Attendance Allowance payments are for those over State Pension age with a disability or health condition – and there are key guidelines claimants must follow
Attendance Allowance is a payment that helps you with costs if you have a disability or health condition that is severe enough you need someone to help look after you. It is important to follow the government rules around the benefit to avoid facing a penalty or being taken to court.
There are two different rates – and the one you get is dependent on the level of care that you need. If you have a physical disability, mental disability, or health condition and are State Pension age or older, you could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support.
You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim the allowance and you can get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get an Attendance Allowance, the government advises. However, the allowance does not cover mobility needs.
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How to avoid a fine
It is important to know that you must contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 if your circumstances change. This includes if the level of help you need or your condition changes – and you will need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed.
You will need to contact the helpline if you go into a hospital or care home, or if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live. In the latter circumstance, you could get the allowance at a higher rate.
A change in circumstances also includes if you plan to leave the country for more than four weeks; you go into prison; you change your name; address or bank details; you want to stop receiving your benefit; your doctor’s details change; or your immigration status changes (if you’re not a British citizen).
Failing to report a change in circumstances, or giving wrong information, could result in you being taken to court or having to pay a penalty. The helpline can be reached on 0800 731 0122 over the telephone, or on 0800 731 0317 via textphone. If you cannot hear or speak on the phone, you can get in touch via Relay UK on 18001 then 0800 731 0122. The line is open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm.
Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?
Those over State Pension age are eligible if you have a physical disability, mental disability, or health condition which is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you. You will have needed that help for at least six months in order to be able to claim the benefit, according to Gov.UK.
Other eligibility requirements are that you are in Great Britain when you claim and have been there for at least two of the last three years (but this doesn’t apply if you’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status). You must also be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands, not be subject to immigration control and not get Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, or Adult Disability Payment.
