is my nan entitled to attendance allowance???

cally1976

hi, thanks for reading this,
my nan is currently in a care home and has dementia and is now unable to do anything but sit in a chair she receives a pension and pension credit, she was receiving attendance allowance up untill about 18 months ago when they wrote to say she was not entitle to it anymore, the money she has to pay for the care home is basically all the money she has coming in? she only has £9 per month to live on......should she be getting attendance allowance? i have applied on my mums behalf as she has power of attorny over my nans finance, and frequantly is buying items for my nan out of her money (wheelchair, straps,clothes, toiletries,)
my nan worked all her life but has no saving, and didnt own a property!!!

really need to know where she stands with receiving it so i can fight it all the way, im sure the law says you needa certain amount to live on?

thank you for any advice you can give

Oldernotwiser

If her care home place is funded by the NHS then I believe that AA is not normally payable.

Why is your mother buying a wheelchair for her - isn't this provided by the home?

bunny999

Unless she is paying the full cost of her care home fees she won't be entitled to AA.

cally1976

no my mum had to buy the wheelchair as the care home doesnt supply them?
my nan has to pay £17.10 per day to the care home which is just over £500 pm, she has £120 per week in pension and has to pay £119.07 in care home fee's, i know there has to be a critiria to claim these benefits but was hoping she was entitled to something!!

SuzyWuzy_2

GP's provide wheelchairs or they are available to hire , you can get a phone number from the OT's at your local council. You don't have to buy one.

A dememtia care home costs £100's per week. A financial assessment will have been completed for them to get to the £17.10 pd. If your not happy then speak to the reviewing officer , social worker involved they should provide you with a breakdown.

pmlindyloo

My mum lives in a care home and is in a similar position to your nan. She too receives only her state pension and pension credit. She is not entitled to AA because she is not paying all the care home fees herself.

However, once everything is deducted from her pensions she is left with a minimum of £21.90.

Your income is worked out by calculating what money you have coming in each week. This includes the income from your savings, any pension you receive (state, occupational or personal), and any income from benefits, such as Pension Credit.
When deciding how much you have to pay towards the fees, the local authority must always leave you with some money to spend as you wish each week. This is called a 'personal expenses allowance'. In 2009-10 this is set at £21.90 (£22 in Wales); this rate goes up every April. Any income you have over this level will go to the local council to cover your care costs, up to the full amount of the fees.
(http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/en-gb/AdviceSupport/HousingChoices/CareHomes/as_carehome_050106_4.htm

Who is contributing towards your nan's care? Your nan should have had notification of the amount they pay and what she pays. (Perhaps your Mum is receiving these letters?) When you know this you should call them and discuss the problem with them (mistakes are made!)

It is extremely difficult to buy 'large things' on such a small personal allowance. However, there are charities that can help in some circumstances. For instance my mum was helped by the RAF benevolent fund because my dad served in the RAF during the war.

The care home should know if there are any charities which might help your nan.

Hope this helps.