Attendance allowance/Carer's allowance

Mojisola

kingfisherblue wrote: »

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.

My parents are in this situation and get "an underlying entitlement to carer's allowance" - I think that's how it's phrased - and they don't get the full amount of CA but do get some extra money.

Indie_Kid

kingfisherblue wrote: »

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.

But would she have an underlying entitlement and therefore, receive the premium within pension credit?

Oldernotwiser

Mojisola wrote: »

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.

But he doesn't need help with washing and dressing and other personal care.

Although anyone can apply, the process is such a negative one that many people might find themselves better choosing not to go through it.

thorsoak

Thanks for all your comments - I do appreciate them - positive and negative!

As someone said, once the "worst" is over, the other caring creeps up insidiously - and all of a sudden, I have a 70-year old that I have to treat in the same way as I would treat a 5 year old! He is lovely - "a proper gentleman" as someone who met him said - but I do know that if I were to become ill, heaven help me!! I'd be fed cheese on toast and coffee until both ran out!

Our additional pension is savings pension credit - of £7 per week, plus a reduction of £10 per week on council tax - so I think that on Monday I will make further enquiries by phone, just to see what the picture is. It may just be a case of putting the wheels in motion for if and when things worsen.

I should add - I firmly believe in the concept "from each according to his means, to each according to his needs"!

Bossyboots

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

But he doesn't need help with washing and dressing and other personal care.

Neither does my MIL but she has just been awarded lower rate attendance allowance. It covers more than just needing help with washing and dressing and she lives alone. She needs far less help than is mentioned in the OP.

Far from being a negative experience, following receipt of the application at the DWP she was called for a short telephone interview which in fact covered aspects of her situation I hadn't even thought to mention. She received her award letter two weeks after the application was sent and it was back dated to the date of the online registration.

Oldernotwiser

Bossyboots wrote: »

Neither does my MIL but she has just been awarded lower rate attendance allowance. It covers more than just needing help with washing and dressing and she lives alone. She needs far less help than is mentioned in the OP.

Far from being a negative experience, following receipt of the application at the DWP she was called for a short telephone interview which in fact covered aspects of her situation I hadn't even thought to mention. She received her award letter two weeks after the application was sent and it was back dated to the date of the online registration.

The negative experience I meant was filling in the form, with the emphasis on what you can't do rather than what you can.

My husband is on oxygen 24/7 and needs me to be around him most of the time but we didn't feel that he fit the criteria and we weren't prepared to exaggerate (or get CAB etc to do it on our behalf) in order to claim this money.

Molly41

Just because you choose not to claim a benefit that you would probably be eligible for you are actively discouraging others form doing so? Why are you being so judgemental and such a martyr?

Bossyboots

You don't need to exaggerate anything. It was clear from my MIL's telephone call from the DWP assessor that I hadn't even included everything (for example that she needs a frame to walk around the house) and she still qualified. One of the major points for qualifying at the lower rate is if you need help, even if you aren't getting it. It is important to read the criteria in full as the snippet quoted above is not the full qualifying criteria.

I think it is a shame to deny yourself money to which you are honestly entitled.

It has thrown my MIL a real lifeline as she has to pay for some of the things she can't do herself anymore and she can now budget the AA to meet those costs without touching her pension. In addition, she has treatment on her back which she had been paying for and now can afford to do so every week.

seven-day-weekend

ONW, if your husband is on oxygen all the time, does he have care needs with helping in and out of the bath or shower? And supervision throughout the day? (You said you needed to be with him most of the time).

Those are two of the criteria for being entitled to AA mentioned in your quote. (And it only says 'if you need ANY of these things'......).

Oldernotwiser

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

ONW, if your husband is on oxygen all the time, does he have care needs with helping in and out of the bath or shower? And supervision throughout the day? (You said you needed to be with him most of the time).

Those are two of the criteria for being entitled to AA mentioned in your quote. (And it only says 'if you need ANY of these things'......).

He needs me to be there most of the time for reassurance; I'm afraid that doesn't strike me as a good reason for claiming extra funding, although I do appreciate your help.