Attendance allowance victory
The government has announced that it will not continue with proposals to make local councils in England pay for Attendance Allowance, a benefit that supports around 36,000 older people with Parkinson's.
We've been campaigning actively over the past 7 months to keep the benefit funded by central government.
Our concerns for Attendance Allowance
We were extremely worried that local councils with a higher proportion of older people wouldn't have been able to meet demand for the benefit if they had to provide it themselves.
This could have led to people with Parkinson's in certain areas not getting support when they needed it.
Why is Attendance Allowance important?
Attendance Allowance is a lifeline for older people with Parkinson's and enables them to pay for the extra costs associated with their condition, such as energy bills, help around the home and taxis to medical appointments.
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."
Parkinson's UK Policy and Campaigns Adviser Phil Reynolds says:
"Attendance Allowance plays a crucial role in keeping older people with Parkinson's independent for as long as possible. We're delighted that the government has listened to people's concerns."
Thank you
"I would like to thank all of our supporters, who have campaigned so tirelessly to demonstrate why financial support for people with Parkinson's is so vital."
If you have any questions about applying for Attendance Allowance, please call our helpline on 0808 800 0303, or read our information about Attendance Allowance.
If you'd like to get involved in our campaigns for a fairer benefits system, join our Campaigns Network.