Latest news with #StatePensioners
Daily Record
a day ago
- General
- Daily Record
Attendance Allowance rules older people must know or £441 DWP payments could stop
Nearly 1.7 million State Pensioners receive either £73.90 or £110.40 each week on the non-means tested benefit from the DWP. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there were nearly 1.7 million people across Great Britain receiving additional financial support through Attendance Allowance at the end of August last year. The data also indicates 150,000 people living in Scotland are now receiving either £73.90 or £110.40 each week after the annual uprating was applied last month. Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit, delivered by the DWP and designed to help older people with daily living expenses which could also help them stay independent in their own home for longer. However, many claimants may not be aware there are several changes in circumstances which must be reported to the DWP's Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 as soon as possible - especially if your condition changes or you go into hospital - as they could affect entitlement or payments. DWP guidance on the website also warns: 'You could be taken to court or have to pay a penalty if you give wrong information or do not report a change in your circumstances.' The guidance goes on to list changes claimants must report which are outlined below. Reporting a change in circumstances If your circumstances change, the amount you get from Attendance Allowance may go up or down. You must 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 months or less to live 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 your immigration status changes, if you're not a British citizen If you're not sure if a change affects your Attendance Allowance benefit, it's worthwhile contacting the DWP to check - full details on here. It's also important to be aware DWP guidance states if your circumstances change, the amount you get from Attendance Allowance may go up or down. Reporting a change if you need more help You should consider contacting the DWP to report a change if you feel you need more help for a disability or illness. This could be additional help or supervision throughout the day or at times during the night -even if you do not currently get that help. This could include: Help with your personal care - for example getting dressed, eating or drinking, getting in and out of bed, bathing or showering and going to the toilet Help to stay safe You should also consider reporting a change if you are experiencing more difficulties completing personal tasks, for example if they take you a long time, you experience pain or you need physical help, like a chair to lean on. But remember, Attendance Allowance is not just for people with a physical disability or illness. You should also consider reporting a change if you need more help or supervision throughout the day or night and have: a mental health condition learning difficulties a sensory condition - if you are deaf or blind You can contact the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm. Full details about reporting a change can be found on the website here. There are more than 50 physical or mental health conditions being supported by Attendance Allowance and even if you're already claiming for one of these, another may have developed or your current condition may have become more debilitating. Health issues supported by Attendance Allowance Support is also provided for People who are terminally ill. Arthritis Spondylosis Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints Trauma to Limbs Blindness Deafness Heart disease Chest disease Asthma Cystic Fibrosis Cerebrovascular Disease Peripheral vascular Disease Epilepsy Neurological Diseases Multiple Sclerosis Parkinson's 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 How much could I get on Attendance Allowance? From April 7, you could receive £73.90 (lower rate) if you need help during the day or at night or £110.40 (higher rate) if you need help during the day and at night, or if you are terminally ill. The benefit is paid every four weeks , which means you could receive either £295.60 or £441.60 every pay period. You can spend the money however you like and it could help you stay independent in your own home for longer. This might include: paying for taxis helping towards bills paying for a cleaner or gardener Can I claim Attendance Allowance even if I have savings and other income? Yes. Attendance Allowance isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings either - there's no limit. it is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money taken away from any other benefits. Will Attendance Allowance affect my State Pension? No, it won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money. How does Attendance Allowance affect other benefits? The other benefits you get might increase if you get Attendance Allowance, these include: Extra Pension Credit Housing Benefit Reduction Council Tax Reduction Full guidance on Attendance Allowance can be found on here.
