Latest news with #StatePension
Daily Record
9 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Record
How long PIP payments really last and people most-likely to get a 'light touch' award
Nobody on PIP is given a lifetime payment award from the DWP. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is pushing ahead with proposed plans to reform Personal Independence Payment (PIP), specifically introducing a change to the eligibility rules that will come into force in November 2026 for new and existing claimants. DWP also said existing claimants will only be affected by the change at their next review, after the November implementation date. The latest data shows more than 1.6 million (44%) of all 3.7m PIP claimants have been issued with an award of five years or longer. The data indicates at the end of April, some 1,610,698 people in England, Wales and living abroad, have an ongoing award for a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. Some 65 per cent of people claiming PIP for a visual disease have been issued with an award for five years or more while more than half of all claimants with general musculoskeletal conditions (50.8%) such as arthritis, muscle or joint pain, have been given a longer award, along with 49.5 per cent of people with a neurological condition such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy. For people thinking about making a new claim for PIP, or Adult Disability Payment (ADP), it's important to be aware award lengths cary and can last between nine months and up to 10 years, however, DWP data only records awards given up to 'five years or longer'. The current edition of the PIP Handbook explains the decision maker will make an award of PIP based on the impact of the claimant's health condition or disability on their daily life and their ability to live independently. It adds: 'The length of award will be based upon each claimant's individual circumstances.' It's important to be aware the guidance from the DWP also says most claimants will have their award regularly reviewed, 'regardless of the length of the award' in order to make sure 'everyone continues to receive the most appropriate level of support'. Some claimants will be given a limited term award for a fixed period of up to two years - DWP says these awards will not be reviewed. Limited awards with no review date are given where the claimant's health condition may be reasonably expected to improve. Ongoing awards with a 'light touch' review A 'light touch' review is typically awarded to claimants who have: very stable needs which are unlikely to change over time high level needs which will either stay the same or get worse a planned award review date due on or at State Pension age a special rules for end of life claim due when of State Pension age The DWP guidance states: 'These claimants would not usually be expected to have a face-to-face assessment at review.' A successful claim for PIP is worth between £29.20 and £187.45 each week during the 2025/26 financial year - some £116.80 or £749.80 every four-week pay period. Over the coming year, this will see people on the highest awards receive £9,747 in extra cash help. It's important to be aware the maximum amount of £749.80 is based on someone in receipt of the highest award for both the daily living and mobility components. Six conditions with PIP award of five years or longer It's important to be aware people with different health conditions can be awarded PIP for up to five years or longer. The award is based on how the condition affects the claimant. The conditions listed below have the highest percentage rate of five-year or longer awards given to claimants at the end of April 2025. Visual disease 58,960 38,112 Musculoskeletal disease (general) 707,084 365,238 52% Neurological disease 476,659 252,214 Respiratory disease 138,428 66,647 Autoimmune disease (connective tissue disorders) 20,198 9,310 Musculoskeletal disease (regional) 447,794 202.317 46% Total number of PIP claimants 3,744,671 1,631,688 44% Below is an overview of PIP and ADP. Even though new claims for PIP have been replaced in Scotland by ADP, it shares most of the same eligibility criteria. Full guidance on ADP can be found on the website here. Who might be eligible for PIP or ADP? To be eligible for PIP or ADP, you must have a health condition or disability where you: have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months You usually need to have lived in the UK for at least two of the last three years and be in the country when you apply. In addition to what we have outlined above if you get or need help with any of the following because of your condition, you should consider applying for PIP or ADP. eating, drinking or preparing food washing, bathing, using the toilet, managing incontinence dressing and undressing talking, listening, reading and understanding managing your medicines or treatments making decisions about money mixing with other people working out a route and following it physically moving around leaving your home There are different rules if you are terminally ill, you will find these on the website here. DWP or Social Security Scotland will assess how difficult you find daily living and mobility tasks. For each task they will look at: whether you can do it safely how long it takes you how often your condition affects this activity whether you need help to do it, from a person or using extra equipment How are PIP and ADP paid? PIP and ADP are usually paid every four weeks unless you are terminally ill, in which case it is paid weekly. It will be paid directly into your bank, building society or credit union account. ADP is paid at the same rates as PIP. PIP and ADP payment rates You will need an assessment to work out the level of financial help you will receive and your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you are getting the right support. Payments are made every four weeks. PIP is