Latest news with #StatePension
Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
DWP payment that could boost your income to £1,362 a month
The DWP payment is given to people who are over the State Pension age and have a disability, long-term illness, physical or mental health condition Over 1.7 million people over the State Pension age across the UK are eligible to receive £1,362 each month through the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Attendance Allowance, which is separate from the State Pension, offers additional financial aid for older people with a disability, long-term illness, or physical or mental health condition. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested and is valued at either £73.90 for the lower rate or £110.40 for the higher rate each week. As this benefit is typically paid every four weeks, it equates to either £295.60 or £441.60 per payment period. The full New State Pension is currently valued at £230.25 per week, which amounts to £921 when paid every four weeks. Over the 2025/26 financial year, annual payments are worth £11,973, according to the Daily Record. However, it's crucial to note that not all of the 4.1 million people on the New State Pension receive the full amount as it is tied to National Insurance Contributions. The full Basic State Pension is now worth £176.45 per week, or £705.80 every four-week payment period. Over the 2025/26 financial year, annual payments are worth £9,175.40. To check your own future State Pension payments, use the online forecasting tool on here. The sum awarded for Attendance Allowance hinges on the degree of assistance needed. This benefit is intended to aid individuals of State Pension age with daily living costs due to their health condition, enabling them to retain independence in their own home for an extended period. There is no mobility component linked to Attendance Allowance. Health conditions supported by Attendance Allowance The conditions listed below are sourced from information recorded on the DWP's Attendance Allowance system: Multiple Sclerosis Psychoneurosis Cystic Fibrosis Infectious diseases: Viral disease - Coronavirus covid-19 Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia Double Amputee Frailty Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia Total Parenteral Nutrition Multiple Allergy Syndrome Neurological Diseases Learning Difficulties Renal Disorders Epilepsy Respiratory Disorders and Diseases Multi System Disorders AIDS Dementia Severely Mentally impaired Hearing Disorders Alcohol and Drug Abuse Spondylosis Malignant Disease Skin Disease Arthritis Asthma Visual Disorders and Diseases Deaf/Blind Metabolic Disease Haemophilia Haemodialysis Behavioural Disorder Bowel and Stomach Disease Diabetes Mellitus Inflammatory Bowel Disease Parkinsons Disease Psychosis Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints Back Pain Hyperkinetic Syndrome Blood Disorders Heart Disease Motor Neurone Disease Personality Disorder Trauma to Limbs Peripheral vascular Disease Cerebrovascular Disease Chronic Pain Syndromes Here's a brief rundown of what you need to know about Attendance Allowance, including how to kick-start your application. Comprehensive information about claiming Attendance Allowance can be found on the website here. Who can claim? You should consider applying for Attendance Allowance if you have a disability or illness and require assistance or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night - even if you're not currently receiving that help. If you struggle with personal tasks, such as needing a long time to complete them, experiencing pain, or requiring physical assistance like leaning on a chair, you should consider applying. Attendance Allowance isn't solely for individuals with a physical disability or illness.
Daily Mirror
17 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Over-65s with muscle pain urged to check if they can get £441 DWP payment
The Department for Work and Pensions has encouraged older people who have muscle or joint pain to check if they are entitled to further financial support from the government Older people suffering from muscle or joint pain are being urged to check if they're eligible for extra financial help from the Government, possibly through the Attendance Allowance benefit. This allowance, managed by the Department for Work and Pensions, helps with additional costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone else to look after you. It's paid at two different rates, and the amount you get depends on how much care your condition requires. You could be entitled to £73.90 or £110.40 a week to help with personal care if you have a health condition and you're of State Pension age or older. According to figures, arthritis remains the most common condition claimed for by nearly 484,000 pensioners on Attendance Allowance across Britain. However, there are also 74,804 people over 66 claiming support for muscle, joint and back pain. Joint pain, especially lower back pain, is very common and while it usually gets better within a few weeks, it can sometimes last longer or come back, particularly as we get older. Some 2.5 million people across the UK suffer from back pain every day of the year and many may not realise they could be entitled to financial help to cover any extra costs the condition brings, reports the Daily Record. Data from the DWP shows that 1.7 million elderly individuals are currently receiving support through Attendance Allowance, and it's important to note that having a carer is not a requirement for claiming. The eligibility for Attendance Allowance isn't determined by savings or income and is paid every four weeks. This means those on the lower rate will receive roughly £295 each pay period, while those on the higher rate will receive around £441. Across the UK, an estimated 20 million people are living with arthritis or similar conditions affecting the joints. Therefore, if you're suffering from arthritis, back pain, joint pain, muscle pain or chronic pain, you could be eligible for support. Who is eligible You can get Attendance Allowance if you've reached State Pension age and the following apply: your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else's safety you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition you have needed that help for at least 6 months You must also: have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if you're a refugee or have humanitarian protection status) not be subject to immigration control (unless you're a sponsored immigrant) be in Great Britain when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as members and family members of the armed forces be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands not get Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Adult Disability Payment (ADP) or Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance (SADLA)
Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Home Responsibilities Protection: error may owe thousands
Thousands risk missing out on State Pension top-ups due to a government error 👀 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 may be owed thousands in missing State Pension payments A government error meant many didn't receive Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits, reducing their National Insurance record and pension amount Martin Lewis warns the government has stopped proactively contacting those affected On average, underpayments are worth around £5,000, but some have received backpayments exceeding £30,000 Those who suspect they're affected should check their State Pension forecast on People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 are being urged by Martin Lewis to check if they're owed thousands in missing State Pension payments — with some reclaiming more than £30,000 in backpay. The MoneySavingExpert founder has warned that a government error, which went unnoticed for decades, could be depriving hundreds of thousands of a State Pension boost worth an average of £5,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But most of those affected haven't been contacted, and time is running out to claim what they're owed. What's the issue? The error centres on Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a government scheme that ran from 1978 to 2010. It was supposed to protect the State Pensions of people — mostly mothers — who claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone long-term ill or disabled. HRP gave people National Insurance (NI) 'credits' for the years they weren't working due to caring duties. These credits count towards their State Pension entitlement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But due to government record-keeping failures, around 194,000 people never received those credits, meaning their NI records are incomplete and their State Pensions lower than they should be. Speaking on his podcast, Martin Lewis gave a blunt warning: 'This is an important heads-up for women aged 40 to 90, particularly those in their 60s and 70s. 'If you looked after children or a disabled person between 1978 and 2010, you were likely meant to get HRP. But many didn't — and while the government was trying to contact people, it's now stopped doing so.' Although HMRC sent over 370,000 letters to people it believed could be affected, uptake was poor. According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), only 12,379 underpayments were corrected in 2024/25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Due to the low response rate and 'challenging' nature of correcting the error, the Government has scaled back the compensation programme. Originally, it earmarked £1.2 billion to repay affected pensioners — but this has now been slashed to just £29.8 million, suggesting most people may never see the money they're owed. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has criticised the DWP's failure to fix the problem, calling the campaign a 'dismal failure'. 'The vast majority affected are women — some underpaid for decades or who even died before being paid the correct pension,' he said. 'The government's admission that most won't get their money is shameful.' How to check if you're owed money You could be eligible if: You were born between roughly 1930 and 1970 (aged 50+ now) You claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone full-time between 1978 and 2010 You have gaps in your National Insurance record You're getting less than the full State Pension (currently £221.20 a week) To find out: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Visit to view your forecast Check if you have gaps in your NI contributions See if those gaps fall between 1978–2010, when you were a stay-at-home parent or unpaid carer If so, you can apply to backdate your HRP credits You can also contact the HMRC National Insurance helpline on 0300 200 3500. Are you struggling to make ends meet as costs continue to rise? You can now send your stories to us online via YourWorld at It's free to use and, once checked, your story will appear on our website and, space allowing, in our newspapers.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- General
- Scotsman
Home Responsibilities Protection: error may owe thousands
Thousands risk missing out on State Pension top-ups due to a government error 👀 Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 may be owed thousands in missing State Pension payments A government error meant many didn't receive Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP) credits, reducing their National Insurance record and pension amount Martin Lewis warns the government has stopped proactively contacting those affected On average, underpayments are worth around £5,000, but some have received backpayments exceeding £30,000 Those who suspect they're affected should check their State Pension forecast on People who took time off work to care for children or family between 1978 and 2010 are being urged by Martin Lewis to check if they're owed thousands in missing State Pension payments — with some reclaiming more than £30,000 in backpay. The MoneySavingExpert founder has warned that a government error, which went unnoticed for decades, could be depriving hundreds of thousands of a State Pension boost worth an average of £5,000. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But most of those affected haven't been contacted, and time is running out to claim what they're owed. What's the issue? The error centres on Home Responsibilities Protection (HRP), a government scheme that ran from 1978 to 2010. It was supposed to protect the State Pensions of people — mostly mothers — who claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone long-term ill or disabled. HRP gave people National Insurance (NI) 'credits' for the years they weren't working due to caring duties. These credits count towards their State Pension entitlement. