Millions of pensioners could claim £4,428 a year from the DWP

Attendance Allowance: Age UK helps man claim benefit

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Attendance Allowance is paid to people who have reached state pension age and have a health condition or disability that affects their everyday lives. Some 56 illnesses qualify for this benefit from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), yet it is the most underclaimed benefit in the UK.

As the cost of living crisis continues to make life difficult for many, there has never been a more important time for people to check their benefits entitlement.

Pensioners are the most likely group of Britons to be missing out on benefits from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), according to Age UK.

The simple explanation could be that some are unaware which health conditions make them eligible for this financial help.

At least 56 health conditions mean people would qualify including arthritis, asthma and dementia.

Pensioners could receive £61.85 a week if they need help or supervision during the day or at night.

The higher rate, of £92.40, is awarded if a person needs help during the day and overnight, or if they are terminally ill.

How much someone receives depends on how much their condition affects them, rather than the condition itself.

To qualify applicants must be able to demonstrate they have struggled with their condition for at least six months.

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Does Attendance Allowance affect pension credit?

Attendance Allowance is not means-tested and will not reduce someone’s entitlement to Pension Credit.

In fact it may even lead to an increase in other benefits.

Claimants might also be able to get their claim backdated if they can prove they have needed assistance for a while.

Age UK recently dispelled six myths preventing people from claiming Attendance Allowance. 

However, they can ask for help from Age UK who have produced some advice and tips for putting in a successful application.

When filling out the form, claimants should remember to clearly write about the help they need and don’t.

The DWP says 56 health conditions qualify for Attendance Allowance:

  • Arthritis
  • Spondylosis
  • Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
  • Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
  • Trauma to Limbs
  • Blindness
  • Deafness
  • Heart disease
  • Chest disease
  • Asthma
  • Cystic Fibrosis
  • Cerebrovascular Disease
  • Peripheral vascular Disease
  • Epilepsy
  • Neurological Diseases
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s Disease
  • Motor Neurone Disease
  • Chronic Pain Syndromes
  • Diabetes Mellitus
  • Metabolic Disease
  • Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
  • Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
  • Learning Difficulties
  • Psychosis
  • Psychoneurosis
  • Personality Disorder
  • Dementia
  • Behavioural Disorder
  • Alcohol and Drug Abuse
  • Hyperkinetic syndrome
  • Renal Disorders
  • Inflammatory Bowel Disease
  • Bowel and Stomach Disease
  • Blood Disorders
  • Haemophilia
  • Multi System Disorders
  • Multiple Allergy SyndromeSkin Disease
  • Malignant Disease
  • Severely Mentally impaired
  • Double Amputee
  • Deaf/Blind
  • Haemodialysis
  • Frailty
  • Total Parenteral Nutrition
  • AIDS
  • Infectious diseases: Viral disease – Coronavirus covid-19
  • Infectious diseases: Viral disease – precise diagnosis not specified
  • Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis
  • Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – precise diagnosis not specified
  • Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – Malaria
  • Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / precise diagnosis not specified
  • Infectious diseases – other / precise diagnosis not specified
  • Cognitive disorder – other / precise diagnosis not specified
  • Terminally Ill.

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