State pension age Britons may be eligible for Attendance Allowance
Cost of living: Pensioners advised of two benefits to claim
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As living costs continue to spiral, Britons are being urged to check what other means of financial support they could be entitled to claim. Attendance Allowance is one of the DWP’s most underclaimed benefits, but it could be the benefit to really make a difference.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over state pension age who need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or a disability.
But, it’s thought that up to 3.4 million more pensioners are eligible for this support but aren’t claiming it, despite its wide eligibility.
What conditions qualify for Attendance Allowance?
Like all benefits, there are strict criteria claimants must adhere to and all of the following must apply in order to be eligible for the additional support.
As mentioned, claimants must be over the state pension age and have a type of disability or illness. This can include learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairments, mobility issues such as arthritis, or mental health issues such as dementia.
People could also apply if they have difficulties with smaller, personal tasks, experience pain or need physical help.
It must also 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 and if claimants are terminally ill, the benefit can be claimed straight away.
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However, Britons don’t need to have had a diagnosis for their condition to apply for Attendance Allowance. As long as they’ve needed help or supervision, or have had difficulties for six months because of their condition, they can claim Attendance Allowance.
It should also be noted that 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).
How much is Attendance Allowance?
The amount eligible claimants receive is calculated based on how much help is required, not any current help the person does or doesn’t get.
However, the funds don’t need to be spent on care – they can be put towards other things like bills.
Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates, the lower rate and the higher rate.
People who need help during the day or at night could be eligible for the lower rate, which amounts to £61.85 per week.
Whereas people who need help during both the day and at night, or have a terminal illness, could be eligible for the higher rate amounting to £92.40 per week.
This isn’t a means-tested benefit, which means current savings or income won’t affect the claim, nor will it impact other benefits received – in fact, it could actually help with eligibility for other benefits, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
How to claim Attendance Allowance
Claimants need to fill out a form, clearly outlining the help they do need, as well as the help they don’t, in order to get the benefit.
To pick up an Attendance Allowance form, claimants can either call the helpline on 0800 731 0122 or download the form from the Government website, here.
Citizens Advice suggests it’s better to phone because: “Payments will be backdated to the date you phoned, as long as you return the form in six weeks.
“The date you need to return it by will be stamped on the form. If you download an application form, you’ll only be paid from the date that the DWP receive the form.”
Experts recommend people are very clear about the impact of the illness or disability and attach supporting information, such as GP letters or prescription lists, to the application.
Once submitted, the DWP may contact the person for more information or to arrange a visit to the doctor. From here, claimants will receive a letter confirming whether or not the benefit will be allocated.
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