Martin Lewis is encouraging pensioners to verify their eligibility for Attendance Allowance.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit provided to individuals over the state pension age who require additional assistance due to illness or disability. There are two distinct rates - £72.65 or £108.55 per week - which are determined by your personal situation.
This implies that you could receive up to £434.20 every four weeks, or £5,644.60 annually. The lower rate is given to those who need assistance during the day or night, while the higher rate is for those who require help both during the day and at night, or who are terminally ill.
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For instance, you might need assistance with tasks such as dressing, eating or drinking, using the toilet, or additional support to ensure your safety. If everyday tasks take a long time, cause pain or discomfort, you could also be eligible.
You may qualify if you have a physical disability, mental disability, or both, and your condition has required help for at least six months, reports the Mirror.
You don't need to have a carer or someone taking care of you to claim Attendance Allowance, nor is it dependent on your income or savings. Instead, this benefit is awarded based on the help you need, not the help you actually receive.
An estimated 1.1 million individuals are not claiming the attendance allowance they're entitled to, reveals Policy In Practice. A reader shared their success story with MoneySavingExpert.com, where Andy detailed: "Following your advice, my mother-in-law was granted £73/wk plus £727 backdated to the time of application."
"They then reassessed her Pension Credit as she's severely disabled, increasing it by £36/wk with a £1,010 backpayment. Overall, an annual increase of £7,956. She's 89, lives alone, and is recovering from a hip replacement. Thank you - that'll allow her to employ a cleaner for a couple of hours, and get her out the house to see people, socialise and live independently."
For those looking to claim, the Attendance Allowance claim form can be printed off and sent to: Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance. Alternatively, the Attendance Allowance helpline can provide a claim form upon request at the following numbers:.
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