Paying for support
Most people who could claim Attendance Allowance never do. It is not a loan, it is not taxable, and your savings do not matter.
What Attendance Allowance is
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of an illness or disability. It is paid at two rates.
- Lower rate: £76.75 a week
- Higher rate: £114.60 a week
It is tax free, it does not depend on your income or savings, and it does not reduce any other benefits. In fact, it can sometimes unlock other support.
Who qualifies
The rules are about help or supervision, not a diagnosis. You must be over State Pension age and have needed help for at least six months.
The form asks how your condition affects you day to day. The two things almost everyone gets wrong are saying "I'm fine" and forgetting to mention how often things go wrong.
Help with the form
The form is long and the questions aren't as obvious as they look. If you'd like a hand with it, that's something a companion can do with you during a visit — sitting down together, working through it properly, and getting it in the post.
It's part of the time you're already booked for, not an extra charge on top.
We're not benefits advisers, so for independent advice on whether to claim, Age UK Hertfordshire and Citizens Advice both help free of charge.
Paying for our visits
Our standard rate is £33 an hour on weekdays, with a two-hour minimum visit. Many families use Attendance Allowance to cover two hours of company a week and still have money left over.
There is no joining fee, no assessment fee and no contract. You can change or stop with one week's notice.
Read our full prices page.