State pensioners are being urged to check if they can claim extra £434 a month as some cities in the UK are seeing as much as a 900 per cent surge in retirees job hunting.
Pensioners across the UK are increasingly looking for ways to make extra cash as they face mounting living costs and reduced eligibility for the Winter Fuel Payment.
Experts are urging pensioners to claim all the benefits they are eligible for as a way to get an extra cash boost as the cost of living continues.
New research shows that Britons are turning to employment to make ends meet, with new research showing a 16 per cent rise in job searches by retirees over the past year.
There has been a growing trend of retirees supplementing insufficient retirement funds through employment, research conducted by pension advisors Almond Financial show.
Oxford leads with an unprecedented 900 per cent increase in retirement job searches. Coastal hub Plymouth follows at 500 per cent, and five UK cities saw rises over 150 per cent in just one year.
Sam Robinson, principal financial adviser at Almond Financial, encourages pensioners to consider alternatives before turning to employment.
Attendance Allowance is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and could provide a vital income boost for struggling pensioners
GETTYHe said: "Checking your eligibility for Attendance Allowance, other non-means tested benefits, the Winter Fuel Payment, and a reduction in Council Tax, could work to maximise your retirement income each month."
Attendance Allowance is provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and could provide a vital income boost for pensioners with a disability or illness.
Currently, Attendance Allowance, is either £72.65 (lower rate) or £108.55 (higher rate) per week, and is typically paid every four weeks.
This equates to either £290.60 or £434.20 each pay period, or around £5,644.60 over the 2024/25 financial year.
From April, the lower rate will rise to £73.90 per week and those eligible for the higher rate will receive £110.40 weekly. These increases reflect a 1.7 per cent uplift in line with inflation.
The benefit for people over state pension age, which is currently 66. It's designed for those who need help with personal care or supervision due to illness or disability.
The main health conditions and number of claimants across Great Britain are as follows:
- Arthritis - 469,902
- Dementia - 170,225
- Heart Disease - 120,914
- Respiratory Conditions - 100,530
- Disease Of The Muscles, Bones or Joints - 83,594
- Cerebrovascular Disease - 73,475
- Back Pain - 72,553
- Visual Disorders and Diseases - 50,107
- Parkinson's - 43,367
- Neurological Conditions - 34,604
Attendance Allowance is financial aid for individuals with a physical or mental disability or illness that makes it difficult to care for themselves.
It helps with additional costs but does not cover mobility needs. The allowance is available for those who need help or supervision during the day or night with tasks like dressing, eating, bathing, or ensuring personal safety.
People should apply if personal tasks are painful, take a long time, or require physical support. This aid is not limited to those with physical disabilities. For eligibility details, people can check the GOV.UK website.
People who need help during the day or at night could qualify for the lower rate. Those requiring assistance both during the day and night, or with a terminal illness, may be eligible for the higher rate.
Eligibility for Attendance Allowance extends to anyone over state pension age (currently 66) with a disability or illness.
This can include learning difficulties, sight or hearing impairments, mobility issues like arthritis, or mental health conditions such as dementia.
Applicants don't need a formal diagnosis to claim. They must have needed help for at least six months, unless terminally ill.
The benefit isn't restricted to spending on care. Recipients can use the money for household bills or other expenses.
Claimants may qualify if they need help with personal tasks, experience pain, or require physical assistance. Eligibility also extends to those needing supervision to remain safe during the day or night.
The benefit could provide crucial financial support while many retirees opt to look for more work.
The benefit could provide crucial financial support while many retirees opt to look for more work
PAThe research shows the regional differences of those retirees looking for work. Oxford has seen a staggering 900 per cent increase in pensioners seeking work.
This dramatic rise in Oxford may be linked to the city having the third highest cost of living in the UK, at £893.90 for a single person's monthly expenses excluding rent.
Plymouth follows Oxford with the second-highest rise, recording a 500 per cent increase in searches for post-retirement work. Swindon has seen a 300 per cent surge in pensioners looking for jobs compared to last year.
Eastbourne and West Bromwich complete the top five cities with the highest increases, at 275 per cent and 150 per cent respectively.
Not all areas are experiencing this trend, however. Milton Keynes bucked the pattern with the largest overall decrease in pensioners searching for jobs, falling by 38 per cent from 2023 to 2024.
