Are you claiming YOUR full assistance allowances?
By Tony Watts - Editor - 17/07/2007
Did you know there is an Attendance Allowance available for people aged 65 or over who are ill or disabled and need help with personal care or supervision?
The rate you get depends on the help you need - regardless of whether you get it. You can use it to pay for care or a carer, or put it towards something else you’d find useful.
There are two weekly rates:
• £64.50 if you need help both in the day and night.
• £43.15 if you need help in the day or the night.
• You must be aged 65 or over (if you are younger, you may be eligible for Disability Living Allowance, described later).
• You have a physical or mental disability, or are terminally ill.
• You must need frequent attention throughout the day either with personal care (e.g. help with dressing and washing), or continual supervision so you keep safe.
• You must have a long term condition or health need, and have needed help for six months, before you can receive Attendance Allowance; however, if you are terminally ill, you can claim right away.
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a benefit for people who need and make a claim before they are 65.
There are two parts to DLA: the care part and the mobility part. You can qualify for both. It doesn’t matter whether you live alone or with other people; or if you receive a lot of help and support, or very little.
The weekly rates are:
The DLA care part:
£64.50 if you need help both day and night
£43.15 if you need help in the day or night
£17.10 if you need help for some of the day, or need help to cook a main meal for yourself.
DLA mobility part:
£45.00 or £17.10 depending on your needs.
Who qualifies for DLA?
• You must be under the age of 65 when you make your claim.
• You have a physical or mental disability, or are terminally ill.
• You need help with personal care or supervision (care part).
• You are unable to walk or have great difficulty walking (mobility part).
• You must have needed this help for three months before you can receive Disability Living Allowance; however, if you are terminally ill, you can claim right away.
You can get a claim form by phoning the Disability Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00 or by downloading it from the DirectGov website.
The system can seem very daunting, but don’t be put off. Age Concern can help you make a claim – if you think you qualify, why not contact your local Age Concern today? If you have internet access, go to the Age Concern website linked below where you’ll find lots of helpful informations.
It’s not charity, it’s yours - by right!