Does Attendance Allowance Qualify For Free Road Tax?

By HuutiMoney
Page last updated: 24/08/2023 | Next review date: 24/08/2025
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If you are wondering whether or not claiming Attendance Allowance will qualify you for free Road Tax, you will find the answer to your question in the following blog post. In addition to this, we will explore options that can be availed by Attendance Allowance claimants to reduce their commuting costs or avail of free transport.

Does Attendance Allowance Qualify For Free Road Tax?

No, if you claim Attendance Allowance, it does not qualify you for free Road Tax. It is only if you claim any of the following benefits that you can claim free Road Tax or be exempted from Vehicle Excise Duty:

  • Armed Forces Independence Payment
  • Enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment
  • Enhanced rate mobility component of Adult Disability Payment
  • High rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance
  • High rate mobility component of Child Disability Payment
  • War Pensioners Mobility Supplement

However, you may qualify for exemption from the Ultra Low Emission Zone charge if you claim Attendance and are a Blue Badge holder as well.

Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested, disability benefit that provides financial assistance to individuals aged 65 or over who require frequent assistance with personal care due to a physical or mental disability. 

The primary reason why claimants of Attendance Allowance are not encouraged to drive on their own and there are no exemptions or discounts on Road Tax for them could be that they are generally not expected to be independent or manage to move around much on their own.

However, if you claim Attendance Allowance and use any of the following vehicles, your vehicle may be exempt from Road Tax:

  • disabled passenger vehicles
  • mobility vehicles and powered wheelchairs

What Concessions Can Blue Badge Holders Claiming Attendance Allowance Get?

If you are a Blue Badge holder claiming Attendance Allowance, you may be able to claim certain parking concessions. These include the following:

  • you can avail unlimited parking time on streets where parking meters or pay-and-display machines are placed
  • you can avail of unlimited parking in disabled parking bays on streets if a time limit is not displayed on a sign
  • you can park for up to three hours on single or double yellow lines without a ‘no loading’ sign

However, to avail of these concessions, Blue Badge holders claiming Attendance Allowance must follow some basic regulations. These are as follows:

  • your Blue Badge should be displayed the right way up
  • the Blue Badge must be visible when viewed through the windscreen
  • your Blue Badge is valid and has not reached an expiry date

What Are The Transport Concessions For Someone Claiming Attendance Allowance? 

There are quite a few transport concessions that someone claiming Attendance Allowance can benefit from. These include the following:

  • They can claim the Disabled Persons Railcard by providing a copy of their award letter. A Disabled Persons Railcard can help Attendance Allowance claimants to get a 30% discount on rail travel for themselves and a companion. This can help them save up to £91 each year and will cost them only £20 annually.
  • Attendance Allowance claimants can also apply for a disabled person’s bus pass and avail of free travel on buses.
  • Additionally, they can apply for a Disabled Persons Freedom Pass if they live in London. This will provide them with free travel in the city; whether they choose to travel by trams, National Rail services, the Underground or river services. Bus journeys are free nationally for Freedom Pass holders.
  • Attendance Allowance claimants who are unable to use public transport and are unable to drive a car can avail of community transport schemes that provide a social car, dial-a-ride, or a taxi card. For instance, they can use the ShopMobility scheme to get wheelchairs or scooters to shop around town centres.

Conclusion:

The above discussion helps to conclude that Attendance Allowance does not qualify its claimants for free Road Tax. However, there are many alternatives that they can opt for to reduce their transport expense while staying independent. These are summarised above and can be availed as per one’s requirements.

References:

Travel costs: Disabled people and carers – Car: Road tax exemption

Financial help if you’re disabled: Vehicles and transport – GOV.UK

Age UK response – GOV.UK