The Department for Work and Pensions is urging those of State Pension age to check their eligibility for Attendance Allowance, which could provide them with extra weekly support
Pensioners could be missing out on a whopping £5.2 billion, with the elderly being urged to check their eligibility for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.
These include Attendance Allowance, which provides assistance with additional costs if you have a severe disability or health condition that requires someone else’s help for care. An award of Attendance Allowance can be worth up to £5,306 annually.
It’s crucial to maximise pension age income through benefit uptake to prevent harm, debt, or other crises. Extra income to assist with disability can significantly improve the lives of pensioners by ensuring adequate nutrition, warmth, and social participation.
Attendance Allowance also serves as a gateway to further sources of support and an increase in other benefits that the applicant may already be receiving. The allowance is paid at two different rates, and the amount you receive depends on the level of care you need due to your disability or health condition.
You could receive £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply: you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition and you’re State Pension age or older.
Attendance Allowance is one of the most underclaimed benefits due to lack of awareness. A Policy in Practice report stated: “Billions of pounds in unclaimed support is shocking at any time let alone during a cost of living crisis.
“Rising living costs together with relatively low UK pensions compared to many similar countries means that many pension age households now struggle to meet their basic outgoings. This issue is particularly acute in households in which a person has a disability and needs additional support to cope with day to day living.”
Claims are not backdated and start from the date of application so we advise potential claimants to make a phone claim as soon as possible, reports Birmingham Live. This can be done by contacting the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122.
