Attendance allowance benefit rules you need to know or your payments of up to £5,645 a year could stop

MILLIONS of individuals suffering from serious disabilities can get cash help through attendance allowance.

If you are entitled to the highest rate, the benefit is worth up to £5645 a year, so it’s always worth checking if you are eligible.

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You can get attendance allowance if you’ve reached the state pension age and have a serious mental of physical disability[/caption]

Attendance allowance helps with extra costs if you have a severe disability that requires someone to help look after you.

It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

The lower rate is worth £72.65 a week, while the higher rate is £108.55 a week.

If you receive the lower rate, you are entitled to frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.

At a higher rate, you will get help or supervision throughout the day and night.

However, if you claim attendance allowance, you must report several changes to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you do not, you may have to repay the cash you’ve been paid and pay a £50 penalty.

You must contact the attendance allowance helpline straight away if:

• The level of help you need or your condition changes
• You go into hospital or a care home
• A medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
• You plan to leave the country for more than four weeks
• You go into prison
• You change your name, address or bank details
• You want to stop receiving your benefit
• Your doctor’s details change
• Your immigration status changes if you’re not a British citizen

You can be taken to court if you’ve been found to have purposefully given the wrong information.

These changes can affect your attendance allowance award.

Depending on the change, your payments could go up, go down, stay the same or stop.

REPORT A CHANGE

To report a change in circumstances, you must contact the attendance allowance helpline.

If you need someone to help you, you can:

• Ask for them to be added to your call – you cannot do this if you use textphone
• Ask someone else to call on your behalf – you’ll need to be with them when they call

Call 0800 731 0122 to report a change in circumstances.

APPLY FOR ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE

You can apply for attendance allowance online or by post.

To apply, you’ll need:

• Your National Insurance number
• Your address and contact details
• Details of the health condition or disability that you need extra help for
• Details of your GP surgery or medical centre

To apply online, visit ww.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim.

You cannot apply online if you:

• Are an appointee
• Have power of attorney
• Have been told you’re nearing the end of life

To apply via post, you must download the attendance allowance form by visiting www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form.

Once completed, you should send this to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance.

Do not write anything except the freepost address on the envelope. You do not need a postcode or a stamp. 

If you cannot print the form yourself, you can call the attendance allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.

After you send your claim, you’ll get a text or letter within three weeks that explains when you can expect a decision.

Once a decision is made, you’ll get a letter explaining the outcome.

If you are awarded attendance allowance, the decision letter will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.

If you apply online, your claim will start on the date you make your claim.

If you print and post the form, your claim will start on the date the DWP receives it.

If you call the helpline to get a form, your claim will start on the date of your call (if you return the form within six weeks).

Around 1.1 million households are estimated to be missing out on the benefit, so it’s well worth checking if you or a family member may be eligible.