DWP urges Brits to check if they qualify for 'underclaimed' benefit worth £5,740 a year

People with disabilities and health conditions are being encouraged to check if they could be entitled to financial support worth up to £5,740 a year. The call comes from the UK's largest community of unpaid carers in light of planned cuts to disability benefits for some claimants.

Despite recent welfare cuts, Attendance Allowance - a benefit designed to help disabled people over retirement age cover care costs - remains untouched. In fact, Attendance Allowance payments are set to increase this month, with higher rates kicking in on April 7.

However, it is one of the most underclaimed benefits, with an estimated 1 million Brits potentially missing out. The care experts at Mobilise are striving to raise awareness of Attendance Allowance and the significant difference it could make for those currently not claiming it, especially considering the cuts to Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

PIP, the more well-known benefit for disabled people, can be claimed before and after retirement by those already receiving the support when they hit State Pension age.

Almost half (45%) of people over retirement age in the UK have some form of disability. Attendance Allowance aims to assist these individuals in covering the cost of care or other services that enable them to continue living at home, such as taxi or cleaning services, reports Birmingham Live.

The government's monthly payment, divided into two rates based on the level of care needed, is set to increase this month. The lower rate, for those needing either day or night care, will rise from £72.65 to £73.90 a week, totalling £3,842.80 annually.

The higher rate, for those requiring both day and night care, will go up from £108.55 to £110.40 a week, amounting to £5,740.80 a year.

To qualify for Attendance Allowance, several criteria must be met, including being of state pension age (66) or over, having a physical or mental disability, needing someone to look after you, and having required this assistance for at least six months (exceptions may apply for terminal illnesses).

Those residing in a care home with local authority-funded care are unlikely to be eligible for Attendance Allowance. However, if your care is privately funded, you can still apply.

You cannot claim Attendance Allowance if you already receive Disability Living Allowance or PIP.

However, recent welfare cuts could alter this scenario for retirees who lose access to PIP, so it's worth checking what support you're entitled to under the new rules.