Claiming Attendance Allowance

Disability benefits like Attendance Allowance are not means-tested. Everyone is entitled to this support if they have needs that qualify them for it.

Some of the activities that are considered are:

• Getting in and out of bed
• Dressing and undressing
• Washing and bathing and maintaining your appearance
• Getting to and from the toilet and managing incontinence issues
• Eating and drinking
• Managing medication
• Communication
• Hearing, seeing, speaking
• Moving around indoors (including getting up and down stairs and in and out of a chair)
  

The eligibility assessment is based on the support that someone needs and not the support that they get.

If a person lives alone, but struggles with these activities, then they may still qualify. For example, if someone can get themselves dressed, but this takes them a very long time, this can count as the need for help with dressing.

Even if someone is able to complete activities and tasks independently, they may still qualify for this benefit if they need someone in the house with them to keep them safe. For example, they may:

• Be unaware of common dangers at home

• Be at risk of falls

• Be confused, anxious or distressed if left alone

• Wander out of the home and get lost

As a carer, you may start to notice some things that might prompt you to find out more about Attendance Allowance. These might include:

• You are having to support them to manage their medication as they are no longer sure what tablets they need to take and when

• They can no longer go alone to face to face appointment as they are struggling to remember what is said and to get their points across to the person they are speaking to

• They are not changing clothes as often as they used to and need to be reminded to do this

• They are not washing and bathing as often as they did and need to be prompted to do this

• You can only leave then for very short periods alone and need to be with them most of the time

• They are getting unsteady on their feet and struggling with poor balance and stumbling at home

• They are getting lost in conversations, repeating themselves and asking repeated questions

• They are lacking motivation and struggling to get out of bed

• You are noticing that they struggle to remember if they have eaten their meals and if left alone would be likely forgot to eat.

• They are getting very anxious if left alone and will follow you around the home as they need to be close

The above is not an exhaustive list. If you think that there is any support that the person you are caring for needs with their self-care, or a reason for them to be supervised, you can call us. We can complete an assessment of eligibility over the phone.

Disability benefits cannot usually be backdated. If you think you might qualify then contact us as soon as you can.