Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people aged 65 or over who have a physical and/or mental disability. To be eligible, the disability needs to be severe enough that you require help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety.

There are 2 weekly rates which are dependent on the level of help you need:

·         £53 a week – Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or        supervision at night.

·         £79.15 a week – Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or you’re terminally ill.

You may get Attendance Allowance if:

·         You are 65 or over when you make the claim

·         You are not entitled to Disability Living Allowance

·         You are not entitled to Personal Independence Payment

·         You have needed help or care for at least 6 months

Special Rules do however, apply if the person will be suffering from a progressive disease, and their death can be reasonably expected within six months.

• This means there is much less information that the person has to enter on the claim form. Claims made under the special rules are given priority treatment.

• The claim can be made either by the person who is terminally ill or by someone acting on their behalf. If someone completes the form on their behalf, the terminally ill individual does not have to sign it themselves. They will be notified that a claim for Attendance Allowance has been made but not under the special rules (in case they are not aware of the full nature of their condition).

• Claim must be made on the Attendance Allowance form.

• A short medical report about the terminally ill person's condition must be sent in with the claim forms for Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance. This report is called DS1500 and is available from a doctor, specialist or consultant.

Form https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/277586/aa1a_print.pdf