Individuals on disability benefits could be in line for an additional £326 per month under certain conditions. This includes an extra £81.50 per week if you are also receiving Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance or Armed Forces Independence Payment.
These benefits pay a maximum of £737 every four weeks, so the severe disability top-up would increase this to £1,063 to cover the additional costs associated with living with long-term mental and physical health conditions. To qualify for the top-up, one must be on Pension Credit, a benefit for individuals over State Pension age and on a low income.
Currently, around 1.4 million people are receiving Pension Credit, and another 880,000 are believed to be eligible but not claiming. The DWP is working to boost the uptake of Pension Credit as it restores access to the newly restricted Winter Fuel Payment.
DWP guidance indicates that Pension Credit tops up weekly income to £218.15 if you’re single or a joint amount of £332.95 if you have a partner. Additional support is available for those with disabilities, caring responsibilities or those looking after children, reports Birmingham Live.
You could receive an extra £81.50 per week with your Pension Credit (which would be an additional £326 when the cash goes into your account every four weeks) if you receive any of the following:
- 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
An additional £45.60 is available for those who receive Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Support Payment, or have claimed Carer’s Allowance but are not receiving it due to another higher-paying benefit.
If you’re responsible for children or young people, an extra £66.29 per week could be yours for each child. This increases to £76.79 per week for the first child if they were born before 6 April 2017.
The child or young person must usually live with you and be under 20 years old. If they are aged 16 or over and under 20, they must be in (or accepted for) approved training, such as a Foundation Apprenticeship, or a non-advanced education course (like GCSEs or A-Levels).
If they’re studying, it must be for more than 12 hours a week on average. If the child or young person has a disability, you could also receive an extra amount of either £35.93 a week if they get DLA or PIP; or £112.21 a week if they are blind or receive the highest-rate care component of DLA or CDP or the enhanced daily living component of PIP.
