Do you get disability living allowance in a care home?

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a financial support given to individuals who need help with personal care or mobility due to a disability. For those moving into a care home, a question that often pops up is: do you get disability living allowance in a care home?

The rules surrounding DLA in a care home can be complex, as the amount you are eligible to get may change depending on who is paying for your care.

It is also worth noting that the DLA itself is changing. This blog explores how living in a care home affects your entitlement to disability benefits and provides guidance on what to do if your DLA payments are impacted.

What is Disability Living Allowance (DLA)?

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a government benefit designed to help individuals with disabilities manage the extra costs of their care and mobility needs.

It has two components: the care component, which helps with the costs of personal care and supervision, and the mobility component, which supports individuals with getting around.

The care component is based on the level of help needed with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and preparing meals, while the mobility component is determined by the level of difficulty a person has with walking or using public transport.

Do you get disability allowance living in a care home?

It is no longer possible to make new DLA claims. The benefit is gradually being replaced by other benefits such as Attendance Allowance and Personal Independence Payment (PIP). This means that regardless of your circumstances, if you are not currently in receipt of DLA, you will be unable to apply for it.

What are the alternatives to DLA?

Those over the state pension age may be able to apply for Attendance Allowance instead. This benefit helps those with severe disability with extra costs if they need someone to help look after them. It is tax-free and not means-tested, meaning your income or savings won’t affect your eligibility. Unlike some other benefits, Attendance Allowance does not include a mobility component and focuses solely on care needs.

Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?

To qualify for Attendance Allowance, you must be aged 65 or older and have a disability or health condition that requires regular help or supervision to keep you safe.

Your care needs must have been present for at least six months, although this waiting period is waived if you are terminally ill. The benefit is paid at two rates depending on the level of care required.

The lower rate (£68.10 per week in 2024) applies if you need frequent care during the day or night. The higher rate (£101.75 per week in 2024) is available if you require care both during the day and night or are terminally ill.

How Attendance Allowance helps

The allowance is designed to help cover costs associated with care, such as hiring a caregiver, purchasing mobility aids, or contributing to household expenses. While Attendance Allowance itself cannot be used directly to pay for care home fees, receiving it may open the door to other financial support or benefits such as winter fuel allowance, helping you or your loved ones better manage care-related expenses.

Applying for Attendance Allowance

To apply, you need to complete an application form available online or by contacting the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. When completing the form, it’s crucial to provide detailed information about your care needs, explaining how your condition impacts your daily life. Taking the time to give comprehensive and specific answers can improve the chances of a successful application.

Do you get Attendance Allowance living in a care home?

Now that we have effectively answered the question ‘do you get disability living allowance living in a care home?’, the next question you may have is whether you are able to get Attendance Allowance in a care home.

Under the current rules, you will usually be ineligible to receive Attendance Allowance if you live in a care home and your care is paid for by your local authority. However, you may still be eligible to receive the benefit if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.

Looking for a suitable care home?

If you are looking for a suitable care home, Autumna can help. As one of the largest directories of later life care in England, all you have to do is navigate over to the search bar on our homepage. After entering your area and selecting the type of care you need, you will be presented with a list of relevant care homes in your chosen area.

To narrow down the list even further, be sure to visit our shortlisting tool where you can answer a few quick questions to view a list of more bespoke care home matches.

Alternatively, you can speak to a friendly and knowledgeable member of our team on 01892 335 330 for more information.