The DWP Attendance Allowance is worth up to £110.40 a week – this is what you need to know about the benefit and whether you are eligible to claim
Over a million pensioners are failing to claim thousands of pounds annually from the Government. Attendance Allowance, one of the most underclaimed benefits, is designed to financially support individuals who have reached pension age and suffer from long-term physical or mental health conditions or disabilities.
The benefit can provide up to £110.40 per week, equating to an annual sum of £5,740. Eligibility typically requires individuals to have a condition ‘severe enough’ to necessitate care or supervision from another person, having received such assistance for ‘at least six months’.
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Over a million Brits could potentially claim this additional income but currently do not. Claimants could receive £73.90 weekly for assistance during the day or night, or £110.40 if they require help both day and night, or if they are terminally ill.
The benefit is disbursed every four weeks, resulting in either £295.60 or £441.60 being deposited into accounts each time.
Beneficiaries have the freedom to spend the money as they see fit, which could assist them in maintaining their independence at home for a longer duration.
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning an individual’s income or savings do not impact eligibility, reports Birmingham Live.
Pension Credit, another benefit that supplements income for low-earning pensioners, is also significantly underclaimed. Approximately 800,000 pensioners fail to receive the ‘bonus’ payments despite being eligible.