Help for disability?

notakid

My Mom is 70 and needs new knees, but because she also has a breathing problem (not sure what it is maybe asthma but could be PBD) the Hosp won't operate at present.

My Dad is 75 and in good health. However its getting difficult for my mom to get around.

My parents have savings and a very small private pension (not enough to pay tax) basically they are living off their savings but can't claim anything.

Can my Mom claim on disability of any kind? She is finding it very difficult to walk now, can she get help towards a car or scooter? My parents don't have a car and don't like spending money as they are worried for the future and are of a generation which saving is important.

My sister and I are happy to help and we haven't moved far but my parents still view us as children and don't accept help easily!

chesky369

Are you in Scotland, because benefits might be different from England. Help The Aged are in Granton Square Edinburgh and I think you should visit them to see how they can help with advice and information.

emilyt

She might be able to claim attendance allowance.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/AttendanceAllowance/DG_10012425

notakid

Hi,thanks for replieing
No we are Brummies! I've looked at the site entitledto and it looks like they might be okay for attendance allowance. I rang up my Mom and put the questions too her.
Need to see the hosp regularly, check.
Take lots of medicine. check
Need help washing and bathing? Oh no says my mom I'm okay with that. But Mom I say, could you get out of the bath if Dad wasn't around? Oh No she says I'd be stuck, I can't have a bath! :rolleyes:
Last question Mom, I say. At night do you need help toileting. Oh no she says I can cope, I can crawl! No helping is there sometimes!!!
We cope she says.......
I was thinking of answering yes on the final question. Do they have mental health problems!!!:o

emilyt

notakid wrote: »

I was thinking of answering yes on the final question. Do they have mental health problems!!!:o

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

monkeyspanner

Attendance allowance is a good idea it is not means tested.
Social worker who helped my MIL fill out her claim explained that she should take her worst days as what to put on the form. MIL only had an upstairs toilet at the time and was "coping" by crawling upstairs on all fours!

And they can spend the money on whatever they like.

margaretclare

I too was advised (by a CAB benefits adviser) to put 'worst day' rather than 'best day'. I passed on that gem in a thread on here and was accused of committing fraud, lying in fact!!

That said, it is NOT normal to need someone to get you out of the bath. Walking is just a normal activity, not being able to walk is not!

Having to crawl to the loo in the night is NOT normal.

Your Mum should claim.

Mojisola

notakid wrote: »

My Mom is 70 and needs new knees, but because she also has a breathing problem (not sure what it is maybe asthma but could be PBD) the Hosp won't operate at present.

This isn't about benefits but a relative had a knee replacement done recently with an epidural. It might be worth enquiring about it. I can't see that breathing problems would matter then.

notakid

Thanks everyone.
I think the op hasn't gone ahead because my Mom tells the Dr she can cope, and as she has been hospitalized several times recently because of her breathing they are dealing with that, but its worth knowing that she doesn't need a general.

I spoke to my Dad, he is worried that if he claims then years down the line they might make him sell the house if Mom gets worse and put her in a Home! His reasoning is that he wouldn't be able to say he could cope as he would have admitted he needs help with Mom if he claims now!

I've told him it doesn't work that way but I don't know if he believes me, I'm still the child! :rolleyes: and to be honest my Dad still does a lot for both my sister and me. I've told him to go to the CRB and speak to them once he gets the forms. Both myself and my sister live close to my parents as I've always wanted to live close by as they grow older and I've promised them they will leave their house in a box, not before! I've said the only time I would have to break that promise is if either lost their marbles but as they are at the age they are, that it would be unlikely.

My Dad's always been a bit of a freethinker and he doesn't like government at all! He doesn't like giving information, he is his own man!;) :cool: I'll let you know if I can talk them round. I'm trying to use his love for my Mom to guilt him into claiming. A scooter she can wiz around on!

Savvy_Sue

notakid wrote: »

I was thinking of answering yes on the final question. Do they have mental health problems!!!:o

:rotfl:

notakid wrote: »

I'm trying to use his love for my Mom to guilt him into claiming. A scooter she can wiz around on!

Sounds like a plan ...

IF you can persuade them to get in touch with Social Services, they are each entitled to an assessment of their needs: your mum in her own right and your Dad as her carer.

My parents have recently done this, although they are co-dependent, but they very quickly had grab rails installed at the front and back doors to help with the steps, and mum has grab rails and a seat in the bath. I think Mum has something to help her get out of bed too.

And they have blue badges too, extremely useful.

See if your dad will believe information from Age Concern / Help the Aged.

sleepless_saver

If your mum does claim for and get attendance allowance (and it certainly sounds like she would be entitled to it), it's a good idea to check their entitlement to the other benefits again. Depending on their other income they could become entitled to council tax benefit and/or pension credit because of the impact of the attendance allowance on the way these are calculated.