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Commissioner urges rethink on Attendance Allowance
16.11.09
16 November 2009
Ruth Marks, Commissioner for Older People in Wales is urging the UK Government to rethink their plans to incorporate Attendance Allowance into the general social care budget. Whilst the proposed changes would not impact on current claimants of Attendance Allowance, they would on future claimants.
Ruth has received numerous representations from older people about the value of Attendance Allowance, which is a non means tested benefit aimed at helping people with the additional costs of disability.
Ruth is today submitting a policy position paper in response to the UK consultation to support these calls from older people. Ruth Marks commented “I welcome the intention behind the consultation to create a fairer and more consistent system. However, when I began my role I made it clear that I wanted to listen to older people and they have told me in no uncertain terms that Attendance Allowance is a valuable benefit that enables people to maintain their independence and should be protected for the future.
“Attendance Allowance is a flexible benefit and people can choose what is important to them. It is important to remember many older people are not well off and this money can make a real difference, helping people get to the shops if they cannot access public transport, or helping save up for vital equipment if someone has a bad back. It is given on the basis of need and many who are in receipt of this benefit would not be eligible for social care.”
Whilst social care is devolved to Wales the benefits system is not. We are awaiting a consultation on the future of care in Wales from the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Commission urges the UK Government to look at the future of Attendance Allowance. Ruth concluded “The Government will need to make a coherent and convincing case on how the support provided by Attendance Allowance will be delivered by the proposed National Care Service to ensure that older people in the future do not lose the benefit the current system provides.”
