Attendance allowance/Carer's allowance

thorsoak

OH is now 70. We are in receipt of pension + pension savings credit of £7 per week. We own our home.

Now nearly 30 years ago, OH suffered brain damage which has left him with short term memory loss - which we've coped with all this time. When we retired & moved here 18 months ago and registered with local GP she was immediately concerned about Alzheimers and referred OH to memory clinic - and he is now on Aricept.

I was staggered to receive a call from the surgery yesterday, saying that I was down as carer, but hadn't filled in form - could I do so. Well - didn't even think about it before, but yes, I am his carer - although he will make a cup of coffee, cheese on toast, he couldn't really make a meal - and whilst he can shower, bath, etc - he now has to be reminded to do so each morning - and to put on clean clothes (which I have to lay out for him as otherwise he can't find them - but hey - what changes!). He cannot manage money - tries to count out pennies when something costs over a fiver for instance - and although he can now (after 18 months) remember our address, he cannot remember telephone numbers/the make model of our car, etc etc. He carries around a laminated note with address/tel nos/car registration etc.

So my question is - should we claim attendance allowance, or carer's allowance - from the above - would it appear that he is entitled to it? I'm 67. I don't want to make a claim if we haven't got an entitlement - we're not trying to "work" the system!!

Molly41

Yes you should claim. Get help with the form from carers organisations etc.

Oldernotwiser

If your husband is accepted for AA, you could claim Carers but it doesn't really sound from your description as if would be eligible.

Molly41

How is he not eligible? If his wife did not do these things for him then it sounds like he wouldn't get dressed? He cant manage his money? It doesnt sound like he would be able to look after himself at all. You might get a more considered and sympathetic response if you post this in disability and dosh.

Oldernotwiser

Molly41 wrote: »

How is he not eligible? If his wife did not do these things for him then it sounds like he wouldn't get dressed? He cant manage his money? It doesnt sound like he would be able to look after himself at all. You might get a more considered and sympathetic response if you post this in disability and dosh.

Having recently looked at the AA forms for my husband, who is in the later stages of emphysema I'm quite familiar with the requirements and the things that have been mentioned so far are largely irrelevant.

To quote from Direct.gov,


"To get Attendance Allowance, your disability must be severe enough for you to need any of the following:
help with things such as washing (and getting in or out of the bath or shower), dressing, eating, getting to and using the toilet, or communicating your needs
supervision to avoid putting yourself or others in substantial danger, for example, needing someone to keep an eye on your medical condition or diet, or because you cannot control the way you behave
someone with you when you are on dialysis
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance depending on how your disability affects you:
the lower rate, if you need help with personal care frequently or supervision continually throughout the day only, help with personal care or someone to watch over you during the night only, or someone with you when you are on dialysis
the higher rate, if you frequently need help with personal care, or someone to supervise you continually throughout the day and also personal care or someone to watch over you during the night"

Perhaps you might like to illustrate where you think that the OP's husband (as described) fits into these criteria?

I may have posted succinctly but it was not without either sympathy or knowledge.

Indie_Kid

Molly41 wrote: »

How is he not eligible? If his wife did not do these things for him then it sounds like he wouldn't get dressed? He cant manage his money? It doesnt sound like he would be able to look after himself at all. You might get a more considered and sympathetic response if you post this in disability and dosh.

There are two rates of AA - the lower rate require help for most of the day or night and the higher rate requires help for most of the day or night and some help during the night or day. From what has been said, I don't think he'd need help for most of the day. (which has to be from another person)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/AttendanceAllowance/DG_10012438

EDIT: ONW got there before me! My link does give other information too.

Mojisola

Definitely claim and do get help - Age UK or your council's Welfare Officer can help as can the Pension Service.

You can also ask for a carer's assessment - contact Social Services. My parents get a carer from Crossroads for a morning once a fortnight so that I can have a break. They should also put in place a plan of action so that if you are temporarily too ill to care, your husband will be looked after in a way that you are happy with. That's the theory - I haven't tested it yet!

kingfisherblue

If the OP decides to claim for AA and is successful, she won't be able to get CA as she gets a pension it is an overlapping benefit.

Oldernotwiser

Mojisola wrote: »

Definitely claim and do get help - Age UK or your council's Welfare Officer can help as can the Pension Service.

You can also ask for a carer's assessment - contact Social Services. My parents get a carer from Crossroads for a morning once a fortnight so that I can have a break. They should also put in place a plan of action so that if you are temporarily too ill to care, your husband will be looked after in a way that you are happy with. That's the theory - I haven't tested it yet!

I am really not trying to be argumentative but why do you think that the OP's husband would be eligible, given the information that's been given?

This is a genuine question.

Molly41

From the supervision perspective. It sounds to me like the OP has to supervise her husband a good deal. It sounds like he may not get dressed appropriately if she did not lay it out for him, he would not attend to his daily hygiene needs. If he went out would he be able to find his way home given that its taken him months to remember his new details. Of course I could be wrong but it does not harm to apply and get support with that. Obviously her surgery feels like she has a carers role. I reiterate that this thread might be better placed on Disability and Dosh so as to avoid any nastiness!

Mojisola

I think it's better if the OP applies and describes their situation in detail on the form.

Most carers who don't realise they are carers because it has crept up on them underestimate the help they are giving. That's why it's always best if they have help filling in the forms because the advisor will question all their day-to-day activities and highlight how much help is being given.

From the OP's brief description, if her husband was left on his own for a few days, he would be in a mess - not washing or dressing, not eating, and not safe if he left the house.