We Stood Up For Your Benefits Today

July 13, 2016

Today (Wednesday 13 July) Parkinson's UK, alongside other patient organisations and charities, spoke to MPs in Parliament about the value of Attendance Allowance, and how important it is to protect it from being devolved to local authorities.

It's absolutely vital that Attendance Allowance remains a nationally provided benefit, so everyone can get the support they need.

Phil Reynolds, Policy and Campaigns Advisor

We talked to around 24 MPs from across the parties, alongside policy experts from Carers UK, Age UK, Arthritis Research UK, Deafblind UK, the Motor Neurone Disease Association and the RNIB.

We discussed how well Attendance Allowance supports around 36,000 older people with Parkinson's and helps them manage the cost of their disability.

A person with Parkinson's who receives Attendance Allowance explains: "As my Parkinson's is beginning to deteriorate I can't always walk very far, so I can now afford to pay for taxis to get to the shops and doctors."

Under threat

Attendance Allowance is currently provided across the UK by the Department for Work and Pensions.

However, the government has recently announced proposals to give responsibility for Attendance Allowance to local authorities in England, which they would have to pay for from local business rates – money generated from non-domestic properties in the area.

Although people currently in receipt of the benefit will be protected, we're gravely concerned this could mean that many people with Parkinson's will lose access to this support in future.

We fear that some local councils with a higher proportion of older people won't be able to meet demand if they have to pay for it from local business rates, while others may choose not to provide the benefit at all, creating a postcode lottery.

Parkinson's UK Policy and Campaigns Advisor Phil Reynolds said:

"Today we talked to lots of MPs from across the political spectrum about how well Attendance Allowance works for people with Parkinson's, and the huge risks of devolving it to local authorities.

"It's absolutely vital that Attendance Allowance remains a nationally provided benefit, so everyone can get the support they need."

http://www.parkinsons.org.uk/news/13-july-2016/we-stood-your-benefits-today