made up of two components: Daily living Mobility Whether you get one or both of these and how much depends on how severely your condition affects you. You will be paid the following amounts per week depending on your circumstances: Daily living Standard: £73.90 Enhanced: £110.40 Mobility Standard: £29.20 Enhanced: £77.05 How you are assessed You will be assessed by an independent healthcare professional to help the DWP determine the level of financial support, if any, you need, for PIP. Face-to-face consultations for health-related benefits are offered alongside video calls, telephone and paper-based assessments - it's important to be aware the health professional and DWP determine which type of assessment is best suited for each claimant. You can find out more about DWP PIP assessments here. Adult Disability Payment assessments will not involve face-to-face assessments, unless this is preferred by the claimant - find out more about the changes here. How do you make a claim for PIP? You can make a new claim by contacting the DWP, you will find all the information you need to apply on the website here. Before you call, you will need: your contact details your date of birth your National Insurance number - this is on letters about tax, pensions and benefits your bank or building society account number and sort code your doctor or health worker's name, address and telephone number dates and addresses for any time you've spent abroad, in a care home or hospital How to apply for ADP People can apply ADP, over the phone, by post or in-person. To find out more or apply, visit the dedicated pages on here or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.
Daily Record
16 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
New call to scrap National Insurance deductions for working people aged over 60
National Contributions are no longer taken from wages when someone reaches State Pension age. Income tax rises for Scots in April - how the changes affect you A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to scrap National Insurance contribution deductions for workers over the age of 60. People automatically stop seeing NICs deducted from payslips when they reach State Pension age, which is currently 66, but set to rise to 67 over 2026 and 2028. However, petition creator Mike Haynes argues making workers over 60 exempt from paying National Insurance would 'make it easier financially for older people to survive'. He added: 'We are calling for this as many over-60s are struggling to survive due to what we believe has been incompetent government spending over the past 30 years.' The 'exempt workers over 60 from National Insurance payments' petition has been posted on the UK Government's Petitions Parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support, it would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, most-likely The Treasury. At 100,000 signatures, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament - you can read it in full here. Understanding National Insurance The Chartered Institute of Taxation explains National Insurance is a tax on earnings paid by both employees from their wages and by employers (on top of the wages they pay out), as well as by the self-employed (from their trading profits). Technically National Insurance is a social security contribution rather than a tax, but really, it's a compulsory payment taken from you by the Government, a lot like a tax. Most people stop paying National Insurance contributions after reaching State Pension age. However, you only pay Income Tax if your taxable income - including your private pension and State Pension - is more than your tax-free allowances (the amount of income you're allowed before you pay tax). This has been frozen at £12,570 since the 2021/22 financial year, but will rise with inflation on April 6, 2028. Even if you're still working, when you reach State Pension age you usually stop paying National Insurance contributions. If you continue to pay them, you can claim back any National Insurance if you have overpaid. Calls to unfreeze Personal Allowance An online petition calling for the personal tax allowance to rise from £12,570 to £20,000 to help people on a low income 'get off benefits and allow pensioners a decent income' was debated last month by MPs in Parliament after more than 271,800 people across the UK have shown their support for the proposal. An update from the UK Government, related to the potential impact of increasing the Personal Allowance to £20,000, looks set to crush any hopes people may have of seeing the income threshold freeze lifted before the planned rise with inflation in April 2028. In a written response to Labour MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi, Treasury Minister James Murray said the UK Government 'has no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £20,000'. Mr Murray said: 'The Government is committed to keeping taxes for working people as low as possible while ensuring fiscal responsibility and so, at our first Budget, we decided not to extend the freeze on personal tax thresholds. 'The Government has no plans to increase the Personal Allowance to £20,000.' He went on to explain how increasing the Personal Allowance to £20,000 would 'come at a significant fiscal cost of many billions of pounds per annum' adding this would 'reduce tax receipts substantially, decreasing funds available for the UK's hospitals, schools, and other essential public services that we all rely on'. The Treasury Minister continued: 'It would also undermine the work the Chancellor has done to restore fiscal responsibility and economic stability, which are critical to getting our economy growing and keeping taxes, inflation, and mortgages as low as possible. 'The Government keeps all taxes under review as part of the policy making process. The Chancellor will announce any changes to the tax system at fiscal events in the usual way.'
