Pensioners can claim thousands (Image: PA)People claiming state pensions while living with a severe disability can claim an extra £4,310.80 per year from the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP). Pensioners on a low income are able to get weekly payments to help with living costs by claiming Pension Credit, but in cases where someone has a severe disability, the DWP can top up the benefit with additional amounts.
Pension credit tops up weekly income to £227.10 if single or joint weekly income to £346.60, but the DWP will pay out extra on top to support those with disabilities.
Pensioners with a severe disability can get an extra £82.90 per week – which amounts to £4,310.80 per year – if they get any of the following benefits:
Attendance allowancethe middle or highest rate from the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)the daily living component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP)Armed Forces Independence Paymentthe daily living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP) at the standard or enhanced rate
Not only can pensioners get this extra amount if they have a disability, Pension Credit also opens the door to a wealth of other financial support, the Express reports.
This includes housing benefit, a winter fuel payment worth up to £300, a council tax discount, a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over, £150 off winter energy bills through the warm home discount scheme, and help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs.
To qualify for pension credit you must have reached State Pension age and live in England, Scotland or Wales.
You can apply for it up to four months before reaching State Pension age – which is currently age 66 for men and women – or any time after, but your application can only be backdated by three months.
This means you can get up to three months of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.
You can use the government’s online Pension Credit calculator to get an estimate of how much you could get and can contact the Pension Service helpline on 0800 99 1234 to check if you’re eligible for extra amounts.
Those eligible for the extra cash include people receiving Attendance Allowance, with recent figures showing nearly 1.7 million people claiming the benefit.
Changes are looming for the attendance allowance, as previously reported by the ECHO.
Such changes could affect your entitlement, or the payments you receive. A DWP warning on the GOV.UK website reads: “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.”
To read more on the changes, click here.