People of State Pension age could be missing out on monthly payments from DWP due to being put off by some common misconceptions.
Attendance Allowance is paid out to older people with disabilities that mean they need extra support at home. Those who are eligible could see either £61.85 or £92.40 paid into their bank account each week - but the benefit is the one most underclaimed from DWP.
With the cost of living continuing to rise and research by Age UK finding that one in five women claiming State Pension is living below the breadline, people are being urged to get all the help they need by checking which extra support they could be eligible for. Here are six common reasons from Age UK on why people may assume they can’t get Attendance Allowance, according to the Daily Record - and why they shouldn't let these myths stop them from claiming.
You don’t have a carer
You qualify for Attendance Allowance based on the help you need, not the help that you actually receive. This means that you don’t need to have a carer or someone looking after you in order to qualify for the benefit.
You don’t want a carer coming into your home
Attendance Allowance doesn’t have to be spent on paying for a carer. Many claimants spend the allowance on other means of helping themselves in the home, including equipment that can help them stay independent for longer.
The claim form is too long and complicated
You can get help from Age UK to fill in the claim form - call Age UK Advice for free on 0800 169 65 65 or visit your nearest branch. You can also ask for support from your local Citizens Advice.
Your claim has been turned down before
If you have applied for Attendance Allowance in the past, you should still consider applying again - especially if your circumstances have changed. You may now find that you are eligible to receive support if your care needs have increased.
Your income is too high
Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested, so your savings or income won’t affect your claim. Whether or not you qualify depends solely on your disability or health condition and your care or supervision needs.
You can manage without it
Some may let pride get in the way of claiming benefits - but there’s no shame in getting something back from the tax system when you have paid into it all your life. Consider that the money could help find support or equipment that may help you to carry on living independently at home for longer.
You can visit the Gov.uk website to find out more about Attendance Allowance and check whether you could be eligible.
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