Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of the transfer of attendance allowance to local authorities on older disabled people who apply for that allowance as a result of terminal illness under special rules currently in place; and whether fast track systems for applicants in similar circumstances will be available under future arrangements for that allowance.

The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention”, published 5 July 2016, sets out that the Government will consider giving more responsibility to councils in England to support older people with care needs – including people who, under the current system, would be supported through Attendance Allowance.

Any new responsibilities would be matched by the transfer of equivalent spending power. Any new policy would not affect existing claimants or any passported support they receive, including those already in receipt of Attendance Allowance due to the special rules in place for the terminally ill. Any localisation proposals would not affect those already in receipt of Attendance Allowance who currently live outside the UK. Those claiming or in receipt of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment would not be affected by any change.

The consultation “Self-sufficient local government: 100% business rates retention” closes at 12.00am on 26 September 2016, and is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/self-sufficient-local-government-100-business-rates-retention.

This is an open consultation and all interested parties are invited to respond. The Government would consult further, including on any models and the impacts associated with them, in good time if any changes are proposed.