Care and support

Benefits for people with an illness or disability

Attendance allowance

Attendance allowance (AA)is paid to you if you have an illness or disability which means you need help throughout the day and/or night to look after yourself, or you need someone to keep an eye on you to keep you safe.

The sort of things you might need help with include getting in/out of bed; washing; dressing; eating and drinking; moving around the house; getting to and using the toilet; taking medicines; seeing and communicating.

You might need someone to keep an eye on you because you are forgetful, or easily confused, or at risk of causing harm to yourself or others.

You do not actually have to be getting this help in order to qualify – if it is reasonably required (not medically required) you can get the benefit.

Attendance allowance is not means-tested so it does not matter what other income or savings you have. It is also tax-free.

Who can claim?

You must be aged 65 or over to claim AA. If you are aged under 65 then see disability living allowance below. You cannot receive attendance allowance and disability living allowance at the same time.

You normally will have needed help for six months before benefit can be claimed but there are special rules if you have a terminal illness and these may mean you can claim sooner. A claim can be made on your behalf if you cannot manage your own affairs.

How much is paid?

There are two levels of benefit. If you need help during the day or night then the lower rate of £44.85 may be paid. If you need help during both the day and night, or you are terminally ill, then the higher rate of £67.00 may be paid.

How to claim

You can get the attendance allowance claim pack from the Pension Service office, or by ringing the Benefits Enquiry Line Tel: 0800 882200 (Textphone 0800 24 33 55).

The form asks questions about your care needs. It is very important that you give as much information as possible because the decision on your claim is usually based on this information and is made by a person who doesn’t see you.

N.B. If your claim for attendance allowance is successful then you may qualify for pension credit, housing or council tax benefit, even if you have applied for these in the past
and been refused. If you already receive any of these benefits you may be able to get more. You should notify the relevant offices as soon as possible to ensure that you are not missing out on extra money that you could be entitled too.

Your carer may be able to claim carer’s allowance for looking after you, but this could stop you qualifying for more benefit. You should always seek advice after an award of attendance allowance is made to ensure you do not miss out.

Disability living allowance

There are two parts to disability living allowance (DLA) – the care part and the mobility part.

The care part is similar to attendance allowance (see above), and is paid if you have difficulty in looking after yourself or if you need supervision to keep you safe.

You may also qualify if you cannot manage to prepare and cook a main meal for one person, even if all of the ingredients are provided.

The mobility part can be paid if you have a lot of difficulties when walking outside; perhaps you experience pain or breathlessness after only a short distance, or can only walk very slowly.

You may qualify for a lower level of this benefit if you can walk but need someone with you to show you the way or to ensure you are safe. Your ability to manage familiar routes without help is ignored.

Who can claim?

If your difficulties begin before your 65th birthday, and you make a claim before you reach 65, then you can apply for this benefit. Once you have been awarded DLA you can continue to receive it after you turn 65, as long as your condition does not improve.

If you are 65 or over then you should claim attendance allowance – see above. You should normally have needed help for three months before you claim, and be likely to continue to need help for another six months, in order to qualify. However if you have a terminal illness, then special rules may apply that mean you can claim straight away.

How much is paid?

The care part can be paid at one of three different rates, and you will get the highest one you qualify for:

£17.75 if you need help with cooking or with looking after yourself for part of the day
£44.85 if you need help during the day or night
£67.00 if you need help during the day and night

The mobility part has two rates:

£46.75 - if you have a lot of physical problems with walking. Some people who have a learning disability and severe behavioural problems may also get this.
£17.75 - if you need guidance or supervision from someone else when walking.

Your DLA award may include both the mobility and the care parts, or just one of these.

How to claim?

You can get the DLA1 claim pack from the Pension Service office, or by ringing the Benefits Enquiry Line Tel: 0800 882200 (Textphone 0800 24 33 55)

N.B.If your award of DLA includes the middle or higher rate of the care part then you may now qualify for pension credit, housing benefit or council tax benefit, even if you have
applied in the past and been refused. If you are already getting these benefits, you may now be entitled to more money. You should notify the relevant benefit offices of the DLA
decision.

Alternatively, your carer may be able to claim carer’s allowance for looking after you, but this could stop you qualifying for more help. You should always seek advice after an award of DLA is made to ensure you do not miss out.

For more information select the link entitled disability living allowance and attendance allowance on the right hand side of the page.