Attendance Allowance pays £76.70 or £114.60 per week (Image: Getty)
Brits are being urged to check if they are entitled to extra help from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Experts warn some people may be missing out on hundreds of pounds in financial help, including those with dementia.
Rebecca Lamb, External Relations Manager at debt support group, Money Wellness, said there is a real danger the financial impact of dementia is being overlooked. She added: “A lot of the focus quite rightly goes on healthcare and social care, but there’s also a huge financial side to this that many families are quietly struggling with behind closed doors.”
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One benefit Ms Lamb highlighted is Attendance Allowance, which supports those of State Pension age with a health condition that requires someone to look after them.
The allowance is paid at two different rates, with the amount received dependant on the level of care required.
Recipients can get £76.70 or £114.60 per week if they have a physical or mental disability or a health condition.
Attendance Allowance is also only granted to those who are of State Pension age or over and it does not cover any mobility requirements.
It is not means-tested. The lower rate applies to people who need frequent help or constant supervision in the day or support at night.
The higher rate is for those who need help or supervision throughout the day and night or for individuals who a medical professional says are nearing the end of their lives.
According to the Alzheimer’s Society, there are an estimated 982,000 people with dementia in the UK. More than a third of people with the condition do not have a diagnosis and the number is expected to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.
Dementia symptoms include problems with memory loss, mental sharpness, mood, judgement and understanding.
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Ms Lamb told the Mirror that as dementia progresses, individuals can find it harder to manage bills, spot financial problems early or cope with paperwork.
She added: “At the same time, families are trying to navigate a support system that often feels confusing and disconnected.
“One of the biggest issues isn’t always a lack of support. It’s that people simply don’t know what help exists until they’re already in crisis.”
Peter Hamilton, Head of Market Engagement at Zurich UK, said there is a risk people are not getting what they are due.
He 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.”
Mr Hamilton pointed to research which shows some people with dementia could be missing out on £1,000 to £5,000 per year in unclaimed benefits.
The expert warned low awareness, complex systems and cognitive decline risk people with dementia missing out.
A lack of dementia diagnosis can also be a factor as over a third of people with dementia in the UK lack a formal diagnosis, which Mr Hamilton said limits their access to support.