1.1million people with a disability could claim up to £5,644 extra a year – check if you’re eligible --[Reported by Umva mag]

Around 1.1million people in the UK living with a disability are missing out on £5,644 extra a year in benefit payments. Attendance Allowance is a payment handed out by the Government to help those above State Pension age living with physical and mental illnesses. Young carer walking with an elderly woman in the parkGetty How much you receive depends on the severity of your disability, with the maximum payment working out as £434.20 a month. However, a recent report by Policy in Practice found that 1.1million people may be missing out on the cash boost. If there is a chance you or someone you know could claim the benefit then it is important to check your eligibility. To qualify for the benefit, you must be aged 66 or over and live with either a mental or physical disability, or you require help looking after yourself. You also must have been experiencing these issues for at least six months. If you live in a care home, you can only claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself. If you do need an assessment, you’ll get a letter saying why and where you must go. During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you. If you are confused about your eligibility, it is worth getting in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions (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 may be eligible for this if you require help or constant supervision during the day or at night. The higher rate of £108.55 a week is given to those who require supervision throughout both day and night, or if a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life. This works out as £434.20 a month or £5,644 a year. 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 does the state pension work? AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046. The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age. But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record. For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings. The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records. Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension. You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit. If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions. To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits. You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension. 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 use a number of online calculators including on the EntitledTo and Turn2us websites.

Sep 25, 2024 - 06:34

1.1million people with a disability could claim up to £5,644 extra a year – check if you’re eligible --[Reported by Umva mag]

Around 1.1million people in the UK living with a disability are missing out on £5,644 extra a year in benefit payments.

Attendance Allowance is a payment handed out by the Government to help those above State Pension age living with physical and mental illnesses.

a woman with her arm around an older woman 's shoulder — Young carer walking with an elderly woman in the park

How much you receive depends on the severity of your disability, with the maximum payment working out as £434.20 a month.

However, a recent report by Policy in Practice found that 1.1million people may be missing out on the cash boost.

If there is a chance you or someone you know could claim the benefit then it is important to check your eligibility.

To qualify for the benefit, you must be aged 66 or over and live with either a mental or physical disability, or you require help looking after yourself.

You also must have been experiencing these issues for at least six months.

If you live in a care home, you can only claim Attendance Allowance if you pay for all your care home costs yourself.

If you do need an assessment, you’ll get a letter saying why and where you must go.

During the assessment, a medical professional will need to examine you.

If you are confused about your eligibility, it is worth getting in touch with the Department for Work and Pensions (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 may be eligible for this if you require help or constant supervision during the day or at night.

The higher rate of £108.55 a week is given to those who require supervision throughout both day and night, or if a medical professional has said you’re nearing the end of life.

This works out as £434.20 a month or £5,644 a year.

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 does the state pension work?

AT the moment the current state pension is paid to both men and women from age 66 - but it's due to rise to 67 by 2028 and 68 by 2046.

The state pension is a recurring payment from the government most Brits start getting when they reach State Pension age.

But not everyone gets the same amount, and you are awarded depending on your National Insurance record.

For most pensioners, it forms only part of their retirement income, as they could have other pots from a workplace pension, earning and savings.

The new state pension is based on people’s National Insurance records.

Workers must have 35 qualifying years of National Insurance to get the maximum amount of the new state pension.

You earn National Insurance qualifying years through work, or by getting credits, for instance when you are looking after children and claiming child benefit.

If you have gaps, you can top up your record by paying in voluntary National Insurance contributions.

To get the old, full basic state pension, you will need 30 years of contributions or credits.

You will need at least 10 years on your NI record to get any state pension.

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 use a number of online calculators including on the EntitledTo and Turn2us websites.

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