Many people with a common health condition could be missing out on DWP benefit payments. Experts fear many people think they don’t qualify as they misunderstand the DWP rules.
Experts at life insurance firm Zurich have warned that people are not planning ahead financially for the possibility they will be affected by dementia. This is despite the condition being the UK’s leading cause of death, with half of UK adults knowing someone who is impacted by the condition.
The costs of living with the condition can vastly increase as the disease progresses, with even mild dementia costing on average £28,700 a year, rising to £80,500 a year for cases of severe dementia.
You can get Government support if you have a health condition such as dementia, but there is a risk people with the illness do not claim what they are due. Peter Hamilton, head of Market Engagement at Zurich UK, said: “Many benefits are not automatic, meaning that you or your LPA (lasting power of attorney) must apply for them, which is a key barrier for people with cognitive impairment.”
£5,000 a year unclaimed
He pointed to findings which suggest people could be missing out on between £1,000 and £5,000 a year in unclaimed benefits. Mr Hamilton spoke about why people could be missing out.
He said: “People with dementia are disproportionately likely to miss out due to complex systems, cognitive decline, and low awareness. Lack of diagnosis also contributes, with more than a third of people with dementia in the UK not having a formal diagnosis, limiting access to support.”
One benefit he said people often miss out on is Attendance Allowance. This benefit supports people of state pension age who live with a health condition where they need someone else’s help to care for them.
Payment rates
You can get either £76.70 or £114.60 a week through the scheme, and claiming the support can open up access to other Government support, such as extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or a council tax reduction.
Mr Hamilton said: “Attendance Allowance is often underclaimed, which directly supports care/supervision needs typical in dementia. But it’s not means-tested, so many assume incorrectly they will not be able to qualify.”
He said one way the system could be improved is to have an automatic system, where benefits are activated based on a person’s health records, rather than them having to apply.