Attendance Allowance Also available in large print or other formats. www.lancashire.gov.uk
What is Attendance Allowance? Attendance Allowance is a cash benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). You can claim if you are 65 or over and you find it difficult taking care of yourself because of your physical or mental condition and you have been like this for the past six months or more. Claim right away if you are terminally ill, as special rules apply. It is paid on top of any other benefit, income or savings. It is tax-free and you do not need to have paid National Insurance to get it. It is not counted as part of your income for Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit. It can even help you get extra, or you could get one or more of these benefits for the first time. You can spend the money in the way that suits you best, you do not have to pay a carer to look after you. You can claim if you live alone or with other people. You cannot get Attendance Allowance if you already get Disability Living Allowance (DLA). But you may be able to get extra DLA if your condition has worsened, even if you are 65 or over. Get advice. See Help and Advice on the back page. 2
It is worthwhile claiming Attendance Allowance if any of these activities is difficult or painful, or you avoid any of them because of difficulty or discomfort - it still counts as a difficulty if someone has to remind you or prompt you to do it: getting in or out of bed dressing or undressing having a bath or shower washing yourself getting to the toilet or using the toilet cutting up food or holding a cup at mealtimes taking tablets or medicine remembering to do routine things communicating with other people Or if any of the following applies to you: you have dialysis at home you are unsteady on your feet you sometimes fall or have accidents you forget what you are supposed to be doing you need encouragement to do routine things you need mental stimulation to keep you alert and occupied you have an illness which comes on suddenly and puts you at risk you cannot see very well you cannot hear very well you find it difficult to control your behaviour Olive is 75 and has arthritis in her hands. She has difficulty doing up fastenings when she dresses, using a knife and fork, and getting her tablets out of blister packs. Olive gets Attendance Allowance after getting help to claim. 3
How much can you get? You get the higher rate of 77.45 a week if you find it difficult taking care of yourself during the day and during the night. You get the lower rate of 51.85 a week if you find it difficult taking care of yourself during the day or during the night. You can claim even if you don t get any help - it is the help you need that counts, not the help you get John is 70 and had a stroke six months ago. He finds it difficult sorting out his money and dealing with the mail. His wife Evelyn helps to keep him occupied, makes sure he puts on clean clothes, and tells him when it is time for a shower and when to go to bed. Evelyn helps John to claim Attendance Allowance and he is successful. 4
How to claim Attendance Allowance Ring the DWP Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882200 or ask for a claim pack at your local Jobcentre Plus office. If you would like to check whether it is worth claiming Attendance Allowance, ring the Welfare Rights Service on 01772 533343. Or fill in the coupon on the back page. If you are turned down Some people are turned down for Attendance Allowance when they claim, but more than half of them get it when they ask for the decision to be looked at again. If you are turned down or you think you should have got the higher rate, you only have one month to challenge the decision. Get advice. See Help and Advice on the back page. Clara loses balance and has dizzy spells. She lurches sometimes and collides with the furniture. She has fallen and bruised herself. Her Attendance Allowance claim is turned down, but with help from a welfare rights officer she asks for the decision to be looked at again and is successful. 5
If your condition gets worse If you get lower rate Attendance Allowance for daytime difficulties, you may be able to get the higher rate if you are having more difficulties at night. For instance if you have to get up more to go to the toilet and you are unsteady on your feet. Get advice. See Help and Advice on the back page. Jilpa has dementia and lives with her son and his family. She already gets the lower rate of Attendance Allowance for difficulties during the day, but for the last few months she has been getting up in the night and going outside. Her son gets help to fill in the form and Jilpa gets the higher rate. 6
Extra money on income related benefits If you get Attendance Allowance and certain extra conditions apply, you may be able to get extra money, called the severe disability premium, in your Pension Credit, Council Tax Benefit or Housing Benefit. If you don t get these benefits it may be worthwhile making a first-time claim, so get advice. See Help and Advice on the back page. Kathleen is 75 and lives alone. She has Retirement pension and a pension from work. She gets some Council Tax Benefit but still has to pay most of her council tax, and her income is too high to get Pension Credit. A friend helps her to claim Attendance Allowance and she gets it. Now she gets extra Council Tax Benefit to pay most of her council tax, and if she applies for Pension Credit she will get an award because the Attendance Allowance helps her become entitled, but is not counted as income. 7
Help and advice If you would like us to check if you are entitled to Attendance Allowance or any other benefits you can ring us on 0845 053 0013 or fill in the coupon below and send it to us at Lancashire County Council, Welfare Rights Service, FREEPOST, Preston PR1 8BR. (no stamp needed) You can also get help from a Citizen s Advice Bureau or Advice Centre. Lancashire County Council Welfare Rights Service (April 2012) All figures in this leaflet will change in April 2013. Please contact me to check if I am entitled to Attendance Allowance by telephone by post Name:... Address:............ Postcode:... Telephone:... 8