Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit available to individuals who are at or over State Pension age and require assistance with personal care due to physical or mental disabilities. To qualify, the disability must have persisted for six months and necessitate help with tasks like bathing, dressing, eating, using the toilet, or communication. Additionally, individuals requiring supervision to prevent harm to themselves or others or those on dialysis may also be eligible.

Attendance Allowance has two rates:

• Lower rate: For those who require assistance or supervision during the day or night or need someone during dialysis, amounting to £68.10 weekly.
• Higher rate: For individuals needing assistance both during the day and night, which is £101.75 weekly.

A Cost of Living Support package has been introduced to assist those on income-related benefits, disabled claimants, and pensioners in coping with rising living costs.

To apply for Attendance Allowance, you may need a health assessment. You can request a claim pack from the Disability and Carers Service, and the date of your call serves as your claim date. Delays in filing a claim may result in benefit loss.

The benefit is typically paid directly into a designated account that accepts benefit payments. In certain cases, someone else may collect it on your behalf.

Receiving Attendance Allowance may affect the amount of other benefits or credits you're entitled to, including Housing Benefit and Pension Credit. If you have a caregiver, they may be eligible for Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit.

Special rules apply if you have a progressive disease and are not expected to live for more than 12 months, allowing you to receive the higher rate immediately.

It usually takes 30 working days to process an Attendance Allowance claim, but special rules for end-of-life cases expedite the process.

If you believe a decision about your benefit claim is incorrect, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service, request a reconsideration, or appeal the decision.

Changes in your circumstances, such as improvements or deteriorations in your condition, hospital stays, or moves to care homes, should be reported to the office handling your payments.

If you go abroad temporarily or permanently, it may affect your eligibility for Attendance Allowance.

Medical examinations may be required for some claimants to gather more information about their disability or illness.

To qualify for Attendance Allowance, you must be habitually resident in Northern Ireland, meet specific residency criteria, and not be under immigration control.

Repayments may be necessary if you are overpaid benefits, and Debt Management can help you establish a repayment plan.

For further information and assistance, you can contact the Disability and Carers Service.

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