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
DWP update as almost half a million State Pensioners receive payment boost
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info State Pensioners over a certain age have seen a modest increase in their payments, with the UK Government confirming in Parliament the additional 25p weekly sum awarded to those on the basic State Pension when they reach 80. Those born in 1944 or earlier, as well as individuals who have turned 80 this year and are on the basic State Pension, are entitled to this slight boost. The extra payment for people in their 80s was first introduced in 1971. At that time, the State Pension stood at £6 per week, making the 25p rise a notable 4% increase. In today's terms, it amounts to an annual uplift of just £13. Despite the passage of time, ministers have not raised the additional payment since its inception, akin to the static £10 Christmas Bonus that pensioners receive during the holiday season, which has also remained unchanged since 1971. Labour MP Jonathan Davies questioned the total administrative cost of the 25p increase and whether it surpasses the amount actually given to beneficiaries. Pensions minister Torsten Bell assured that the 25p age addition is "simple to administer", stating: "Payments are made automatically as part of the person's ongoing State Pension entitlement. The administration costs are therefore negligible," reports Kent Live. However, the minister acknowledged that some expenses are incurred by the DWP in informing individuals approaching their 80th birthday about the modest pay increase. Mr Bell said: "In 2024, 474,239 letters were issued to inform people that they were now entitled to the age addition, costing £278,030 in printing and postage. "In 2024/2025, the annual cost of the 25p age addition to the State Pension for those eligible 80+ is estimated to be £50.8million. Administrative costs therefore do not exceed the total amount paid." A research briefing issued by Parliament in 2013 about the extra 25p explained the thinking behind the policy: "Pensioners aged 80 and over receive an addition of 25 pence to their State Pension. The age addition was introduced in 1971, in recognition of 'the special claims of very elderly people who on the whole need help rather more than others'. "It has never been uprated, with successive Governments either arguing that greater priority should be given to protecting the level of the basic benefits, or choosing to target additional resources at older pensioners by other means, for example, through means-tested benefits or lump sum payments, such as the Winter Fuel Payment." State pensioners received a 4.1% increase to their payments from April in line with the triple lock. This increased the full basic state pension from £169.50 a week to £176.45 a week. To receive the full basic State Pension, you generally need 30 years of National Insurance contributions. The full new State Pension now stands at £230.25 a week, up from £221.20 a week since April. You can find out your projected State Pension amount using the State Pension forecast tool on the Government's website. Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox Find out what's happening near you
North Wales Live
16-05-2025
- Business
- North Wales Live
DWP update as almost half a million State Pensioners receive payment boost
State Pensioners over a certain age have seen a modest increase in their payments, with the UK Government confirming in Parliament the additional 25p weekly sum awarded to those on the basic State Pension when they reach 80. Those born in 1944 or earlier, as well as individuals who have turned 80 this year and are on the basic State Pension, are entitled to this slight boost. The extra payment for people in their 80s was first introduced in 1971. At that time, the State Pension stood at £6 per week, making the 25p rise a notable 4% increase. In today's terms, it amounts to an annual uplift of just £13. Despite the passage of time, ministers have not raised the additional payment since its inception, akin to the static £10 Christmas Bonus that pensioners receive during the holiday season, which has also remained unchanged since 1971. Labour MP Jonathan Davies questioned the total administrative cost of the 25p increase and whether it surpasses the amount actually given to beneficiaries. Pensions minister Torsten Bell assured that the 25p age addition is "simple to administer", stating: "Payments are made automatically as part of the person's ongoing State Pension entitlement. The administration costs are therefore negligible," reports Kent Live. However, the minister acknowledged that some expenses are incurred by the DWP in informing individuals approaching their 80th birthday about the modest pay increase. Mr Bell said: "In 2024, 474,239 letters were issued to inform people that they were now entitled to the age addition, costing £278,030 in printing and postage. "In 2024/2025, the annual cost of the 25p age addition to the State Pension for those eligible 80+ is estimated to be £50.8million. Administrative costs therefore do not exceed the total amount paid." A research briefing issued by Parliament in 2013 about the extra 25p explained the thinking behind the policy: "Pensioners aged 80 and over receive an addition of 25 pence to their State Pension. The age addition was introduced in 1971, in recognition of 'the special claims of very elderly people who on the whole need help rather more than others'. "It has never been uprated, with successive Governments either arguing that greater priority should be given to protecting the level of the basic benefits, or choosing to target additional resources at older pensioners by other means, for example, through means-tested benefits or lump sum payments, such as the Winter Fuel Payment." State pensioners received a 4.1% increase to their payments from April in line with the triple lock. This increased the full basic state pension from £169.50 a week to £176.45 a week. To receive the full basic State Pension, you generally need 30 years of National Insurance contributions. The full new State Pension now stands at £230.25 a week, up from £221.20 a week since April. You can find out your projected State Pension amount using the State Pension forecast tool on the Government's website.
