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Many older people are living with health conditions which require them to have extra support. However, they do not necessarily have to bear this financial burden alone, as there is a payment intended to provide assistance.
Attendance Allowance is made for those of state pension age who have a health condition or disability.
This, for example, could include visual impairment and sight loss which can be brought about as a person ages, or be something a person has dealt with for a long time.
The NHS has explained more than two million people are living with sight loss currently in the UK.
Of these individuals, around 340,000 are registered as blind or partially sighted.
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Of course, Attendance Allowance is a key entitlement for many older people living with a health condition such as visual impairment.
The benefit is paid weekly at two different rates. The one which a person gets will depend on the level of help they actually require.
A key point to note is Attendance Allowance is not a means-tested benefit, meaning what some earns or how much they have in savings will not impact what they receive.
The lower rate of Attendance Allowance is currently worth £61.85 per week for those needing “frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night”.
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The higher rate of £92.40 weekly is for those who require help or supervision throughout both day and night.
It means people could get support worth roughly £369 per month to help them on a day to day basis.
To be eligible, a person must have a physical or mental disability, or both.
This disability must be severe enough that the individual requires help caring for themselves, or supervision.
The help must have been required for at least six months for it to be unlocked.
Britons must be in Great Britain when claiming, and have been so for at least two of the last three years in most circumstances.
They will also need to be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.
Claiming Attendance Allowance means people will have to fill out the dedicated form, which comes with notes explaining how to complete it.
It can then be sent to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance, without a postcode or stamp.
Attendance Allowance can typically be backdated to the date a person first makes their claim.
This is usually the date their form is received, or the date they call the enquiry line, if the claim pack is then returned within a six week period.
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