Financial expert Martin Lewis has issued a fresh appeal urging pensioners who may qualify to investigate whether they are missing out on thousands of pounds annually through an “underclaimed” state benefit.
Attendance Allowance, designed for individuals aged 66 and over living with disabilities or serious health conditions requiring regular assistance, is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The benefit offers two levels of payment, either £76.70 or £114.60 per week, depending on the degree of support required — which could provide an additional £3,988.40 or £5,959.20 each year, and crucially is not means-tested.
Notably, eligibility for Attendance Allowance is not determined by income or savings, meaning all qualifying applicants receive the payment regardless of their financial circumstances.
Mr Lewis has said: “So 1.1 million people potentially in the UK-State Pensioners, you have to be of state pension age, are missing out on Attendance Allowance. Now, that 1.1 million number is one from myself and my team, and Policy in Practice have worked out it is not a government figure.
“Now, this is a payment that helps you if you need help-it’s to give you extra money if you need help and support. Crucially, it isn’t means-tested, so they don’t look at how much money you have. It’s pretty binary: you either qualify for it or you don’t qualify for it.”
He cautioned that those receiving certain benefits may not be eligible: “I should say, if you’re entitled to PIP (Personal Independence Payment) or Disability Living Allowance, you can’t get both, and they tend to be better for you, so you wouldn’t want it.
“Now, to qualify for this, you need to have supervision for six months. So help or supervision for six months, I should say. Help means help with daily living; supervision means avoiding dangers to yourself. Now, the daily living one, just to give people what this is all about: what does help mean? You don’t actually have to be getting the help, you just need to need help.
“This is from Lord Denning, who was Master of the Rolls back in 1981, if anyone remembers him. He was a quite famous judge at the time. He defined the type of help that is still generally, loosely used as what we’re talking about. It means 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 disability does for himself or herself, obviously, although that’s not what was said.”
A wide variety of prevalent medical conditions could make individuals eligible for Attendance Allowance, including arthritis, visual impairments, heart conditions, Parkinson’s disease, and breathing difficulties such as asthma. There are two payment levels on offer, based on the degree of care required, with the higher rate delivering £114.60 per week and the lower rate providing £76.70.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirms that while the benefit is designed to assist with care expenses, claimants have complete freedom to use the money as they wish.
MSE reader Dawn shared her remarkable success story: “Dear Martin, after watching numerous shows I have successfully claimed Attendance Allowance for both of my parents worth £10,598/yr and Pension Credit worth £1,233/yr. This opened doorways to Housing Benefit worth £9,207/yr, Council Tax reduction of £1,534/yr, a free TV licence saving £169/yr and swapping their phone to BT saving £420/yr. They also received rebates of £3,449 for Housing Benefit and £604 for Council Tax. All in all, they are better off by more than £20,000/yr thanks to you and obviously me for completing the necessary applications! Thank you for everything you do.”
How to claim Attendance Allowance:
To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, individuals must have reached state pension age, which presently stands at 66. The benefit is accessible regardless of whether the claimant is already collecting their state pension, possesses savings, or continues in paid employment.
The application paperwork can be complex, although assistance is available from organisations such as Citizens Advice and Age UK, both of which provide guidance throughout the process and can help with online submissions. To be eligible, claimants must have a physical condition, mental health issue, or illness severe enough to require support for their own wellbeing or that of others, with this care having been necessary for at least six months.
The lower payment rate demands regular supervision or assistance during daytime or evening hours, while the higher amount is reserved for those requiring around-the-clock care or individuals nearing the end of their life.
Applicants must be living in Great Britain at the time of their claim and have been present in the country for a minimum of two years within the previous three. Decisions are typically made by DWP officials based on the information provided in the application form, making it vital to include all relevant details, such as a national insurance number, NHS number, prescription and hospital documentation.
The vast majority of applicants will not be required to attend an in-person assessment, though this remains a possibility. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states that if there is any doubt regarding how your disability or health condition affects your daily life, a healthcare professional will conduct an assessment.
It is important to be aware that Attendance Allowance cannot be claimed if you are already receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
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