Many families miss Attendance Allowance, a weekly benefit for people over State Pension age who need help with personal care or supervision because of a disability or long-term illness. It is not means-tested and does not depend on having a carer.
Who may qualify
Anyone over State Pension age who has needed help for at least six months (this can be waived for a terminal illness) because of a physical or mental condition. It is paid at two rates depending on the level of need.
What it can add
It is not intended to cover the full cost of care, but it can meaningfully offset weekly fees and is often overlooked precisely because it isn’t automatically applied for.
How to apply
Apply directly — no assessment visit is usually required, though a GP or social worker can help complete the form with accurate detail about the person’s daily needs.
How to use this guide in practice
Don’t read this as general information — use it as a worksheet. Write down the details of the person who needs care, the current limits of the situation at home, the monthly budget, the documents you already have, whether a local-authority financial assessment may apply, and who you’ve already spoken with. Then turn every unclear point into a specific question. A family that arrives with a clear picture usually gets more useful answers than one calling under stress with scattered information.
Keep one simple rule: anything about admission, cost, funding, timelines and whether a care home fits must be confirmed directly with the care home or the competent authority serving your area. This guide prepares the search — it does not replace official decisions.
Want a clear shortlist before you start calling?
If you don’t know which care homes to contact first, Curalune Care Help can prepare an ordered shortlist of 3–5 suitable options — with CQC ratings, contacts, useful links and a ready-to-send inquiry.
The service helps you organise the search. It does not replace the care home’s own assessment and does not guarantee admission, price or bed availability.
Important limit
Curalune offers practical help with the search and orientation. Admission, pricing, bed availability and the final assessment always rest with the care homes and the competent authorities (the local authority, the NHS, the Care Quality Commission).