Attendance Allowance

Attendance Allowance

Website:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTaxAndBenefits/BenefitsTaxCreditsAndOth...

Who can get Attendance Allowance?

You may get Attendance Allowance (AA) if the following apply:
a) you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, such as blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both
b) your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
c) you are aged 65 or over when you claim

Attendance Allowance isn't usually affected by any savings or income you may have.
If you're under age 65, you may get Disability Living Allowance.

Special rules - if you're terminally ill
They are special rules for people who are terminally ill. This means people who have a progressive illness and are not expected to live more than another six months. The special rules mean people get the higher rate of Attendance Allowance straight away.
Medical examinations
You will not usually need a medical examination when you claim for Attendance Allowance. Sometimes it is necessary in order to assess how your condition affects you.

How much do you get?
The amount you get depends on how much your disability affects you.
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance Weekly rate (tax year 2012-2013)
Higher rate £77.45
Lower rate £51.85

How to claim Attendance Allowance

Claim straight away - otherwise you may lose benefit.

Call the Benefit Enquiry Line
This is a confidential freephone service for disabled people and carers. You can call the Benefit Enquiry Line and ask them to send you a claim pack. They can send you the claim pack in an alternative format if required - for example, Braille.

They can also arrange for someone to help you fill out the form if required. Please note that the person you speak to may need to arrange for someone to phone you back.

Telephone: 0800 88 22 00

Textphone: 0800 24 33 55

You can also use the Text Relay service.

The Benefit Enquiry Line is open from 8.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

If you request a claim pack from the Benefit Enquiry Line, the date of your phone call will be treated as your date of claim. This is the date from which Attendance Allowance can be paid, as long as you send your form back within six weeks of that date. If you delay making a claim, you may lose out on benefit.

The person taking your call will not have your personal papers but will be able to give you general advice. This advice must not be taken as a decision about your claim.

How Attendance Allowance is paid
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account. This is the safest, most convenient and efficient method of payment.

Effect on other benefits and entitlements
If you start to get Attendance Allowance, it might increase the amount of other benefits and financial support you're entitled to.
You may get an extra amount for severe disability with:
• Housing Benefit
• Council Tax Benefit
• Pension Credit
If someone claims Carer's Allowance for providing care to you and they are paid Carer's Allowance you may not receive this extra amount.
Attendance Allowance is normally ignored as income for working out income-related benefits and other entitlements.
What else you need to know
To get Attendance Allowance you must generally be in Great Britain or treated as living here. You must also meet certain other conditions about your residence and presence.
Also, changes to your circumstances can affect the amount of Attendance Allowance you get, or whether you get it.