Daily Record
19 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Record
DWP breaks down Pension Credit barriers to help people claim £4,300 boost
A successful new claim for Pension Credit can unlock access to help with housing costs and Council Tax bills. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? To help more people over State Pension age access additional financial support over the coming months, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is continuing its efforts to increase take-up of an income-related benefit worth over £4,300 this year. More than 700,000 older people are estimated to be entitled to Pension Credit, but not claiming it as they wrongly believe that because they have savings or own their own home they would not be eligible for the income top-up. Pension Credit can provide a top-up for single people on the New State Pension who have a total weekly income below £227.10, or couples with a combined weekly income of less than £346.60. There are currently 1.4 million people receiving additional financial support through Pension Credit, including over 125,000 living in Scotland. The Scottish and UK Governments have announced that all pensioners born before September 22, 1959 with an income below £35,000 will receive winter heating help this year. Pension Age Winter Fuel Payments will be issued to Scots on November 30. Pensioner households aged between 66 and 79 will receive £203.40, while those aged 80 and over will be paid £305.10. Winter Fuel Payments will be issued to pensioners in England Wales. Pensioner households aged between 66 and 79 will receive £200, while those aged 80 and over will be paid £300. Even though winter energy bill help will be issued to the majority of pensioners this year, there are still benefits to claiming Pension Credit - access to the £150 Warm Home Discount Scheme, help with housing costs, Council Tax discounts and free TV licences for the over-75s. Barriers to claiming Pension Credit The DWP aims to break down barriers to claiming and busts some of the most common myths people may have to encourage them to think again about applying. Older people may wrongly think they are not eligible because they: have savings own their own home may be working may be getting a small occupational pension may have been turned down in the past Other factors may be that they: do not want to be seen as needing to claim feel that they're able to manage do not think it's worth applying - as the amount they get will be very small do not recognise themselves as a Pension Credit claimant have not got around to it think it's a complex and confusing subject already get other help and do not want to mess up the benefits they are getting Eight Pension Credit myths busted Having listed some of the main reasons people of State Pension age may be put off from claiming Pension Credit, the DWP has also busted eight common myths about the benefit. They do not think they will be eligible for Pension Credit False - some 1.4 million older people across Great Britain, including over 125,000 living in Scotland currently receive the extra financial support. They would get so little that it's not worth claiming False - DWP says the average Pension Credit payment is actually over £75 per week - that's well over an extra £3,900 per year. Plus, getting Pension Credit can provide a passport to help with things like rent, Council Tax, Winter Fuel Payment, Pension Age Winter Heating Payment (Scotland only), Winter Heating Payment (Scotland only), Cold Weather Payments (not Scotland) and a free TV licence for people aged 75 and over. They have savings, so will not qualify False - DWP explains that people can have savings or another pension and still get extra money. Unlike other income related benefits like Universal Credit, there is no capital cut-off limit and for Pension Credit savings of under £10,000 are ignored. They own their own home, so will not qualify False - DWP explains that homeowners can get Pension Credit too and that almost half of the people who get Pension Credit own their own home. They are not eligible for Pension Credit - it's for 'old' people False - People can claim as soon as they reach the qualifying age, which is now State Pension age - 66 for both men and women. They cannot get a State Pension, so they will not be eligible False - DWP said that they may be entitled to Pension Credit - even if they're not entitled to a State Pension. They have been turned down for Pension Credit before, so it's not worth applying again False - DWP said that personal circumstances could have changed and their income or capital may have changed as a result. The first £10,000 of savings will be ignored when working out if someone can get Pension Credit. It is too complicated and claiming is not worth the effort False - DWP has simplified the process and people can claim with one free phone call to the Pension Credit claim line. However, there are other ways to claim such as a paper claim form, which can be downloaded from the website or an online claim can be made - find out more here. Pension Credit Help to claim Quickest way to check eligibility for Pension Credit Older people, or friends and family, can quickly check their eligibility and get an estimate of what they may receive by using the online Pension Credit calculator on here. Alternatively, pensioners can contact the Pension Credit helpline directly to make