Martin Lewis urges pensioners to claim 'non means tested' £5,959 DWP benefit

Martin Lewis urges pensioners to claim 'non means tested' £5,959 DWP benefit The Department for Work and Pensions benefit is designed to help people aged 66 and over - but 1 million are missing out Money-saving guru Martin Lewis has renewed his appeal for pensioners who may be entitled to check whether they are missing out on thousands of pounds annually through an "underclaimed" state benefit. Attendance Allowance, designed for people aged 66 and over who are living 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 adding an extra £3,988.40 or £5,959.20 each year — and crucially, it is not means-tested. Notably, eligibility for Attendance Allowance is not determined by income or savings, meaning all qualifying claimants receive the payment regardless of their financial circumstances. Mr Lewis has said: "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." He cautioned that those receiving certain benefits are not eligible: "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. "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 prevalent medical conditions may make individuals eligible for Attendance Allowance, including arthritis, visual impairments, cardiac conditions, Parkinson's disease, and breathing difficulties such as asthma. Two payment levels are available, based on the degree of care required, with the higher tier providing £114.60 weekly and the lower tier offering £76.70. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) confirms that while the benefit is designed to assist with care expenses, claimants have complete freedom to use the funds as they wish. How to claim Attendance Allowance: To be eligible for Attendance Allowance, individuals must have reached state pension age, which presently stands at 66. The benefit is accessible regardless of whether the claimant is already collecting their state pension, possesses savings, or continues in paid employment. While the application process can be complex, support is readily available from organisations such as Citizens Advice and Age UK, both of which provide guidance throughout and can help with online submissions. To be eligible, applicants must have a physical condition, mental health issue, or illness severe enough to require assistance for their own wellbeing or that of others, with this care having been necessary for a minimum of six months. The lower payment rate demands regular supervision or help during daytime or evening hours, while the higher amount is reserved for those requiring around-the-clock care or individuals nearing the end of their life. Those applying must be living in Great Britain at the time of their claim and have spent at least two of the previous three years in the country. Decisions are typically made by DWP officials based on the information provided in the application form, making it vital to include all relevant details, such as a national insurance number, NHS number, and any prescription and hospital documentation. Most applicants won't need to attend an in-person assessment, although this remains a possibility. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) states that if there is any doubt about how your disability or health condition affects your daily life, a medical professional will conduct an assessment. It is important to be aware that Attendance Allowance cannot be claimed if you are already receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA). For more information click here. Health conditions supported by Attendance Allowance It’s important to note this list is not a checklist for claiming Attendance Allowance, it is intended to help people understand what type of conditions are being supported. However, if you need extra support during the day or night due to a long-term illness, disability or health condition, you should check out the official eligibility guidance on the GOV.UK website here. - Arthritis - Spondylosis - Back Pain - Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints - Trauma to Limbs - Visual Disorders and Diseases - Hearing Disorders - Heart Disease - Respiratory Disorders and Diseases - Asthma - Cystic Fibrosis - Cerebrovascular Disease - Peripheral vascular Disease - Epilepsy - Neurological Diseases - Multiple Sclerosis - Parkinsons Disease - Motor Neurone Disease - Chronic Pain Syndromes - Diabetes Mellitus - Metabolic Disease - Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia - Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia - Learning Difficulties - Psychosis - Psychoneurosis - Personality Disorder - Dementia - Behavioural Disorder - Alcohol and Drug Abuse - Hyperkinetic Syndrome - Renal Disorders - Inflammatory Bowel Disease - Bowel and Stomach Disease - Blood Disorders - Haemophilia - Multi System Disorders - Multiple Allergy Syndrome - Skin Disease - Malignant Disease - Severely Mentally impaired - Double Amputee - Deaf/Blind - Haemodialysis - Frailty - Total Parenteral Nutrition - AIDS - Infectious diseases: Viral disease - Coronavirus covid-19 Attendance Allowance is also supporting 43,295 people with a terminal illness.