Attendance Allowance is an important part of the support disabled people receive from the government. However, there are plans to change the way it is distributed and AgeUK have launched a campaign to stop this happening. Here is a copy of the letter they are sending out to promote the campaign (sign up to their campaign here):
As we get older, many of us find ourselves living with a disability. This can often come with a higher price tag for day to day things – such as travel to appointments, specialist food, or help cleaning – that can help older people to remain healthier and independent in their own homes.
Attendance Allowance is a weekly payment that helps more than a million older disabled people in England meet some of the extra costs they face. But the future of this vital support is under threat from Government proposals to pass responsibility for it to councils.
This would have a devastating impact for older disabled people in the future, creating a postcode lottery of support and potentially leaving thousands of people to struggle by with no help at all. For many older people, this would mean losing their independence altogether.
But there is still time to stop these changes. We need your help to send a strong message to ministers not to go ahead with the proposals for Attendance Allowance.
Please sign our open letter.
Thank you,
Ceri Smith
Age UK Campaigns Team
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/campaigns