State pensioners suffering from one common pain could get up to £458 a month from the Department for Work and Pensions. Attendance Allowance is a Government benefit for pensioners with a disability or a severe health condition that requires someone to help look after them. It is paid at two different rates, with the amount you get depending on the level of care your condition requires.
Individuals can get either £76.70 or £114.60 per week. The money is issued every four weeks, which amounts to £306.40 or £458.40 per payment period. And state pensioners who suffer from back pain could be able to claim.
According to DWP figures over 68,200 already claim Attendance Allowance to help with the costs associated with back pain.
In order to claim Attendance Allowance, you must have a physical disability, mental disability or a health condition. If you do suffer from back pain, it must be severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or have someone supervising you, and you have needed that help for at least six months.
And if you are living in a care home, you can only claim the allowance if you pay for all the care home costs yourself.
There are two ways to apply for Attendance Allowance – online or by post.
To apply, you will need your National Insurance number, address and contact details, details of the disability or health condition you require extra help for, details of your GP surgery or medical centre and details of your care home, hospital or hospice if you are staying in one.
When applying by post, you can either print and send the Attendance Allowance claim form, or contact the helpline on 0800 731 0122 to request a claim form.
After sending your claim, you should receive a text or letter within three weeks on when you should expect a decision, and once that is made, you will get a letter outlining the outcome of your claim.
Online applicants will have their claim start on the date it was made, while those who printed and posted theirs will have their claim start on the day DWP receives it.
Those who called the helpline for a form will have their claim start on the day of the call if the form is returned within six weeks.