Martin Lewis says the DWP benefit is worth up to £6,000 (Image: ITVX)
Money expert Martin Lewis is urging people to get an extra £6,000 a year if they are of age and have a long-term condition.
Returning on The Martin Lewis Money Show Live on ITV1 and ITVX, Money Saving Expert founder Martin urged pensioners who are ‘ill or disabled’ to make sure they are getting a benefit called .
The benefit could give you up to £108.55 per week and it’s not means-tested, for a total of £5,644 per year which will be going up again in April.
That means that regardless of how much income you have, how much you have in savings or what else you own, you will still be eligible for the full benefit worth up to about £6,000 a year in cash payments from the
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Martin told his ITV viewers: “This is for disabled or ill people of age, we need to collectively work together to spread word on this one.
“Most importantly, is not means tested, they do not look at your means or how much money you’ve got.
“You’re either entitled to it or not entitled to it regardless of finances.
“It is for those who need help with daily living. Both mental and physical conditions.”
Martin then outlined how much this could be worth, especially as it doesn’t take into account any of your other income or savings, unlike the new .
He said: “So let’s look at the amounts. If you need help during the day or in the night, but not both, is the lower rate £73 a week so just under £4,000 a year.
“If you need help during the day and at night, that’s the higher rate, £109 a week, just under £6,000 a year.
“Now to be eligible for , you must have needed help for six consecutive months.
“This is crucially important. You must have NEEDED help, not have got help. There are many people out there who need help but haven’t got help, which is why is there.
“So it is about the need, not the actuality of what happens.”
The government says about that the benefit can also lead to being able to claim other benefits too.
It explains: ” helps with extra costs if you have a disability or health condition severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
“You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get .
“You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.”
Martin then explained that to be eligible, there is a test precedent in law which defines the kind of help that is likely to warrant claiming the benefit and result in you being paid the money.
He added: “What defines help? Well the first one is help with daily living, and a famous old judge… in 1981 defined this and it still fits for today.
“This is help with bodily functions including breathing, hearing, seeing, eating, drinking, walking, sitting, sleeping, getting in or out of bed, dressing, undressing, eliminating waste products and the like.
“All of which an ordinary person who is not suffering from any disabilities does for himself.
“That is the definition of help which is needed.
“You can see the broad range of people who this would impact.”
Martin then listed conditions which would be likely to qualify, adding: “This is common for people with Parkinson’s, or physical disabilities, dementia or terminal illness and more.
“You can apply on someone else’s behalf as long as they are capable of understanding or you can sign it for them if you have Power of Attorney.”