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad But due to government record-keeping failures, around 194,000 people never received those credits, meaning their NI records are incomplete and their State Pensions lower than they should be. Speaking on his podcast, Martin Lewis gave a blunt warning: 'This is an important heads-up for women aged 40 to 90, particularly those in their 60s and 70s. 'If you looked after children or a disabled person between 1978 and 2010, you were likely meant to get HRP. But many didn't — and while the government was trying to contact people, it's now stopped doing so.' Although HMRC sent over 370,000 letters to people it believed could be affected, uptake was poor. According to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), only 12,379 underpayments were corrected in 2024/25. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Due to the low response rate and 'challenging' nature of correcting the error, the Government has scaled back the compensation programme. Originally, it earmarked £1.2 billion to repay affected pensioners — but this has now been slashed to just £29.8 million, suggesting most people may never see the money they're owed. Former pensions minister Sir Steve Webb has criticised the DWP's failure to fix the problem, calling the campaign a 'dismal failure'. 'The vast majority affected are women — some underpaid for decades or who even died before being paid the correct pension,' he said. 'The government's admission that most won't get their money is shameful.' How to check if you're owed money You could be eligible if: You were born between roughly 1930 and 1970 (aged 50+ now) You claimed Child Benefit or cared for someone full-time between 1978 and 2010 You have gaps in your National Insurance record You're getting less than the full State Pension (currently £221.20 a week) To find out: Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Visit to view your forecast Check if you have gaps in your NI contributions See if those gaps fall between 1978–2010, when you were a stay-at-home parent or unpaid carer If so, you can apply to backdate your HRP credits You can also contact the HMRC National Insurance helpline on 0300 200 3500.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Can I pay into Irish State pension from the UK?
I was born in Ireland and moved to London in 2002 ( aged 22) after graduating from university . I have been working in London since then (and will qualify for a full UK state pension upon retirement) and have no immediate plans to come home to live in Ireland. I did summer jobs in Ireland before leaving and so have paid some tax from 1997 until 2001. My query is to whether I can qualify for a full Irish State pension and what is the most straightforward way to set this up while living in London. Can I make voluntary contributions for an Irish State pension in the same way that it is possible to do for a UK pension? READ MORE Can I set up an Irish limited company and pay myself a nominal salary in order to make the required pension contributions? Is there any other way for which I can set myself up for an Irish State pension in a relatively straightforward manner? I really appreciate any help or guidance you can give me in this matter. Mr JK The principle of State contributory pensions – and other welfare benefits that are not means tested – is that you qualify on the basis of your social insurance contributions over a period of time. All countries that I am aware of have a minimum threshold before you can qualify for these benefits. In Ireland, that number is 520 – 10 years of PRSI (Pay Related Social Insurance) contributions . In your case, despite working here for a few years before heading for the UK, you are well shy of that threshold. So, as of now, you would not qualify for any Irish State pension. [ How can I find what my likely State pension will be? Opens in new window ] And, given that the 520-contribution figure is also a requirement to make voluntary PRSI contributions, you will not be eligible for that either. Even if you had those contributions, you would have fallen outside the qualification window – 60 months since your most recent paid PRSI stamp. You refer to the UK system of voluntary national insurance but it, too, has rules and a limit on how far back you can go. So there is no, as you put it, 'relatively straightforward' way you can set myself up for an Irish State pension. Could you set up a limited company here as a vehicle to allow you to pay contributions? To be honest, I'm not across company law sufficiently to answer one way or the other, but one thought comes to mind – why bother? There are costs involved in setting up and running a limited company even if it were possible. More pertinently, your life now is in the UK. You have spent your entire adult working life since graduation in the UK, it is your home and, by your own admission, you have no real intention to return to Ireland. [ Am I too late to apply to boost my UK pension? Opens in new window ] If you were eligible for a State contributory pension, it could be paid to you in the UK but it seems to me that you would be far better to invest in a private pension in the UK, availing of the tax relief available and with more control over its investment priorities. You are currently 45 with the possibility/ likelihood of 20+ years left in your working life. As I understand it, you can get tax relief at 20 per cent on any money you invest over there in a private pension and a 25-year investment window is more than enough to deliver a strong return. I am conscious there was a lot of talk recently about Irish residents who had worked in the UK for a time beefing up their UK national insurance record to qualify for or increase a future UK state pensions but that was different for two reasons. First, the qualifying criteria were lower under a special amnesty arrangement and second the cost of purchasing that extra entitlement was attractive for many people. Please send your queries to Dominic Coyle, Q&A, The Irish Times, 24-28 Tara Street, Dublin 2, or by email to , with a contact phone number. This column is a reader service and is not intended to replace professional advice
