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 concerns that individuals may be held back by their own mindset regarding their condition.
What Is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is designed for pensioners with a long-term disability or health condition to help cover the additional costs of aids, assistance, or other support they may need in their daily lives. BBC expert Iona Bain shared her personal experience with the benefit and urged others to check their eligibility.
Speaking on Morning Live, Bain said: "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."
Diagnosis Is Not the Key Factor
Bain discovered that having an official diagnosis of a specific condition does not make someone more or less eligible for Attendance Allowance. She explained: "That's not really how it works. It's more about being able to show what the impact of that condition is on your day-to-day life and the fact that you now need support as a result of that condition or disability."
The pension-age benefit is not means-tested, which Bain noted is "unusual" for benefits. It is paid at two different rates depending on the level of care needed. The lower rate, for those who need care only during the day or night, is £76.70 per week. The higher rate, for those who need support both day and night, is £114.60 per week. Claimants do not need to have support in place already, and the money can be spent on maintaining independence rather than paying a carer or attendant.
Overcoming Stigma and Stoicism
Bain identified one factor that may prevent eligible people from applying: "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 assured there is no "shame" or "stigma" in 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 to accept that help, and that's really understandable, but I would say it's absolutely fine to do so."
For those who prefer or need to apply alone, Bain advised: "Keep a diary for a couple of weeks of what you're living with." More information and applications for Attendance Allowance can be found on the Gov.uk website.
