You could boost your income by nearly £6,000 a year if you can claim a DWP benefit, Martin Lewis has told ITV viewers. In a recent episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV1 and ITVX, the consumer finance guru urged state pensioners with long-term conditions to check if they’re eligible for Attendance Allowance.
He said the benefit could boost your income by up to £108.55 weekly. Put together that would add up to approximately £432 a month or £5,644 a year – and it’s set to increase again in April.
He stressed to viewers that it’s not means-tested, so eligibility is based on need rather than financial resources. Martin said: “This is for disabled or ill people of state pension age.
“We need to collectively work together to spread word on this one. Most importantly, Attendance Allowance is not means tested.
“They do not look at your means or how much money you’ve got. You’re either entitled to it or not entitled to it regardless of finances.
“It is for those who need help with daily living. Both mental and physical conditions.”
He also pointed out how significant this could be for pensioners, considering it doesn’t depend on any other income or savings, reports the Express. That is in contrast to provisions like the new and reduced Winter Fuel Payment.
How much can you get from Attendance Allowance?
Martin explained: “So let’s look at the amounts. If you need help during the day or in the night, but not both, it is the lower rate £73 a week so just under £4,000 a year.
“If you need help during the day and at night, that’s the higher rate, £109 a week, just under £6,000 a year. Now to be eligible for Attendance Allowance, you must have needed help for six consecutive months.
“This is crucially important. You must have needed help, not have got help. There are many people out there who need help but haven’t got help, which is why Attendance Allowance is there.
“So it is about the need, not the actuality of what happens.”
Could I be entitled to other benefits on top of Attendance Allowance?
Yes. The government says about Attendance Allowance that the benefit can also lead to being able to claim other benefits too. It explains: “Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
“You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance. You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.”
Martin then explained that to be eligible, there is a test precedent in law which defines the kind of help that is likely to warrant claiming the benefit and result in you being paid the money. He added: “What defines help?
“Well, the first one is help with daily living, and a famous old judge… in 1981 defined this and it still fits for today. This is help with bodily functions including breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, walking, sitting, sleeping, getting in or out of bed, dressing, undressing, eliminating waste products and the like.
“All of which an ordinary person who is not suffering from any disabilities does for himself. That is the definition of help which is needed.
“You can see the broad range of people who this would impact.” Martin then listed conditions which would be likely to qualify, adding: “This is common for people with Parkinson’s, or physical disabilities, dementia or terminal illness and more.
“You can apply on someone else’s behalf as long as they are capable of understanding or you can sign it for them if you have Power of Attorney.”
What are the DWP eligibility criteria for Attendance Allowance?
Their website states that you can get Attendance Allowance if you’ve reached State Pension age and the following apply:
- your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
- you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
- you have needed that help for at least 6 months
In addition, there are different eligibility rules if you are nearing the end of life (for example, due to a life-limiting illness). You might be able to get Attendance Allowance more quickly and at a higher rate, the DWP say.
But you must not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP). There are also criteria around UK residency, about which the DWP GOV.UK page says more.