Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested allowance payable to eligible older people to help pay for any extra costs that their care and support requires.
Eligibility
To qualify and receive Attendance Allowance you must:
- Have reached State Pension age
- Have a disability:
- Physical (including blindness), or
- Mental disability (including dementia), or both
- You have needed that help for at least 6 months (unless you’re terminally ill)
Note: Your disability must be severe enough to need help caring for yourself or someone to help you.
You must also:
- Be in Great Britain when you claim
- Have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years
What will I get?
Attendance Allowance is paid weekly at 2 different rates – the one you get depends on the level of help you need. Essentially, if you only need help during the day, you will get Level 1. If you need help during the day and overnight you will be entitled to Level 2. As of 1st April 2021, the amount you will receive is as follows:
- Level 1 £ 00
- Level 2 £89.60
These levels are reviewed each year on 1st April.
How can I spend my Attendance Allowance?
You can spend your Attendance Allowance however you like – it’s up to you. Lots of people spend it on something that makes life a bit easier, for example:
- Paying for a Carer
- Paying for taxis
- Helping towards bills
- Paying for a cleaner or gardener
Recipients get their allowance paid directly into their nominated bank account.
How do I claim?
It is a relatively straightforward process to claim for Attendance Allowance but it does take a little time. There is a large form that needs competing, this can be done online on in paper format. Initially, the form can feel a little daunting, but carve out about an hour of your time and ensure that you go through it thoroughly.
You can download the form from the following page: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form
It gives you the option on this page to choose either the paper or online version.
You will need to know a lot about the person if you are filling the form on someone else’s behalf, or have them available to answer any questions you cannot answer yourself.
For more information or if you wish to discuss care for your loved one please email care@greensleeves.org.uk