify for the benefit, you must be over the state pension age.
While it’s not necessary to have a carer or attendant, you need to demonstrate that your medical condition necessitates such support and that you’ve required this assistance for at least six months. For instance, if you have hearing impairments that would necessitate a translator’s help without hearing aids.
You should typically be in Great Britain when you apply, habitually resident of the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands, and not under immigration control. You also can’t receive DLA, PIP or ADP alongside Attendance Allowance.
Age UK advises contacting them if you reach the state pension age and are recommended to switch benefits. Most claimants don’t need an assessment, but one may be requested if the DWP finds it unclear how your disability impacts your life. In such cases, a medical professional will need to examine you.
The two different weekly rates depend on the severity of your disability and your care needs. The lower rate applies to those who might need help or supervision during the day or night, while the higher rate is for individuals who require help or supervision throughout both day and night.
Applying for Attendance Allowance could potentially qualify you for additional or higher rates of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction. If a medical professional has indicated that you’re nearing the end of life, you could also be eligible for the higher rate of Attendance Allowance.
