People who receive disability benefits could potentially increase their monthly income by £326 under certain circumstances. This additional amount would equate to an extra £81.50 per week for individuals who are already receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Armed Forces Independence Payment, or Scotland’s Adult Disability Payment (ADP). These benefits typically pay a maximum of £737 every four weeks, so the severe disability top-up would raise this amount to £1,063 in order to help cover the additional costs associated with living with long-term mental and physical health conditions.
To be eligible for this top-up, individuals must be receiving Pension Credit, which is a benefit for individuals over State Pension age who are on a low income. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is actively working to encourage more people to claim Pension Credit, as it also reinstates access to the Winter Fuel Payment, which was recently restricted. Currently, around 1.4 million people are already receiving Pension Credit, with an estimated 880,000 individuals believed to be eligible but not claiming it.
According to DWP guidance, Pension Credit can increase weekly income to £218.15 for single individuals or £332.95 for couples. Additional support is available for those with disabilities, caring responsibilities, or individuals looking after children. If you receive any of the following benefits, you could potentially receive an extra £81.50 per week through Pension Credit (which amounts to an additional £326 every four weeks when deposited into your account):
– Attendance Allowance
– Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component at the middle or highest rate
– Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component
– Armed Forces Independence Payment
– Adult Disability Payment (ADP) daily living component at the standard or enhanced rate
Further, an extra £45.60 is available for individuals receiving Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Support Payment, or those who have applied for Carer’s Allowance but are not receiving it due to already receiving a higher-paying benefit. If you have children or young people under your care, you may be eligible for an additional £66.29 per week for each child. This amount increases to £76.79 per week for the first child if they were born before April 6, 2017, and meet certain criteria.
If your child or young person is disabled, you could potentially receive an extra weekly amount of £35.93 if they receive DLA, PIP, or ADP, or £112.21 if they are blind or receive the highest-rate care component of DLA or CDP, or the enhanced daily living component of PIP or ADP.
It’s important to stay informed about these benefits and eligibility criteria to ensure you are receiving the support you are entitled to. By taking advantage of these additional payments, individuals can better manage the financial challenges associated with long-term health conditions and disabilities.
