Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will make an assessment of the adequacy of Attendance Allowance for supporting people of state pension age or over who have (a) Parkinson's disease and (b) other long-term conditions.

Attendance Allowance is intended to help those with a severe disability who have long term care or supervision needs after they reach State Pension age. It provides a contribution towards the extra costs they face because of those care or supervision needs. It is also paid in addition to other support they may receive, whether that be through benefits, the NHS or Local Authorities.

Recipients will include people who have long-term health conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease. Entitlement to Attendance Allowance is based upon the care needs that the person may have as a result of their disability and is not specifically linked to the disability itself. Attendance Allowance is paid at different rates, with the higher rate paid to those who need help or supervision throughout both day and night. Most awards are made for an indefinite period, recognising it is a benefit intended to help those with long term care needs. Those getting the higher rate are receiving around £4800 a year, tax free, which can be paid in addition to other support a pensioner may receive such as the State Pension and Pension Credit.

And the Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor has made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.