Individuals dealing with chronic conditions like back pain or arthritis may be eligible for an additional £6,000 annually in state pension benefits.
Attention all Brits over state pension age who require assistance with daily living due to disabilities or health conditions! You may be eligible for the Attendance Allowance, a special benefit designed to help cover the costs of care and support.
The Attendance Allowance is paid at two rates: £73.90 or £110.40 a week, depending on the level of care needed. To apply, you can do so online or by post, without the need for a postcode or stamp.
Common qualifying conditions include severe physical disabilities, degenerative diseases, life-limiting illnesses, and severe frailty that impair a person’s ability to care for themselves independently. Examples of health conditions often considered include chronic disabilities and illnesses such as arthritis or back pain severe enough to need care, and advanced, progressive, or terminal illnesses such as incurable or terminal conditions, severe degenerative diseases, metastatic cancer, severe frailty, end-stage diseases like respiratory disease, heart disease, dementia, liver disease, renal failure, neurological diseases, and cystic fibrosis.
To apply, you'll need your National Insurance number, address and contact details, details of the disability or health condition, GP surgery or medical center, and care home, hospital, or hospice (if applicable). After you send your claim, you'll receive a text or letter within three weeks explaining when you can expect a decision.
If you prefer to apply by post, you can print and send the Attendance Allowance claim form or contact the helpline to request a claim form. It's important to note that if you are an appointee or have power of attorney for the person trying to claim, you cannot apply online.
Claiming Attendance Allowance won't reduce any other income received, and it may even increase other benefits, such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
Attendance Allowance is not a means-tested benefit, meaning it doesn't consider state pension, other pensions, or savings. If you're awarded Attendance Allowance, the decision letter will tell you when you'll get your first payment. Once a decision is made, you'll receive a letter explaining the outcome.
Thousands of state pension age Brits are already claiming the Attendance Allowance for conditions like back pain, arthritis, and spondylosis. If you find the application process challenging, there are charities like Mencap, Age UK, and Turn2Us that can help you apply for Attendance Allowance.
According to benefits expert David Samson at anti-poverty charity Turn2Us, Attendance Allowance is a valuable resource for those in need, and it's essential to apply if you're eligible.
To send your completed form, simply address it to Freepost, DWP Attendance Allowance. Don't forget to include all the necessary details, and you'll be on your way to receiving the support you deserve.
- If you're over the state pension age and have disabilities or health conditions that require assistance with daily living, you may be eligible for the Attendance Allowance, a special benefit in personal finance that can help cover care and support costs.
- Claiming Attendance Allowance won't affect any other income you receive, and it might even increase benefits like Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction.
- The Attendance Allowance is a valuable resource for those in need, and it's essential to apply if you're eligible, according to benefits expert David Samson at anti-poverty charity Turn2Us.
- To keep updated on personal finance matters, including changes to benefits like the Attendance Allowance, consider subscribing to a newsletter or following financial news on science, health-and-wellness, aging, and other relevant topics.
