Martin Lewis is urging pensioners to check if they’re able to claim Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit paid to people over state pension age who need extra help because of an illness or disability. There are two different rates that can be paid - £72.65 or £108.55 a week - depending on your personal circumstances.
This means you could get up to £434.20 every four weeks, or £5,644.60 a year. The lower rate is awarded to those who need help during the day or at night, while the higher rate is for those who need help during the day and at night, or who are terminally ill.
For example, you may need help such as getting dressed, eating or drinking, going to the toilet, or extra support so you stay safe. You could also be eligible if everyday tasks take you a long time, or cause you pain or discomfort. You may qualify if you have a physical disability, mental disability, or both, and your condition means you have needed help for at least six months.
You don’t need to have a carer or someone looking after you to claim Attendance Allowance, nor is it based on your income or savings. Instead, you are awarded this benefit based on the help you need, not the help you actually get.
However, an estimated 1.1 million people are missing out on attendance allowance, according to Policy In Practice. One person wrote to MoneySavingExpert.com to explain how his mother-in-law was able to backdate her claim. The reader, known only as Andy, said: "Following your advice, my mother-in-law was granted £73/wk plus £727 backdated to the time of application.
"They then reassessed her Pension Credit as she's severely disabled, increasing it by £36/wk with a £1,010 backpayment. Overall, an annual increase of £7,956. She's 89, lives alone, and is recovering from a hip replacement. Thank you - that'll allow her to employ a cleaner for a couple of hours, and get her out the house to see people, socialise & live independently."
You can claim by either printing off and sending the Attendance Allowance claim form to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. You can also call the Attendance Allowance helpline to request a claim form using the following numbers: