Attendance Allowance is a monthly payment provided by the government to people with disabilities who are over the state pension age and need additional help completing their daily tasks and activities.
Who is Eligible?
To be eligible for Attendance Allowance you must meet all the following criteria:
- • Be over the state pension age
- • Have a physical or mental disability (or both)
- • Your disability is severe enough to need additional help or supervision
- • You must have needed the additional help for at least 6 months
- • Be in Great Britain at the time of your claim
- • Have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you are a refugee)
- • Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man, or the Channel Islands
- • Not be subject to immigration control (unless you’re a sponsored immigrant)
There are some exceptions to these rules such as if you are terminally ill or live in a care home.
If you are terminally ill there’s no qualifying period for how long you’ve had your illness.
If you live in a care home and pay for all your care home costs yourself, you could be eligible for Attendance Allowance.
It is important to note you are not eligible for attendance allowance if you already receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
What You’ll Get
Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates depending on how much help the claimant needs. Your earnings or savings do not affect how much Attendance Allowance you will receive.
The two rates are:
- • Lower Rate: £68.10 per week – when frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night, is required
- • Higher Rate: £101.75 per week – when help or supervision is needed throughout the day and night, or you are terminally ill
If you receive Attendance Allowance, you could also get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
How to Claim
You can find out how to apply for Attendance Allowance and answers to any other questions you may have on the GOV.UK website.
How Carelink24 Can Help
Providing those who may be vulnerable living alone the confidence and ability to do so is our mission here at Carelink24. If you receive any of the benefits mentioned above, a personal alarm could be for you.
For more information, read our guide to the Carelink24 alarm service or give us a call on 0800 0076 247. You can also order an alarm online.
Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 5th June 2023 to reflect current information.
