Andy Burnham's DWP to pay one group of Brits £118.60 a week – are you eligible?

The Department for Work and Pensions is preparing to raise Attendance Allowance rates for 2027. The DWP will continue to offer the benefit at both a lower and higher rate. The uprated amounts — kicking in from April — will see the lower rate climb from £76.70 to £79.40, while the higher rate rises from £114.60 to £118.60, courtesy of a 3.5% boost tied to inflation. It's also worth highlighting that Attendance Allowance is not means-tested.

This essentially means your earnings or savings will have no bearing on the amount you receive. You may be eligible for Attendance Allowance if you've reached State Pension age and have a physical disability. The DWP confirms this encompasses sensory disabilities, such as blindness, mental disabilities (including learning difficulties), or ongoing health conditions. Additional eligibility criteria include your disability or health condition being severe enough to require personal care assistance or supervision, for your own safety or that of others, and you must have needed that level of support for a minimum of 6 months, reports Birmingham Live .

Separate eligibility rules apply for those approaching the end of life, such as those living with a life-limiting illness. In such circumstances, you may be able to access Attendance Allowance more swiftly and at an elevated rate. To make a claim, you must be physically present in Great Britain at the time, though certain exceptions apply, including members of the armed forces and their families. You must also have resided in Great Britain for a minimum of 2 out of the last 3 years, although this requirement is waived for refugees or those with humanitarian protection status.

Additionally, you must be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands and must not be subject to immigration control, unless you are a sponsored immigrant. You must also not currently be receiving any of the following benefits : - Disability Living Allowance (DLA). - Personal Independence Payment (PIP). - Adult Disability Payment (ADP). - Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA). - Armed Forces Independence Payment (AFIP).

An assessment to determine your eligibility will only be required if it remains unclear how your disability or health condition impacts your daily life. Should an assessment be deemed necessary, you will receive a letter outlining the reasons and advising you where to attend. At the assessment, a qualified medical professional will carry out an examination.