Attendance Allowance

rdf:langString Attendance Allowance

rdf:langString Attendance Allowance is a non-contributory Social Security benefit paid to elderly disabled people in the United Kingdom. It was introduced in the . The benefit is intended to provide support for those who live independently but might otherwise need to go into residential care. It is paid by the Department for Work and Pensions. The Social Security Contributions and Benefits Act 1992, integrated Mobility Allowance and Attendance Allowance into a new benefit Disability Living Allowance for people under 65. A claimant must show that they need help or have difficulty in connection with their bodily functions or need continual supervision. At night, supervision would have to involve someone being awake to watch over the claimant. Bodily functions are things that most people would do for themselves; they do not include things like cooking, housework or shopping, which many people have done for them. Such help must be needed frequently throughout the day, or during the night the attention required must be prolonged or repeated. Needs are assessed separately for the benefit and for eligibility for social care, which is run by local authorities. In 2015, the cost of the benefit was approximately £5 billion and 1.5 million people were receiving it.