Non means-tested benefits

Home adaptations are changes your client can make to their home to make it safer and easier for them to move around and do everyday tasks. 

Your client’s local council offers a service that assesses their home and recommends changes to help. Having a home assessment is free. 

These changes can be small or big and include:

• fitting a stairlift or a banister on the stairs
• adding a bath lift, walk-in shower or a grab rail
• widening doorways
• lowering kitchen worktops
• putting in an outdoor ramp or step rail
• security, such as outside lights and intercom systems.

Your client can apply here for a home assessment View - Your client can apply here for a home assessment 

Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if your client has a disability severe enough that they need someone to help look after them.

It’s paid at two different rates and how much your client will get depends on the level of care that your client needs because of their disability.

Your client could get £68.10 or £101.75 a week to help with personal support if they’re both:

• Physically or mentally disabled.
• State Pension age View - State Pension age or older.

It does not cover mobility needs.

The other benefits your client receives can increase if they get Attendance Allowance.

Your client doesn't need to have someone caring for them in order to claim.

If your client goes into a care home and self-funds, they're still entitled to Attendance Allowance. If the Local Authority is paying for care, your client cannot usually get Attendance Allowance.

Your client will be entitled to free eyesight tests if they:

• are aged 60 or over
• are a diagnosed glaucoma patient, or considered to be at risk of glaucoma (according to an ophthalmologist)
• are diagnosed as diabetic
• are registering as blind or as partially sighted.

If your client was born on or before 5 October 1954 they could get between £250 and £600 during Winter 2023 to help them pay for their heating bills. This is known as a ‘Winter Fuel Payment’.

Your client can usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they are eligible View - eligible and they get the State Pension or another social security benefit (not Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, Child Benefit or Universal Credit).

If your client is eligible but they do not get paid automatically, they'll need to make a claim.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help your client with some of the extra costs if they've long-term ill-health or a disability.

Your client could get between £26.90 and £172.75 a week if they’re aged 16 or over and have not reached State Pension age View - State Pension age.

The amount your client will get depends on how their condition affects them, not the condition itself.

Your client will be assessed View - will be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help they can get. The rate they receive will be regularly reviewed to make sure they’re getting the right support.

In England and Wales your client can get a bus pass View - bus pass for free travel when they reach the State Pension age View - female State Pension age.

If your client lives in London and is aged 60 or over, they can travel free on buses, tubes and other transport, but only within London.

Everyone aged over 60 gets free prescriptions View - free prescriptions and eye tests, but your client may be entitled to help with other NHS health costs too, depending on their circumstances.