The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is providing crucial financial support for individuals living with dementia, as personal finance experts urge those affected to claim the benefits they are entitled to.
Attendance Allowance: Up to £114.60 per Week
One key benefit that many dementia patients may overlook is Attendance Allowance, which offers payments of £76.70 per week at the lower rate and £114.60 per week at the higher rate. This tax-free benefit is designed to help with the extra costs of needing care or supervision.
Rebecca Lamb, external relations manager at debt support group Money Wellness, highlighted the hidden financial burden of dementia. "There's a real danger that the financial impact of dementia is being overlooked, despite more families being affected every year," she 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."
Challenges in Accessing Benefits
Ms Lamb explained that as dementia progresses, individuals often find it harder to manage bills, deal with paperwork, or identify financial problems early. "Families are trying to navigate a support system that often feels confusing and disconnected," she added. "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."
Peter Hamilton, head of market engagement at Zurich UK, noted that many benefits are not automatic. "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," he said.
Over 500,000 Diagnosed in England
Dementia remains one of the most significant health and care challenges in England and across the UK, driven by aging populations and increasing life expectancy. As of 2025, over half a million people—500,000—in England have a formal diagnosis of dementia, with numbers continuing to rise annually.
Mr Hamilton emphasized that people with dementia are disproportionately likely to miss out on benefits due to complex systems, cognitive decline, and low awareness. "Lack of diagnosis also contributes, with more than a third of people with dementia in the UK not having a formal diagnosis, limiting access to support," he added.
Personal finance experts strongly urge families and caregivers to explore Attendance Allowance and other available benefits to ensure that dementia patients receive the financial assistance they are owed.
