Warning to anyone claiming key benefit as simple mistake could see your benefit STOPPED
HOUSEHOLDS claiming a key government benefit could risk payments being stopped over a simple mistake.
Attendance Allowance is paid to state pensioners suffering from a long-term physical or mental condition or disability.
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It is paid at two different weekly rates depending on your level of need - £73.90 and £110.40.
However, if your personal circumstances change you must tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) as it means your entitlement to the benefit could go up or down.
If you don't report any change, you could have your payments stopped, have to pay a penalty or even be taken to court.
The types of changes you have to report include if you plan to leave the UK for longer than four weeks or you go to prison.
You also have to report if you change your name, address or bank details and if your immigration status changes.
You need to contact the Attendance Allowance helpline straight away if:
the level of help you need or your condition changes - you'll need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed
you go into hospital or a care home - you'll need to provide the address, the dates you've been there for, and how your stay is paid for
a medical professional has said you might have 12 more or less to live (you could get Attendance Allowance at a higher rate under "special rules for end of life")
you plan to leave the country for more than 4 weeks
you go into prison
you change your name, address or bank details
you want to stop receiving your benefit
your doctor's details change
You can contact the AA helpline on 0800 731 0122 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.
What happens if you don't report a change in circumstances
If you've not reported a change in circumstances and have been overpaid, you'll have to pay it back.
You should get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage any benefit money you owe.
Three key benefits that YOU could be missing out on, and one even gives you a free TV Licence
You can pay back the overpayment in full or set up regular monthly payments.
If you need help managing repayments, you can contact the DWP Debt Management contact centre on 0800 916 0647.
If you are found to have been overpaid due to your own negligence or error you may also have to pay a £50 penalty.
If you're suspected to have committed benefit fraud, you'll be contacted by the DWP, HMRC, the Defence Business Services or your local authority.
If you are found to have committed benefit fraud, one or more of the following may happen:
you'll be told to pay back the overpaid money
you may be taken to court or asked to pay a penalty (between £350 and £5,000)
your benefits may be reduced or stopped
More information on this can be found via www.gov.uk/benefit-fraud.
How do you report a change in circumstances for other benefits?
The rules around reporting a change in circumstances vary depending on the benefit.
Who you need to contact about reporting a change in circumstances varies based on the benefit as well.
Here is how to report a change for the main benefits:
Universal Credit - Report changes using your Universal Credit online account if you have one or contact the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Pension Credit - Call the Pension Service helpline on 0800 731 0469 or report changes by post. The address is on the letters you get about your Pension Credit.
Disability benefits - Call the Disability Service Centre to report changes if you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or PIP. The number to call is 0800 121 4433.
Carer's Allowance - Report a change online or call the Carer's Allowance Unit on 0800 731 0297.
Housing Benefit - Tell your local council about changes if you get Housing Benefit. You can find what local council area you fall under via www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
Child Benefit - Report changes using the Child Benefit online service or call on 0300 200 3100.
All other benefits - Call Jobcentre Plus to report changes. You need to have your National Insurance number when you call. You can find your nearest centre via find-your-nearest-jobcentre.dwp.gov.uk.
Are you missing out on benefits?
YOU can use a benefits calculator to help check that you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity Turn2Us' benefits calculator works out what you could get.
Entitledto's free calculator determines whether you qualify for various benefits, tax credit and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto's data.
You can use Policy in Practice's calculator to determine which benefits you could receive and how much cash you'll have left over each month after paying for housing costs.
Your exact entitlement will only be clear when you make a claim, but calculators can indicate what you might be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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