A local expert from Citizen’s Advice provides timely tips on consumer issues.
Q: ‘My mum is over 80. She has breathing problems and arthritis in her joints. She can’t walk up even the slightest slope and when she goes upstairs she has to go on her bottom. She can’t stand for very long, she can’t manage the vacuum cleaner any more and she gets exhausted just having a shower. My friend said she should claim PIP but I’m not sure that’s right, especially since my mum has savings.’
A: As your mum is over State Pension Age, she cannot make a fresh claim for Personal Independence Payment – but she can make a claim for Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance isn’t means tested, so it doesn’t matter what other money you get, and it doesn’t matter how much you have in savings either. Nor will it affect your State Pension, and you can claim it even if you’re still working and earning money. You can claim Attendance Allowance if you:
- have reached State Pension age
- need extra care or supervision because you have an illness or disability
- have needed care or supervision for at least six months because of illness or disability
If you’re terminally ill, you can claim Attendance Allowance straight away – you don’t need to wait six months.
You can spend your Attendance Allowance however you like. Lots of people spend it on something that makes life a little bit easier, including things like paying for taxis, helping towards bills or paying for a cleaner or gardener. To apply you can either phone the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 or download a form on GOV.UK.
It’s always best to telephone, because your payments will be backdated to the date you phoned, as long as you return the form within six weeks. If you simply download the application form, you’ll only be paid from the date that the DWP receives the form.
The claim form is quite long and it might seem daunting at first but you can get help either from Citizens Advice or from AgeUK, so don’t let that put you off applying.
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