a claim on 0800 99 1234 - lines are open 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. Expert help and advice is also available from: Independent Age Income Max Citizens Advice Age UK Below is an overview of the benefit including who should check eligibility, how to go about it, how much you could get and where to get help filling in the form. Who can claim Pension Credit? There are two types of Pension Credit - Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. To qualify for Guarantee Pension Credit, you must be State Pension age (66). Your weekly income will need to be less than the minimum amount the UK Government says you need to live on. This is £227.10 for a single person and £346.60 for a couple - this amount could be higher if you're disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. You can only get Savings Credit if: you reached State Pension age before April 6, 2016, or you have a partner who reached State Pension age before this date and was already receiving it you have qualifying income of at least £198.27 a week for a single person and £314.34 a week for a couple How much could you receive from DWP? Guarantee Credit tops up your weekly income to: £227.10 for a single person £346.60 for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting) You might be able to get more than this if you're disabled or a carer, or you have certain housing costs. Savings Credit can give you up to: £17.30 a week for a single person £19.36 a week for a couple (married, in a civil partnership or cohabiting). The exact amount you'll get depends on your income and savings. Your income includes assumed income from savings and capital over £10,000. Other help if you get Pension Credit If you qualify for Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as: Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in Council Tax discount Free TV licence if you are aged 75 or over Help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments Help with your heating costs through the Warm Home Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel Payments or Pension Age Winter Heating Payment A discount on the Royal Mail redirection service if you are moving house Mixed aged older couples and Pension Credit In May 2019, the law changed so a 'mixed age couple' - a couple where one partner is of State Pension age and the other is under it - are considered to be a 'working age' couple when checking entitlement to means-tested benefits. This means they cannot claim Pension Credit or pension age Housing Benefit until they are both State Pension age. Before this DWP change, a mixed age couple could be eligible to claim the more generous State Pension age benefits when just one of them reached State Pension age. How to use the Pension Credit calculator To use the calculator on you will need details of: earnings, benefits and pensions savings and investments You'll need the same details for your partner if you have one. You will be presented by a series of questions with multiple choice answer options. This includes: Your date of birth Your residential status Where in the UK you live Whether you are registered blind Which benefits you currently receive How much you receive each week for any benefits you get Whether someone is paid Carer's Allowance to look after you How much you get each week from pensions - State Pension, private and work pensions Any employment earnings Any savings, investments or bonds you have Once you have answered these questions, a summary screen shows your responses, allowing you to go back and change any answers before submitting. The Pension Credit calculator then displays how much benefit you could receive each week. All you have to do then is follow the link to the application page to find out exactly what you will get from the DWP, including access to other financial support. There's also an option to print off the answers you give using the calculator tool to help you complete the application form quicker without having to look out the same details again. Try the Pension Credit Calculator for yourself or your family member to make sure you're receiving all the financial support you are entitled to claim. Who cannot use the Pension Credit calculator? You cannot use the calculator if you or your partner: are deferring your State Pension own more than one property are self employed have housing costs (such as service charges or Crown Tenant rent) which are neither mortgage repayments nor rent covered by Housing Benefit How to make a claim You can start your application up to four months before you reach State Pension age. You can claim any time after you reach State Pension age but your claim can only be backdated for three months. This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time. You will need: your National Insurance number information about your income, savings and investments your bank account details, if you're applying by phone or by post If you're backdating your claim, you'll need details of your income, savings and investments on the date you want your claim to start. Apply online You can use the online service if: you have already claimed your State Pension there are no children or young people included in your claim Article continues below To check your entitlement, phone the Pension Credit helpline on 0800 99 1234 or use the Pension Credit calculator here to find out how much you could get.
