A 70-year-old woman who had only £10 to her name after paying bills has revealed how a five-minute phone call to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) secured her £5,740 a year in Attendance Allowance. This benefit is available to people who have reached State Pension age and need help or supervision with daily living tasks such as washing, eating, or staying safe.
What is Attendance Allowance?
Attendance Allowance is a non-means-tested benefit for individuals over State Pension age who have a long-term illness or disability. It is designed to help with the extra costs of needing care or supervision. The amount you receive depends on the level of help you need, not your income or savings.
How much can you get?
If you need help during the day OR night, you qualify for the lower rate of £76.70 per week (equivalent to £3,988 per year). If you need help both day and night, you can receive the higher rate of £114.60 per week (or £5,959 per year). The key factor is how your condition affects your daily life.
One woman's story
Wendy, 70, told the Sun newspaper that she was unaware she was eligible for Attendance Allowance, despite having just £10 left in her bank account after bills and regularly relying on food banks. She is among an estimated 1.1 million Britons missing out on this benefit.
“I was lucky if I had £10 in my bank account after paying my bills and regularly using food banks. I felt invisible and desperate,” she said. “I had no idea I was eligible for the cash. The name is so confusing – I bet there’s loads of OAPs out there like me.”
Wendy described the application process as surprisingly simple: a phone call to the DWP that took just five minutes. “You just wouldn’t believe how much difference this money has made to me,” she said. “Before I just went to the food bank for my food all the time. But now I can go to the supermarket and choose my own food. I can buy some new clothes.”
Who is eligible?
Attendance Allowance is not means-tested, meaning your income or savings do not affect your eligibility. It is available to anyone who has reached State Pension age and requires help or supervision due to a long-term illness or disability. The condition does not matter; what matters is the level of care you need.
If you think you or a loved one may be eligible, consider contacting the DWP to make a claim. The process is straightforward and could make a significant difference to your quality of life.
