Martin Lewis warns 1.1m pensioners missing out on £5,959 DWP ‘non means tested’ benefit

Money-saving expert Martin Lewis has made a number of appeals for pensioners to check whether they're missing out on thousands of pounds annually through an "underclaimed" state benefit, which is non-means-tested. Attendance Allowance, designed for people aged 66 and over with disabilities or serious health conditions requiring regular care, is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions ( DWP ). The benefit is available at two rates - either £76.70 or £114.60 per week, depending on the level of care required - potentially delivering an extra £3,988.40 or £5,959.20 each year.

Crucially, it is not means-tested - eligibility for Attendance Allowance isn't determined by income or savings, meaning all qualifying claimants receive the payment irrespective of their financial circumstances. 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."

"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." Condition // Entitled claimants Arthritis 533,990 Dementia 213,742 Heart Disease 135,639 Unknown 116,898 Respiratory Disorders and Diseases 113,567 Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints 96,257 Back Pain - Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified 82,070 Cerebrovascular Disease 81,883 Malignant Disease 65,140 Visual Disorders and Diseases 55,167 Terminally Ill 50,324 He cautioned that individuals receiving certain benefits are ineligible: "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.

"Now, to qualify for this, you need to have supervision for six months. So help or supervision for six months, I should say. Help means help with daily living; supervision means avoiding dangers to yourself. Now, the daily living one, just to give people what this is all about: what does help mean? You don't actually have to be getting the help, you just need to need help. You can apply for Attendance Allowance online or by post. There’s a different way to claim: in Northern Ireland if you’re nearing the end of life (for example, because you have a life-limiting illness) To apply, you’ll need: your National Insurance number your address and contact details details of the disability or health condition that you need extra help for details of your GP surgery or medical centre details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you’re currently staying in one After you send your claim, you’ll get a text or letter within 3 weeks that explains when you can expect a decision.

Once a decision is made, you’ll get a letter explaining the outcome. "This is from Lord Denning, who was Master of the Rolls back in 1981, if anyone remembers him. He was a quite famous judge at the time. He defined the type of help that is still generally, loosely used as what we're talking about. It means help with bodily functions, including breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, walking, sitting, sleeping, getting in or out of bed, dressing, undressing, eliminating waste products, and the like-all of which an ordinary person who is not suffering from any disability does for himself or herself, obviously, although that's not what was said."

A wide variety of common health conditions may make individuals eligible for Attendance Allowance, including arthritis , vision problems, heart conditions, Parkinson's disease, and breathing difficulties such as asthma. There are two payment rates available, determined by the level of care required, with the higher rate worth £114.60 per week and the lower rate standing at £76.70. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirms that while the benefit is designed to assist with care costs, those who receive it have complete freedom over how the money is spent.