Millions of people over the state pension age could be eligible for a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefit that provides up to £114.60 per week. However, one expert has expressed concern that individuals may be held back by their own mindset regarding their condition.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance, offered by the DWP, is designed to help older people with long-term health conditions or disabilities cover the extra costs of day-to-day support. Many eligible claimants may not realise they qualify for this financial assistance.
Speaking on BBC's Morning Live, finance expert Iona Bain shared her personal experience of navigating the system after her mother was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration. She explained: "A couple of years ago, my mum was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, which led to deterioration of her eyesight, particularly in one eye, and it definitely had an impact on her life. It meant that she needed more support. So, I looked into a particular benefit called Attendance Allowance to see whether she would be eligible, and a few things really jumped out at me."
Eligibility Criteria
Bain clarified that eligibility is not based on having a specific diagnosis but rather on how a condition affects everyday life. She stated: "That's not really how it works. It's more about being able to show what the impact is on your day-to-day life and the fact that you now need support as a result of that condition or disability."
Attendance Allowance is also not means-tested, which makes it unusual compared to many other benefits. It is paid at two different weekly rates depending on the level of care needed: £76.70 for those needing help either during the day or night, and £114.60 for those requiring support during both periods.
How the Money Can Be Used
Importantly, claimants do not need to already have care in place, and the money does not have to be spent on a carer. Instead, it can be used to maintain independence in whatever way works best for the individual.
Mindset Barriers
Bain suggested that personal attitudes may be preventing some people from claiming. She noted: "They might be quite stoic about it; they want to just get on with things. They feel that they've been coping just fine, so they don't really need that extra support. But actually, sometimes you just get used to living a certain way and you don't realise that you've been paying for things in your life as a result of your condition, and that is actually a pressure and a burden."
She also stressed that there should be no stigma attached to seeking help. "The first part of this whole process is describing how your disability or condition is affecting your day-to-day life and the struggles that you're having as a result. Some people might find that quite draining and difficult, so it's good to have some moral support there. In our case, my dad was able to help my mum and me put together this application because he could provide a lot of that information and build a picture of how this condition was affecting my mum's life. But there are people who might feel reluctant or embarrassed about that help, and that's really understandable, but I would say it's absolutely fine to ask for assistance."
Practical Advice for Applicants
For those applying alone, Bain offered practical advice: "If you would prefer to do this on your own, or you have to do this on your own, my advice would be to keep a diary for a couple of weeks of what you're living with." More information on Attendance Allowance, including how to apply, is available on the Gov.uk website.
