DWP Expands £338m Support Helping 300,000 Sick, Disabled Find Work

The UK Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has outlined various financial support measures aimed at pensioners and disabled individuals to help boost income and employment opportunities. Attendance Allowance, a tax-free benefit for pensioners with disabilities or health conditions, offers payments of £73.90 or £110.40 per week depending on care needs, potentially increasing income by £146 per month if eligible for the higher rate. Additionally, Pension Credit provides an average income boost of £4,300 annually to low-income pensioners, which combined with Attendance Allowance can total over £10,000 a year, with many eligible pensioners not currently claiming these benefits. The DWP has also launched a £338 million expansion of the Connect to Work programme to support over 85,000 sick and disabled people into secure jobs, as part of a wider £3.8 billion employment support package. Furthermore, a government correction programme has identified thousands of pensioners who were underpaid due to errors in National Insurance records related to Home Responsibilities Protection, with over £104 million already repaid and more funds allocated to address this issue. These initiatives reflect efforts to improve financial security and employment for vulnerable populations across the UK.