'People simply don't know help exists' as Britons with dementia miss out on DWP support worth hundreds

Britons could qualify for Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) support as many families living with dementia are missing out on hundreds of pounds each month.

Attendance Allowance, which is available to people over state pension age who require care because of a health condition or disability, currently pays either £76.70 or £114.60 per week depending on the level of support needed.

Specialists warned many households are struggling financially without realising help may be available.

Experts said the financial impact of dementia is often overlooked as attention tends to focus primarily on healthcare and social care needs.

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Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at debt support group Money Wellness, said families were frequently left dealing with financial difficulties behind closed doors.

Ms Lamb said: "A lot of the focus quite rightly goes on healthcare and social care, but there's also a huge financial side to this that many families are quietly struggling with behind closed doors."

She warned that as dementia progresses, people can increasingly struggle to manage bills, spot financial problems early and deal with paperwork.

Ms Lamb added: "At the same time, families are trying to navigate a support system that often feels confusing and disconnected."

"One of the biggest issues isn't always a lack of support. It's that people simply don't know what help exists until they're already in crisis."

Attendance Allowance is paid at two different rates depending on the level of care required.

The lower weekly payment of £76.70 is available to people who need frequent assistance or constant supervision during the day, or support during the night.

Those who require help during both the day and night, or who have been identified by a medical professional as nearing the end of their life, may qualify for the higher £114.60 weekly payment.

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Claimants must have reached state pension age and have a physical or mental disability or health condition requiring care.

Attendance Allowance does not cover mobility needs and is focused solely on care requirements.

The Alzheimer's Society estimates around 982,000 people across the UK are currently living with dementia, and expects that figure to rise to 1.4 million by 2040.

More than a third of people living with dementia do not have a formal diagnosis, which experts warned can limit access to financial support.

Peter Hamilton, head of market engagement at Zurich UK, said research suggested people with dementia could be missing out on between £1,000 and £5,000 each year in unclaimed benefits.

Mr Hamilton said: "Many benefits are not automatic, meaning that you or your LPA lasting power of attorney must apply for them, which is a key barrier for people with cognitive impairment."

Experts warned that low awareness, complex systems and the effects of cognitive decline were all contributing to eligible people failing to claim the support available to them.

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