MILLIONS of people are entitled to hundreds of pounds worth of free cash every month if they live with certain illnesses.
The benefit, known as Attendance Allowance, is handed out by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) and has a higher and lower rate.
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Those on the lower rate receive £72.65 per week, while those with more serious illnesses can get £108.55 per week. This works out as £434 a month.
Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) said that at the end of February 2024, some 1.7 million older people were claiming Attendance Allowance.
To qualify for the benefit, you must be of state pension age and live with either a mental of physical disability or you require help looking after yourself.
New figures from the DWP show that the highest number of people claiming the benefit are those living with arthritis.
Some 460,993 people who have the condition which impacts your joints have been receiving the support.
A further 167,366 who have dementia are also claiming the benefit, and some 118,570 people with heart disease are also getting the cash support.
You can read the 10 most common illnesses that lead people to claim Attendance Allowance below:
- Arthritis – 460,993
- Dementia – 167,366
- Heart Disease – 118,570
- Respiratory Conditions – 98,211
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints – 81,914
- Cerebrovascular Disease -72,870
- Back Pain – 71,020
- Visual Disorders and Diseases – 49,677
- Parkinson’s – 42,695
- Neurological Conditions – 33,812
It is important to remember that even if you do not have one of the above illnesses you could still be entitled to claim.
The DWP website states that you can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply:
- You have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both
- Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
- You have needed that help for at least 6 months
If you are confused about your eligibility it is worth getting in touch with the DWP to ask for their guidance.
You are still entitled to your state pension even if you claim this benefit.
How much can you get?
Those living with less severe disabilities can get up to £72.65 a week, which works out at £290 a month.
You can be eligible for this if you require help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.
The higher rate of £108.55 a week is given to those who require supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us’ benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto’s free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use Policy in Practice’s calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you’ll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
This works out as £434.20 a month.
If your circumstances change, you could get a different rate, so it is important to report any changes to the DWP.
You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance – check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit to see if you quality.
How do I claim attendance allowance?
To apply, you’ll need to download the attendance allowance form on the Gov.UK website and then send it by post.
It should be sent to the following address: Attendance Allowance Unit, Mail Handling Site A, Wolverhampton WV98 2AD.
If you’re unable to print the form yourself, you can call the attendance allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.
It’s worth applying, as you may get extra pension credit, housing benefit or a council tax reduction if you receive attendance allowance.
The application form is very long and asks for a lot of personal information.
If you think you’ll need help filling in the form, you should get a friend, relative or adviser to help you complete it if possible.
Entitled to has a full list of organisations that can help with claiming disability benefits on its website.
If you want to know if you are receiving the right amount of benefits, you can a number of online calculators including on the Entitledto and Turn2us websites.
