Attendance allowance/Carer's allowance

Oldernotwiser

Bossyboots wrote: »

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.

Mobility isn't an aspect that's looked at for AA - only care needs.

Oldernotwiser

Molly41 wrote: »

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?

I don't see why it's being any more judgemental to express an opinion that someone might not be eligible for a benefit than to suggest that they might be.

I certainly don't see myself as a martyr but neither do I believe that everybody should claim for everything they possibly can, just on the off chance.

As I said before, many people find having to look closely at what they or their loved one can't do to be a depressing experience and not worth doing just for the sake of a few quid. If you're living with someone with a chronic condition, it's really important to be positive rather than negative, for as long as possible.

seven-day-weekend

You certainly are not obliged to claim anything, ONW, that is entirely yours and your husband's decision.

However it does seem as if the OP's husband might need supervision during the day, so maybe he would qualify on those grounds.

And although the OP could then claim Carers' Allowance, you cannot claim it AND State Pension, so it probably would not make any difference to the money they get.

Mojisola

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

As I said before, many people find having to look closely at what they or their loved one can't do to be a depressing experience and not worth doing just for the sake of a few quid. If you're living with someone with a chronic condition, it's really important to be positive rather than negative, for as long as possible.

I do agree with this. You do learn to cope with difficulties and that becomes "normal". When you fill in the forms, you are confronted with the extent to which you can't do ordinary things.

Whether it's worth it "for a few quid" probably depends on your financial situation. For my parents, it made the difference between watching every penny and having a bit of freedom with money. A once-off form filling session was well worth it for them.

Oldernotwiser

Mojisola wrote: »

I do agree with this. You do learn to cope with difficulties and that becomes "normal". When you fill in the forms, you are confronted with the extent to which you can't do ordinary things.

Whether it's worth it "for a few quid" probably depends on your financial situation. For my parents, it made the difference between watching every penny and having a bit of freedom with money. A once-off form filling session was well worth it for them.

You're right, people's individual situation does have to dictate their behaviour sometimes. Not that the money wouldn't have come in useful......

sunnyone

thorsoak wrote: »

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

Me too, a real socialist.

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Mobility isn't an aspect that's looked at for AA - only care needs.

Mobility is a marker for so many things, if your elderly and cant stand/have severe difficultly standing its more likely that you need daily help and supervison for transfers which in turn means that you need help with personel hygiene as it includes toilet transfers and bathing/showering transfers so while not directly involved in AA assessments mobility is a factor taken into account.

Oldernotwiser

sunnyone wrote: »

Me too, a real socialist.



Mobility is a marker for so many things, if your elderly and cant stand/have severe difficultly standing its more likely that you need daily help and supervison for transfers which in turn means that you need help with personel hygiene as it includes toilet transfers and bathing/showering transfers so while not directly involved in AA assessments mobility is a factor taken into account.

That can be true but it's also true that the elderly are not supposed to be mobile(!) - which is why there is no mobility component to AA.

mumps

I think it would be worth applying. I applied for my mother and she was initially turned down, we appealed and she got several months paid in one go. She was so excited. I can still remember her phoning me and she was crying and laughing and saying she had never had so much money in her hand in her life. I could cry now thinking about it.

It made such a difference to her last ten years. She started to have a mobile hairdresser come every week as she found it difficult to wash her hair. The hairdresser became a friend, when she had a baby he came to and at one point when she left her husband for a few days she moved in with my mother. Mom enjoyed the contact with her and the baby. She also had a chiropodist come every month or six weeks (can't remember now) that made such a difference to her. Little things can make such a difference to your quality of life and I will never regret the effort it took me to get that for her. She was always so grateful for anything you did for her, taking her out in the car, calling round with some fresh rolls or a cake.

sunnyone

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

That can be true but it's also true that the elderly are not supposed to be mobile(!) - which is why there is no mobility component to AA.

I agree but if you are physically chair or bed limited and not mobile it indicates that you have care needs at any age.

Oldernotwiser

sunnyone wrote: »

I agree but if you are physically chair or bed limited and not mobile it indicates that you have care needs at any age.

Of course, but that's not the same thing as using a walker to get around with, which was what was mentioned.