Urgent Attendance Allowance warning rule - or risk losing £434 a month

The DWP Attendance Allowance is a benefit which can provide older people with valuable financial support - but claimants must be aware of a little-known rule.

More than 1.6 million people claim one key benefit which could be swiftly revoked - leaving scores of people £434 out of pocket. Figures show that individuals are now receiving either £72.65 or £108.55 each week via the benefit.

Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit, administered by the DWP, aimed at assisting older people with daily living costs. It is to help elderly people maintain their independence at home for longer. However, many recipients may not realise that there are several changes in circumstances which must be reported to the DWP's Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 as soon as possible. It's crucial to contact them especially if your situation alters - as it can impact your entitlement or payments.

DWP guidance on the GOV. UK website also cautions: "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." The guidance provides a list of changes that claimants must report, which are outlined below.

Reporting a change in circumstances

If your circumstances alter, the amount you receive from Attendance Allowance may increase or decrease. You must contact the Attendance Allowance helpline immediately if:

• the level of help you need or your condition changes - you’ll need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed
• you go into hospital or a care home - you’ll need to provide the address, the dates you’ve been there for, and how your stay is paid for
• a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
• you plan to leave the country for more than 4 weeks
• you go into prison
• you change your name, address or bank details
• you want to stop receiving your benefit
• your doctor’s details change
• your immigration status changes, if you’re not a British citizen

If you're uncertain if a change affects your Attendance Allowance benefit. It's worth contacting the DWP to verify - full details on GOV.UK.

It's crucial to note that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) guidelines state that if your circumstances alter, your Attendance Allowance amount may increase or decrease.

Requesting a change if you need more help

If you believe you require additional assistance due to a disability or illness, it's worth contacting the DWP to report a change. This could be extra help or supervision throughout the day or night - even if you're not currently receiving that help.

This might include assistance with personal care tasks like dressing, eating, getting in and out of bed, bathing, using the toilet, as well as ensuring your safety.

If you're finding personal tasks more challenging - for instance, if they take longer, cause pain, or require physical support like a chair to lean on - you should also consider reporting a change. Remember, Attendance Allowance isn't just for those with a physical disability or illness.

If you have a mental health condition, learning difficulties, or a sensory condition such as deafness or blindness, and need more help or supervision during the day or night, you should also consider reporting a change.

You can call the Attendance Allowance helpline at 0800 731 0122, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Full details about reporting a change can be found on the GOV. UK website.

Health issues supported by Attendance Allowance

There are more than 50 physical or mental health conditions covered by Attendance Allowance, and even if you're already claiming for one of these, another may have developed or your current condition may have worsened. The support is also extended to those who are terminally ill.

The conditions that are covered by Attendance Allowance include:

• Arthritis
• Spondylosis
• Back Pain – Other / Precise Diagnosis not Specified
• Disease of The Muscles, Bones or Joints
• Trauma to Limbs
• Blindness
• Deafness
• Heart disease
• Chest disease
• Asthma
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Cerebrovascular Disease
• Peripheral vascular Disease
• Epilepsy
• Neurological Diseases
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's
• Motor Neurone Disease
• Chronic Pain Syndromes
• Diabetes Mellitus
• Metabolic Disease
• Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
• Major Trauma Other than Traumatic Paraplegia/Tetraplegia
• Learning Difficulties
• Psychosis
• Psychoneurosis
• Personality Disorder
• Dementia
• Behavioural Disorder
• Alcohol and Drug Abuse
• Hyperkinetic Syndrome
• Renal Disorders
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease
• Bowel and Stomach Disease
• Blood Disorders
• Haemophilia
• Multi System Disorders
• Multiple Allergy Syndrome
• Skin Disease
• Malignant Disease
• Severely Mentally impaired
• Double Amputee
• Deaf/Blind
• Haemodialysis
• Frailty
• Total Parenteral Nutrition
• AIDS

You could receive £72.65 (lower rate) if you need help during the day or at night or £108.55 (higher rate) if you need help both day and night, or if you are terminally ill. The benefit is paid every four weeks, meaning you could receive either £290.60 or £434.20 each pay period.

The money can be spent however you wish and it could help you maintain independence in your own home for longer. This might include paying for taxis, contributing towards bills, or hiring a cleaner or gardener.

Yes, you can claim Attendance Allowance even if you have savings and other income. It isn't means-tested so it doesn't matter what other money you have coming in or how much you have in savings - there's no limit.

It is also tax-free and you will be exempt from the Benefit Cap so you won't have money deducted from any other benefits. It also won't affect your State Pension and you can even claim it if you're still working and earning money.

If you receive Attendance Allowance, your other benefits may increase. These could include Extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit Reduction, and Council Tax Reduction.

For more information on Attendance Allowance, visit the GOV. UK website.