The government is currently consulting on the future of Attendance Allowance, a financial benefit for over 65s which many people with cancer rely on. We want to show how important Attendance Allowance is for people with cancer to stay independent. If you or a friend or relative with cancer has benefited from Attendance Allowance, we’d love to hear from you. Please get in touch.
Attendance Allowance is a financial benefit available for people aged 65 or older who need help with everyday tasks because of a long-term illness or disability. Many people with cancer rely on it for help with things they can’t manage themselves, like getting around, preparing meals or washing and dressing. It’s vital for helping people to stay independent - for example if someone isn’t well enough to walk short distances, they might use their Attendance Allowance to pay for transport to get to the shops or the doctor. For others, it might afford them the freedom to visit family, or to help make sure they can afford to keep the house warm when they’re feeling the cold more as a result of their cancer.
“The list of reasons that involve my reliance on AA is legion and includes washing, bathing, dressing, cooking, laundry, ironing, cleaning; anything involving bending, climbing (ladders, steps), balancing; gardening, painting, DIY, repairs (particularly if overhead or ground level); lifting, carrying. I cannot manage without it.” Keith, Market Harborough
Attendance Allowance is a really important benefit for people affected by cancer. Over 60% of people with cancer are aged 65 and over, and we know the financial impact of cancer is significant: four out of five people living with cancer are on average £570 a month worse off as result of their diagnosis. Attendance Allowance is also important for carers, as if they are caring for someone claiming Attendance Allowance, they may be eligible themselves for additional support, such as Carer’s Allowance.
Attendance Allowance is currently administered in Great Britain by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). However, the government’s current consultation on Business Rates includes consulting on transferring the budget and responsibility for Attendance Allowance to local government in England, and to the government in Wales. Macmillan and others are very concerned about this, as it could make support much harder to access. Local authorities may not be able to meet the demand of their population, which could lead to cuts to the amount of money provided, or restrictions in eligibility. It could also lead to a ‘postcode lottery’, where some areas may have different eligibility criteria, or choose not to provide a similar payment to Attendance Allowance at all. It may also make it harder for carers looking after people aged 65 or over to claim Carer’s Allowance.
We’ll be responding to the consultation before the deadline in September to ask the government to keep the system as it is. We want to make sure the government knows that for many people with cancer who are aged 65 and over, Attendance Allowance makes a real difference to their lives and their ability to stay independent.
If you or a friend or relative with cancer has benefited from attendance allowance, we’d love to talk to you about your experience.
Please get in touch.
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