DWP benefit older Britons can claim to boost | European Markets

State pensioners with sure common medical situations can recover from £100 a week by claiming Attendance Allowance.

The benefit is distributed by the Division for Work and Pensions (DWP) to people aged 66 and over who need help with personal care or supervision because of sickness or a incapacity.

The benefit has broad eligibility standards, but lots of of hundreds of people are believed to be lacking out regardless of qualifying for assist.

A report by Coverage in Follow estimated that, on the finish of 2023, £5.2 billion value of Attendance Allowance was going unclaimed.

The benefit is paid at two charges: the decrease price and the upper price.

The quantity eligible claimants obtain is calculated primarily based on how a lot help is required, not any present help the particular person does or doesn’t get.

How a lot is Attendance Allowance?

The decrease and better charges of Attendance Allowance paid each 4 weeks are:

• Decrease price: £72.65 per week
• Increased price: £108.55 per week.

These charges will increase by 1.7% in April in step with the broader benefit fee uplift introduced within the Chancellor’s Autumn Price range.

The transfer will see weekly fee charges rise to:

• Decrease price: £73.90
• Increased price: £110.40.

Individuals who need help during the day or at night time may very well be eligible for the decrease price, whereas people who need help during each the day and at night time or have a terminal sickness, may very well be eligible for the upper price.

The adjustments imply these entitled to the best price can now obtain round £434.20 per 30 days, which interprets to round £5,222.40 per yr, rising to £5,299.20 a yr after the uplift.

The money doesn’t need to be spent on care – it may be put in direction of different issues, resembling family payments. It additionally isn’t a means-tested benefit, which suggests present financial savings or income received’t have an effect on the declare, nor will it impression different advantages acquired.

Who’s eligible for Attendance Allowance?

To say Attendance Allowance, people should be over the state pension age of 66 and have a incapacity or sickness that impacts their each day life. This will embody situations resembling studying difficulties, sight or listening to impairments, mobility points like arthritis, or mental health situations resembling dementia.

Eligibility additionally extends to those that expertise difficulties with personal duties, resembling eating, consuming, getting washed or dressed, or requiring bodily help.

Candidates should have needed help for no less than six months. Nonetheless, if an particular person is terminally ailing, they’ll declare Attendance Allowance instantly.

Importantly, Britons do not need a formal prognosis to use. As long as they’ve needed help or supervision or confronted difficulties because of their situation for six months, they could be eligible.

Nonetheless, people who already obtain Private Independence Fee (PIP), Grownup Incapacity Fee (ADP), or the care part of Incapacity Living Allowance (DLA) aren’t eligible for Attendance Allowance.

The way to declare Attendance Allowance

To say, people need to fill out an Attendance Allowance kind, clearly outlining the help they do need, in addition to the help they do not.

To select up a kind, people can both call the helpline on 0800 731 0122 or obtain it from the Authorities web site.