State pensioners who have certain health conditions can receive an additional £114.60 per week from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) through Attendance Allowance, provided they meet one of four or more qualifying conditions. This amounts to nearly £6,000 annually following an April increase.
Attendance Allowance Rates and Eligibility
The DWP raised the higher rate of Attendance Allowance from £110.40 to £114.60 per week in April, an increase of £218.40 per year. The benefit is available to anyone of state pension age who requires help with personal care due to an illness or disability. There are two weekly rates: the lower rate of £76.70 for those who need help during the day OR at night, and the higher rate of £114.60 for those who need help during the day AND night, or who are terminally ill.
According to Age UK, the payment is not means-tested and does not depend on income or savings. The charity states: "The money you receive isn't taxable or means-tested – so your savings or income won't affect your claim. Claiming also won't affect any other benefits you receive. In fact, it can help you get other benefits such as Pension Credit, Housing Benefit, or council tax reduction."
Conditions for Claiming
To qualify, claimants must be of state pension age and have any type of disability or physical or mental illness, including sight or hearing impairments and conditions like dementia. They must also need help with personal care, such as washing or dressing, or supervision to stay safe during the day or night. Additionally, the need for help must have lasted at least six months, unless the claimant is terminally ill, in which case they can apply immediately.
Age UK adds: "You have any type of disability or physical or mental illness, including sight or hearing impairments and conditions such as dementia. You could benefit from help with personal care, such as getting washed or dressed, or supervision to keep you safe during the day or night. You've needed help for at least six months. This doesn't apply if you're terminally ill, in which case you can make a claim straight away."
Martin Lewis on Qualifying Conditions
On a previous episode of The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV1, financial expert Martin Lewis explained that a legal precedent from 1981 defines the kind of help that qualifies for Attendance Allowance. He said: "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."
Lewis listed four conditions that are likely to qualify: Parkinson's disease, physical disabilities, dementia, and terminal illness. He added: "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."
