Over the last few years, more and more pensioners have been pushed into poverty, with many of them just about living on the breadline and with the cost of living rising again in April, many more may need some extra help
Older Brits on low incomes can get up to £10,000 a year by claiming these two Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) benefits.
The cost of living will once again rise in April, with council tax bills, water rates, and energy bills set to increase. These increases will hit millions of Brits very hard, particularly those with fixed incomes, such as pensioners. Over the last few years, more and more pensioners have been pushed into poverty, with many of them just about living on the breadline.
If you are a pensioner on a low income, there are official things to claim which can help you manage the everyday costs and according to recent data, around 1.8million people are missing out on the extra help. The DWP currently offers two benefits that you can claim when you are over the state pension age. These are Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance and together they are worth a combined total of up to £9,600 now, rising to nearly £10,000 after April.
Below we detail the two DWP benefits, including how much you can get, who is eligible, and how to apply.
Pension Credit
Pension Credit is a benefit available to people who have reached the state pension age of 66 and tops up your weekly income to £218.15 a week if you are single, or to £332.95 if you’re in a couple. The benefit is also described as a “gateway benefit” as when you claim you can also get other things such as a free TV licence and free dental treatment.
The DWP say this boost is worth up to £3,900 a year on average and can boost your annual income by around £4,200. Pension Credit is made up of two parts, the Guaranteed Credit, and the Savings Credit. Guaranteed Credit tops up your weekly income to the minimum guaranteed level, and Savings Credit is a small top-up for people who reached state pension age before 6 April 2016 and who have a modest amount of income or savings.
To successfully get Pension Credit in the UK, you need to meet the following criteria:
- You must have reached the State Pension age, which is currently 66 or older
- You must live in the UK
- Your weekly income should be below £218.15 if you’re single, or £332.95 if you’re in a couple. If you have a disability or caring responsibilities, you might still qualify with a slightly higher income
- If you have savings and investments over £10,000, each £500 above this amount counts as £1 in additional income per week when calculating eligibility. For example, if you have £11,000 in savings, this counts as £2 income a week
You can apply for Pension Credit online on the Government’s website, by calling 0800 99 1234, or by printing out and filling in a paper application form. You can get a friend or family member to ring for you, but you’ll need to be with them when they do.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit for those over the state pension age of 66 years. The benefit is designed to help older Brits stay independent in their own homes for longer.
There are two rates to Attendance Allowance – a higher and a lower – and the amount you get is dependent on how much care and support you need throughout the day and night. Right now, the lower rate is worth £72.65 and the higher rate is worth £108.55 a week. If you are eligible for the higher rate for both, then you could be paid over £430 a month or over £5,600 a year. If you get the lower rate, you can get over £3,770 a year.
From April, when benefits are uplifted by 1.7%, the higher rate of Attendance Allowance will be worth £110.40 per week, while the lower rate will be worth £73.90 per week. After the rise, you could get £5740 over a year if you’re eligible for the higher rate and £3,842 for the standard.
Like the disability benefit Personal Independence Payment (PIP), there is no set condition that makes you eligible for Attendance Allowance. It is dependent on the care/support you need to manage day-to-day life. This can be help with getting washed and dressed, medical treatment, going to the toilet, mealtimes, or help because you get confused. If you are terminally ill and not expected to live more than 12 months there is a quicker application process and you will be eligible for the higher rate.
You do not need a carer to claim Attendance Allowance, and you also don’t even need to have a diagnosis for your condition to apply. According to the DWP, as long as you’ve needed help or supervision or have had difficulties for six months because of your condition, then you can claim. Attendance Allowance is also not means-tested – so what you earn or how much you have in savings will not affect what you get.
It should be noted that you won’t be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already receive Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
You can apply for Attendance Allowance through the Gov.uk website or by calling the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request a claim form. When filling out the form, you’ll need to explain how your illness or disability affects your life, you will also need to provide evidence alongside the form.