State pension: Britons could claim up to £356 per month for joint pain or other conditions

Martin Lewis gives details on claiming attendance allowance

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State Pension payments are made to Britons of an eligible age who have built up enough National Insurance contributions throughout their lifetime. For this reason, the amount of state pension a person receives is likely to vary dependent on their life circumstances. While the full state pension sum currently stands at £175.20, there are some who will not be receiving this amount for the very reason mentioned above.

In addition, the Government stated some will receive less than the full state pension sum if contracted out before April 6, 2016.

Whatever rate of state pension a person receives, getting an additional sum could provide very welcome financial support.

Many Britons who have reached state pension age may be able to receive Attendance Allowance, a payment specifically designed to assist with particular health conditions.

Attendance Allowance is designed to aid eligible individuals with extra costs if they have a disability or condition severe enough that they require someone to assist in looking after them.

However, Britons do not need to have someone caring for them in order to claim, which will cast the net of eligibility wider to those who need support.

Joint pain is just one of the conditions which affect a large number of people right across the UK, and so receiving Attendance Allowance could provide significant help.

The NHS describes joint pain as a very common problem across the UK, however main causes include injury or arthritis.

The issue could get worse as a person ages, and may affect just one joint or many. 

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The key issue with Attendance Allowance is how much joint pain and any other conditions a person may have affects them.

For this reason Attendance Allowance is split into two separate rate, depending on the level of help someone requires.

The lower rate of Attendance Allowance is £59.70 per week, and available to those who need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or alternatively supervision at night.

The higher rate of Attendance Allowance, however, is currently set at a weekly sum of £89.15.

This sum is intended to support those who need help or supervision throughout both day and night, or individuals who are terminally ill.

As a result then, someone who is claiming the higher rate of Attendance Allowance could get approximately £356 worth of support each month to assist with their needs. 

Across the UK there are some 1.4million people claiming Attendance Allowance, as demonstrated by DWP figures from early 2020. 

However, some may not be aware of Attendance Allowance, eligibility or how they can claim.

A person must have reached state pension age to receive Attendance Allowance, and the following must apply:

  • A person must have a physical or mental disability or both 
  • A person’s disability must be severe enough for them to need help caring for themselves, or supervision
  • The help must have been required for at least six months, unless the person is terminally ill

Individuals must be in Great Britain when making the claim in most circumstances, and also be “habitually resident” in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.

Some living in the EU or a European Economic Area (EEA) may also be able to claim Attendance Allowance but will need to seek further guidance on the Government’s website. 

Making a claim for Attendance Allowance is intended to be a quick and easy process for Britons to follow.

Eligible people should use the Attendance Allowance claim form to apply by post, which includes guidance on how to fill the form in.

This form can also be requested in alternative formats such as braille, audio CD  or in large print if required.

The sum can be backdated to the date a person makes a claim, either when the form is received or the date the enquiry line is called.

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