Providing social security support for people with Alzheimer’s

Thursday 21 September is World Alzheimer’s Day, a time when people come together from to raise awareness and challenge the stigma around the disease. To mark the day, we are urging people diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and their carers, to check if they are eligible for our disability and carer benefits.

Although Alzheimer’s is associated with older people around 5% to 6% of people in the UK with Alzheimer's disease develop symptoms before age 65. It is a physical illness that damages a person’s brain and can eventually cause dementia.

The first noticeable symptom is often memory problems and people may find it difficult to recall recent events or conversations. This can mean that individuals become unable to recognise loved ones, make decisions for themselves or carry out everyday tasks like eating or moving around without assistance.

Applying for Adult Disability Payment

People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s may be entitled to extra financial support via Adult Disability Payment. This could be used to cover basic costs such as travel, energy or food.

It could also help pay towards more specialist items, like alarms to remind someone that food is ready or to take their medications, or to alert family members if a person has left the house.

If the person applying is over state pension age, then they should apply for Attendance Allowance which is delivered by the DWP. Pension Age Disability Payment will replace Attendance Allowance in a phased approach from Autumn 2024 and provide financial support to help with personal care for individuals of state pension age and over with a physical or mental disability.

When processing disability benefit applications, our client advisers can access advice from our team of experienced health and social care practitioners. This means decisions are supported by people who have a full understanding of how Alzheimer’s can impact on daily life.

Stephanie Mcgibbon, Senior Practitioner supporting Adult Disability Payment applications said:

“As an Adult Disability Payment Senior Practitioner, it is my role to ensure that health and social care practitioners processing applications have the relevant experience to assist with the making decisions.

“This might include the practitioner having a conversation with the client adviser and giving a clinical perspective on the application. In some cases, a face-to-face consultation may need to take place with the person applying. This is again carried out by a practitioner with the most relevant experience who has a full and accurate understanding of how different conditions can impact people’s daily life so that decisions on applications reflect the individual needs of the person applying.”

Support for carers supporting people living with Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer’s can affect not only the person diagnosed, but also their family and friends. If you care for someone impacted by dementia, then there is help and support available for you too.

Social Security Scotland delivers Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which is an automatic payment made twice a year to people who already get Carer’s Allowance from the DWP.

Someone who cares for a person with Alzheimer’s, could be entitled to this payment. Carer’s Allowance will soon be replaced by Carer Support Payment in Scotland.

To find out more about these benefits and apply online, over the phone or book an appointment to apply in-person, people can visit mygov.scot/benefits or call us free on 0800 182 2222.