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
DWP free bus passes in England and full list of everyone eligible
Amid controversial plans to cut disability benefits, many Brits are worried they'll lose their free bus pass. However, reports suggest millions may still be entitled to the perk Millions of Brits may still be eligible for a free bus pass, even if controversial cuts to disability benefits passes through parliament. The Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill, which has been described as 'catastrophic' by charities, aims to slash a staggering £5 billion from the welfare bill by 2030. Dozens of Labour MPs are poised to rebel against the brutal cuts when the bill is put to the vote in the coming weeks. However, even if these changes to disability benefit eligibility become law - many Brits could still benefit from free travel. According to Chronicle Live, the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme, which is dependent on disability benefit eligibility, could continue to offer free bus passes to those who have lost their benefit claim under new Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rules. READ MORE: Warm Home Discount explained as 2.7million households set for £150 energy help Following concerns that swathes of disabled people risk losing their right to a free bus pass amid the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) shakeup, reports suggest the wording of the Green Paper proposals implies that even if you lose your PIP, you might still be eligible for the concessionary travel scheme pass. Eligibility for the disabled concessionary travel scheme, offering free bus rides across England, traditionally hinges on PIP criteria. If you're eligible for the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP due to mobility issues, you're eligible for a pass even if you don't receive any payment from it. Other routes to a cost-free travel card include being of State Pension age, being a caregiver, or falling under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme banner. For those with disabilities, snagging a pass spells savings, benefits cuts notwithstanding. Grounds for a free travel pass also include being over State Pension age, a carer, or qualifying under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme. Applying as a disabled person is a cost-saving measure, even if benefits are cut. Eligibility for a reduced cost or free travel pass includes:. An older person who has reached their 66th birthday (current state pension age) Someone with a learning, speech, visual or physical disability under pensionable age A carer companion to someone who couldn't travel without your help Qualify under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme For disability qualification, you must have had a PIP assessment and show evidence of receiving the enhanced rate mobility component of PIP, or have scored at least eight points in "moving around" or "communicating verbally", reports Chronicle Live. Alternatively, presenting the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance can support your application. If you want to qualify as a disabled person for the scheme, you will still need to meet strict criteria. This includes being: chronically sick and disabled and suffering from any disability which permanently and seriously impairs your ability to walk permanently blind and unable to perform any duties for which sight is required assessed as having learning disabilities registered as profoundly deaf, with or without speech without the use of both arms, whether through the absence of limbs or otherwise unable to drive having had a driving license refused or revoked on medical grounds registered as partially sighted (where disability can be assessed by a Consultant Ophthalmologist) As previously reported, Londoners are also entitled to free travel when they turn 60 - using the 60+ London Oyster photocard. This is restricted to journeys within the city and includes: Free travel on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line (excluding between West Drayton and Reading) and most National Rail services in London. You can travel free on TfL services anytime Monday to Friday, except between 04:30-09:00. You can travel free anytime at weekends and on bank holidays. Discounted fares on River on Santander Cycle Hire.
Daily Record
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Older people with eyesight issues could be due up to £441 extra every month
Attendance Allowance or Pension Age Disability Payment can provide financial support for people who are severely short-sighted or have eye conditions. Pension Credit – Could you or someone you know be eligible? An estimated two million people across Great Britain are living with eyesight issues or a degenerative eye condition. Over 58,900 working age adults under 65 are receiving extra financial support through Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Adult Disability Payment (ADP), while more than 50,000 people over State Pension age are getting regular payments through Attendance Allowance. It's important for people over 66 in Scotland to be aware they can no longer make a new claim for Attendance Allowance and must apply for a new devolved payment instead. Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP) provides the same financial support as Attendance Allowance, but is administered and delivered by Social Security Scotland - full details here. Three out of four people with a visual impairment are aged over 65 with around 8,000 people of working age registered blind or partially sighted. For adults who lose their sight in later life, it can be very distressing as they feel they are no longer able to enjoy some of the activities they love to do, such as driving, taking part in sports, reading and cooking. Mobility can also be affected and with that may come independence and travel issues, although it's important to be aware that the dedicated disability benefit for people over State Pension age - Attendance Allowance - does not include a component for mobility needs. Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It currently provides extra financial support to over 1.6 million people across Great Britain, including 149,997 living in Scotland. Pension Age Disability Payment is now supporting 1,875 older people in Scotland. Both benefits are designed to help people of State Pension age with daily living expenses and can also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. Older people claiming Attendance Allowance for sight loss conditions The latest DWP figures show that in August 2024 there were 50,993 people receiving either £73.90 or £110.40 each week for a 'Visual Disorder or Disease'. This overall figure includes claimants in: Scotland: 4,654 England: 42,934 Wales: 4,654 Living Abroad: 149 Total: 50,993 Common eye conditions affecting older people There are over 45 eye conditions affecting adults across the country, these include: Cataract Myopia (short-sightedness) Macular Degeneration - Wet and Dry (also referred to as age-related MD) Glaucoma Retinitis Pigmentosa Retina and optic nerve - other diseases of / type not known Diabetic Retinopathy (a condition that can cause vision loss in people with diabetes) If you, or someone you know, under State Pension age has a sight condition, you should consider making a new claim for PIP or ADP - find out more here. If you, or someone you know, is over State Pension age and living with a sight condition, even really high myopia (short sightedness), you should consider making a claim for Attendance Allowance. Sight loss conditions These are common health issues affecting eyesight that are being supported through disability benefits, but if your condition is not listed, it doesn't mean it's not supported. Diseases of conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus Conjunctiva, cornea, eyelids and lacrimal apparatus - Other diseases of / type not known Corneal ulceration Entropion Herpes zoster - ophthalmic Keratitis Keratoconus Orbital cellulitis Ptosis Scleritis Uveitis Anterior Uveitis (iritis) Chorioretinal disorders - Other / type not known Posterior (choroiditis) Glaucoma Visual injuries to the eye Vitreous disease Posterior vitreous detachment Vitreous disease - Other / type not known Vitreous haemorrhage Diseases of the retina and optic nerve Diabetic retinopathy Hypertensive retinopathy Macular degeneration Optic atrophy Optic neuritis Retina and optic nerve - Other diseases of / type not known Retinal artery occlusion Retinal detachment Retinal vein occlusion Retinitis Pigmentosa Retinopathy - Other / type not known Cataract Refractive errors Astigmatism Hypermetropia (long-sighted) Myopia (short-sighted) Presbyopia Refractive errors - Other / type not known Disorders of eye movement Eye movement - Other disorders of / type not known Nystagmus Strabismus (Squint) Visual field defects Amblyopia Cortical blindness Diplopia (double vision) Hemianopia Quadrantanopia Scotoma Tunnel vision Visual field defects - Other / type not known Below is an overview of the benefit and how to make a new claim to DWP. Full details about claiming Attendance Allowance can be found on the website here. Full details about Pension Age Disability Payment can be found here. What is Attendance Allowance? Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a physical or mental disability or illness severe enough that makes it hard for you to look after yourself - it does not cover mobility needs. You do not need to have someone caring for you in order to claim. Who can make a claim? You should consider applying for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and need help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you do not currently get that help. This might include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also consider applying if you have difficulties with personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. Attendance Allowance is not just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also consider claiming if you need help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or blind How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? You could get either £73.90 or £110.40 per week depending on the level of care you need because of your condition, which is paid every four weeks and works out at £296.60 and £441.60 respectively. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. It's tax-free and you'll be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction How do I make a claim? You will need to complete a long claim form when you apply for Attendance Allowance. It might seem daunting at first but help is available from your nearest Citizens Advice, so don't let the form put you off applying. If you'd prefer to do it yourself you can follow the Citizens Advice guide on how to fill in your claim form here. Full details of how to get the application form by post or over the phone can be found on the website here. What happens if I am about to reach State Pension age? If you're thinking about applying for Attendance Allowance when you reach State Pension age, you might be better off claiming PIP straight away. If you claim PIP and get it, the amount you get will depend on your circumstances and how your disability or illness affects you. Find out more about claiming PIP on the website here. Who cannot claim Attendance Allowance? You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you have a Scottish postcode, you need to claim PADP from Social Security Scotland - full details here. You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get PIP or DLA to pay for your care. If you apply for Attendance Allowance while getting DLA, the DWP will usually reassess your DLA award instead. You can renew your PIP or DLA when the existing award ends as long as you still meet the eligibility criteria. If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.
