Millions of pensioners could be missing out on up to £4,800 a year by failing to claim Attendance Allowance. The benefit set out by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is paid every four weeks for eligible recipients.
People can claim if they’re over the state pension age – currently 66 – and need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or a disability.
The benefit could see their incomes increase up to £4,804.80 a year.
As the cost of living crisis continues, Britons are urged to check what benefits they may be entitled to.
David Samson, welfare benefit specialist at charity Turn2us, said: “Unclaimed benefits are a huge issue in the UK. Whether it is because of an overly complicated system, societal stigma or simply not knowing, there are many reasons why people miss out on their benefits.
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“We urge anyone who is unsure of what they are entitled to, to do a benefit calculation to see if there is anything they can claim.”
The benefit is known to have broad eligibility criteria but even still, 3.4 million more pensioners who would qualify aren’t making use of the added cash.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates, and the amount someone gets depends on their specific situation.
Claimants can get £61.85 or £92.40 a week to help with personal support if they are both physically or mentally disabled and state pension age or older.
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People could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if they get Attendance Allowance.
Individuals should check with the helpline or office dealing with their benefit if they qualify for the extra benefits.
Claimants are also eligible for the Government’s “Christmas Bonus”, which is awarded to people on certain benefits during the qualifying week, which is usually the first full week of December.
The Christmas Bonus is a one-off, tax-free, automatic £10 payment made before just Christmas.
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To apply, it must be clear that claimants could benefit from help with personal care, such as getting washed or dressed, eating and drinking, or needing supervision to keep them safe during the day or night.
Claimants must also have needed help for at least six months prior but if they’re terminally ill, the benefit can be claimed straight away.
Britons won’t be able to get Attendance Allowance if they already get Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Individuals are warned that if they give the wrong information or do not report a change in their circumstances to DWP, they could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty.
The DWP must be contacted straight away if:
- They go into hospital or a care home – they’ll need to provide the address, the dates they’ve been there for, and how their stay is paid for
- They leave the country for more than four weeks
- They go into prison.
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