03/02/04 - Cumbria County Council Cabinet - Attendance Allowance

At today’s meeting of Cumbria County Council’s Cabinet, Leader Rex Toft made the following announcement:

“Some three years ago, the Cabinet agreed to a request from of Age Concern to provide funding to enable Age Concern to encourage more eligible people, especially older adults and people with disabilities, to apply for Attendance Allowance.  As Members will know, the basic Attendance Allowance is £39.35 (from 1stApril this year).

“Together with our own Home Care Assessments the results have been little short of remarkable.

“Thus far 2,515 new claims have been registered.  Members will also be aware that part of our Social Services funding from Central Government is influenced by the number of people receiving Attendance Allowance.  It has been calculated that so far this increased take up of Attendance Allowance has attracted over £940,000 in the Government’s assessment of what Cumbria needs to spend on Social Services.

“As Government grants follow this calculation Members will quickly appreciate the effect on our Revenue Support Grant.  It is the equivalent of nearly 1% on our council tax.

“In effect, there are two benefits - the increased cash which those receiving Attendance Allowance are now getting and the increased grant which this Authority will obtain from Central Government.

“I am sure Members will agree that, by any measure, this initiative has been hugely successful.”