Attendance Allowance is a valuable benefit for older people who need extra help or supervision due to a disability or health condition. But if you have to move into residential care, you may wonder, “Can you get Attendance Allowance in a care home?” The short answer is yes, but with certain conditions. Let’s explore what you need to know about Attendance Allowance in a care home.

 

Can You Claim Attendance Allowance in a Care Home?

If you are paying for all of your care home fees privately, you can claim Attendance Allowance while living in a care home. This is because Attendance Allowance is intended to help cover the cost of personal care such as help with washing, dressing or eating which still may be required while in a residential care setting. 

Attendance Allowance Eligibility

To qualify for attendance allowance in a care home setting, you must meet certain eligibility criteria. These include:

• Age - You must have reached state pension age.
• Disability or illness - You must have a physical or mental disability or illness that requires regular help or supervision. This can include help with daily activities such as eating, dressing or managing medication.
• Care needs - You must have needed care or supervision for at least six months before applying. 
• Self-funded - If you pay for all of your care costs yourself, you’ll be eligible to claim for Attendance Allowance.
• Habitual residence - You must be a habitual resident of the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands. When you claim, you must have also been living in Great Britain for at least two of the last three years.

 

Who is Not Eligible For Attendance Allowance?

If your care home fees are being paid in full by the local authority or through NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), you cannot claim Attendance Allowance. This is because your care costs are already being funded, so the additional financial support provided by Attendance Allowance is not necessary. Some other reasons for not being eligible for attendance allowance are:

• Immigration status - You must not be subject to immigration control (except for sponsored immigrants).
• Receiving certain benefits - You cannot receive Attendance Allowance if you are already claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
• During an extended hospital stay - If you go into hospital for more than 28 days, your Attendance Allowance payments will stop since your care needs are being met by the NHS.

 

 

Does Attendance Allowance Stop When You Go Into a Hospice?

If you are self-funded and have to move into a hospice or palliative care home for end-of-life care, your Attendance Allowance will continue. If your palliative care is funded by the NHS, your Attendance Allowance payments will generally stop after 28 days.

If you are making a first-time claim for Attendance Allowance for a terminal illness, you may be able to receive it quicker and at a higher rate. Find out more about claiming Attendance Allowance if you are nearing the end of your life. 

 

Help Navigating Attendance Allowance and Care Homes

Understanding the criteria for Attendance Allowance can be overwhelming especially when trying to ensure you get the right support in a care home setting. At Select Healthcare, we have a range of care homes offering specialist services with expert staff who can provide helpful advice.

 

If you’re exploring care home options and you need assistance with claiming Attendance Allowance, our dedicated team is ready to help. Contact us online for more information or call 01384 217900.

 

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