State pensioners have been urged to claim a poorly publicised benefit worth as much as £5,930 a year.
Charity Age UK along with the Rothesay Foundation has found that thousands of older people are missing out on benefits that they are rightfully entitled to simply because they aren’t claiming them.
While putting in a claim can seem a hassle, it’s worth going through the rigmarole of applying when you could be as much as £5,930 a year better off on average, the charity said.
One such benefit going underclaimed is Attendance Allowance.
In a study run by the charity and the foundation together, it found that as many as 66 percent of pensioners it surveyed are missing out on Attendance Allowance payments, worth an average of £5,930 per pensioner.
And over a third of pensioners were also eligible for backdated payments, meaning they could get even more back for previous years where they should have been in receipt of the money.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit which helps those who are of state pension age with costs related to a disability or health condition, other than mobility issues.
If your condition warrants someone looking after you (‘in attendance’ to help you), you will be able to claim.
There are two different rates, with the lower rate worth about £2,000 a year and the higher rate worth nearly £6,000.
Gov.uk 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.
“It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability or health condition.
“You could get £72.65 or £108.55 a week to help with personal support if both of the following apply: you have a physical disability, a mental disability, or a health condition. You’re State Pension age or older.”
Attendance Allowance is also a ‘gateway benefit’, which means that you could be eligible for extra payments of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or a Council Tax reduction if you get Attendance Allowance.
Paul Farmer, CEO at Age UK, said: “To date, we’ve already helped over 4,500 older people identify their benefit entitlements, and over the next two years we hope to reach even more.
“From our conversations with older people, we know how life-changing this support can be. Many are forced to make impossible choices between heating, eating, buying warm clothes or even getting a small Christmas gift for a loved one. Older people deserve better.
“We are deeply grateful to the Rothesay Foundation for its generosity and unwavering commitment to improving the lives of older people.”
James Dickson, Chairman of the Rothesay Foundation, said: “Too many older people are living in need in the UK despite being eligible and entitled to greater financial support.
“Through our pilot campaign with Age UK, we know that benefits like Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance can be life-changing, unlocking potentially thousands of pounds each year for those in need.”
