Martin Lewis has renewed his call for pensioners who may be eligible to check whether they are missing out on thousands of pounds each year through an "underclaimed" state benefit known as Attendance Allowance, which could be worth up to £5,959 annually.
Who is eligible for Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance, intended for individuals aged 66 and over who have disabilities or serious health conditions requiring regular care, is managed by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The benefit is offered at two rates—either £76.70 or £114.60 per week—depending on the level of care needed, potentially providing an additional £3,988.40 or £5,959.20 annually.
Significantly, eligibility for Attendance Allowance is not based on income or savings, meaning all qualifying claimants receive the payment regardless of their financial situation.
Lewis's warning on the underclaimed benefit
Mr Lewis stated: "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."
He added: "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."
Qualifying conditions and payment details
He warned that those claiming particular benefits aren't 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."
To qualify, claimants need to have needed help or supervision for six months. Help means help with daily living; supervision means avoiding dangers to yourself. Mr Lewis explained that claimants do not actually have to be receiving the help—they just need to need it.
He referenced a definition from Lord Denning, Master of the Rolls in 1981, which covers help with bodily functions including breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, walking, sitting, sleeping, getting in or out of bed, dressing, undressing, and eliminating waste products.
A broad range of common medical conditions could make people eligible, including arthritis, sight problems, heart conditions, Parkinson's disease, and respiratory issues like asthma. The DWP confirms that while the benefit is intended to help with care costs, recipients have total discretion over how they spend the money.
