Martin Lewis tells 1.1million to make a phone call for ‘substantial amount of money’ – can you get up to £5,600 a year?

MARTIN Lewis is telling 1.1million to make a phone call to bag a “substantial amount of money”.

The founder of MoneySavingExpert.com (MSE) is warning that pensioners are missing out on attendance allowance.

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Speaking on ITV‘s This Morning, Martin said: “1.1million people in the UK – state pensioners – are missing out attendance allowance.

“This is a payment that helps you if you need help, it’s to give you extra money if you need help and support.

“Crucially, it isn’t means tested – so they don’t look at how much money you have – it’s pretty binary so you either qualify for it or you don’t.

“Although, if you’re entitled to PIP or disability living allowance, you can’t get both.

“To give you the scale of this – attendance allowance the lower rate, which is for people who need help during the day or during the night, is £73 a week.

“So that’s just under £4,000 a year.

“The higher rate, which is for people who need help during the day and night, is £109 a week, which is £5,600 a year.”

To qualify for the benefit, you must have some form of supervision for six or more months.

Martin added: “To apply, you can call up or go online.

“However, I strongly suggest you call up, because you’ll get your payments backdated to the day of the phone call.

“But if you apply online, you get your payments from the day you send the form back and this can take time to fill in.”

We’ve explained everything you need to know about the benefit below.

Plus, we’ve also covered how to apply for the benefit.

What is attendance allowance?

Attendance allowance helps with extra costs if you have a severe disability that requires someone to help look after you.

It’s paid at two different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.

You can get attendance allowance as long as you’ve reached state pension age (66) and the following applies:

• You have a physical or mental disability or both
• Your disability is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself
• You have needed that help for at least six months (unless you’re terminally ill)

There are 56 categories of medical conditions you can claim with, including heart disease, Parkinson’s disease and diabetes.

You are also entitled if a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live.

The lower rate is worth £72.65 a week, while the higher rate is £108.55 a week.

If you receive the lower rate, you are entitled to frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.

At a higher rate, you will get help or supervision throughout the day and night.

How do I apply?

To apply, you must download the attendance allowance form by visiting www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form.

Once completed, you should send this to Freepost DWP Attendance Allowance.

If you cannot print the form yourself, you can call the attendance allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122 and ask for a copy to be sent to you.

When will I be paid?

If you’re awarded attendance allowance, it can be paid from the start of your claim. It cannot be backdated.

If you print and post the form, your claim will start on the date the DWP receives it.

If you call the helpline to request a form, your claim will start on the date of your call (if you return the form within six weeks).

After you’ve applied, you’ll get a text or letter within three weeks that explains how long it’ll take to get a decision.

Once the decision has been made, you’ll get a letter explaining the outcome.

If you’ve been awarded attendance allowance, this will tell you when you’ll get your first payment.