Attendance Allowance - are you eligible?

We are encouraging people of pensionable age to consider whether they, or someone they care for, might be eligible for Attendance Allowance of up to £92.40 per week. It is a non means-tested, weekly payment to support those who have been facing challenges with day-to-day personal care tasks for 6 months or more.

Data shows that while the number of older people in the population is rising, the claim rates for Attendance Allowance in Oxfordshire are dropping, and the charity wants to ensure that people are not missing out, especially at a time when many older people are faced with surging energy bills and rising food costs.

Attendance Allowance is payable at two rates, lower rate (currently £61.85/week) and higher rate (currently £92.40/week), and eligibility depends on whether someone struggles with day-to-day personal care tasks during only the day or night, or throughout both.

The types of personal care tasks that require help / supervision could be dressing, showering or bathing, getting in and out of a chair or bed or moving around safely at home. Someone may also qualify for Attendance Allowance if they need a lot of supervision because of memory problems or poor mental health.

Penny Thewlis, CEO of Age UK Oxfordshire said: “At Age UK Oxfordshire we are committed to ensuring that older people receive information and advice so that they can obtain the financial help to which they’re entitled. We want to encourage anyone who thinks that they are eligible to apply for Attendance Allowance. It’s a flexible payment, so while it’s to give people the option to get someone to help, they can use the money for something else if they want to. It’s not just help with personal care that can make life easier!”

To find out more about Attendance Allowance please contact the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) on 0800 731 0122 or visit www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance

If you need support to navigate the application form please contact Age UK Oxfordshire on 0345 450 1276 or visit www.ageuk.org.uk/oxfordshire/about-us/cost-of-living for more information.