DWP 'reviewing and improving' claim process for 1.5 million people

The Department for Work and Pensions has clarified Attendance Allowance and the claim process around the benefit. DWP Attendance Allowance is money for people over pension age who have care needs, the government explains on its website.

You may have care needs if you need help with activities of daily living, such as getting dressed, going to the toilet or having someone to look after you so you do not hurt yourself. In the House of Commons last week, SNP MP Drew Hendry asked: "To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what recent assessment his Department has made of the adequacy of the accessibility of Attendance Allowance claim forms?"

Paul Maynard MP replied to the MP, telling him: "DWP continuously reviews and improves the service for people who claim or seek to claim Attendance Allowance to ensure forms and services are accessible and responsive to citizen needs.

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"The Attendance Allowance claim form and accompanying notes are accessible and work on PC and MAC operating systems. They comply with Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1AA and are compatible with assistive software."

To get Attendance Allowance, you must usually have had care needs for at least six months. You must not be living in a council-funded care home or in hospital. You must be living in the UK when you make a claim for Attendance Allowance and the UK must be where you normally live.

It had 1.5 million claimants in August 2023. Also you must usually have lived in the UK for 104 of the past 156 weeks (two years out of the past three), according to charity Turn2Us. The lower rate is £68.10 a week. You get this if you need frequent care throughout the day or night

The higher rate is £101.75 a week. You get this if you need frequent care throughout the day and night or if you are terminally ill.