The (not so old) Crocks Cafe -Part 2

sunnyone

mary-op wrote: »

Hi all
Got the letter through today from DLA about my allowance and not sure whether to query it or not.
I've been given low rate mobility -fair enough as I'm over 65 and been given highest care rate for the care I need which is day and night.
The reasons given are for supervision when walking outside (can't walk and need wheelchair to be pushed) and help with personal care day and night but among the things listed I need help with there's no mention of the fact I can't cook/wash up, do laundry etc. as I can't walk or stand long enough to do these things, can't lift plus need both hands for my walking frame in the house.
Carers allowance doesn't seem to apply to OH but they do mention Carers Credit (Nat.Ins.credit ).....OH cannot work as he's needed to look after me so I thought I might get Attendance Allowance.
This is all a bit new to me so I'm mind boggled by it a bit. Does this sound about right or should I query it do you think ?

You can only get AA or DLA care and the DLA HRC is the same as the high rate AA anyway and it makes no diffrence to what your OH can claim because they both allow you to have someone to claim carers allowance for you but dependant on his situation he might now be allowed to claim carers but could have a carers premium if he/you claim means tested benefits.

formaldehyde_perfume

Trialia - I'm so sorry for your loss. It's hard to lose anyone but someone so young must be even worse.

I haven't been around on the forums much because I've been having a fairly positive patch lately and I've either been making the most of it, or resting from making the most of it!

A little while ago I complained on here that all housing suitable for me that had come up was for over 55's and the woman on the phone when I rang the local housing association said there was just no way I'd be considered for it because of my age. I had a think about it and when I went to CAB yesterday I asked whether that was age discrimination, they didn't know but they still had an appointment with the local discrimination service that come in once a month and that happens to be this thursday! Hopefully they'll say yes it is discrimination and help me fight to be considered for whatever property is suitable, regardless of age consideration. Either way at least I will know.

bigzippy

juno wrote: »

My kettle died last night The lid came off and there were springs everywhere! The mechanism that holds the lid down had broken somehow. I resigned myself to months of kettle testing (anyone with hand issues will know what I mean!) but decided to look at the ones in Morrisons as I was going there today.

They had several that were absolutely rubbish - how anyone even with normal hands could grip the stupidly fat handle is beyond me! Then another had a nice handle, but had the on switch right where I wanted to put my thumb. But they had an own brand one at £12 that seemed perfect! And it lights up

Number of cups of coffee made: 2
Number of accidents: 0

Have you tried a kettle tipper? Friend and then OT mentioned them. Could very well solve your scolding problems?
(btw, I said they still needed moving to fill them up, but the OT pointed out that you can fill it with a jug/cup full each time, rather than moving the kettle itself )

Trialia wrote: »

Not to drop the mood of the thread, but a dear friend of mine died yesterday afternoon. Liz was a fellow 'spoonie' - she had dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa, which kills 40% of sufferers by the age of 35. She was 25. I hate to think of her as a statistic. I miss her so much already. I've barely stopped crying since I found out, so am doing my best to distract myself until I can cope...

Gutted for you Tria


I've had some not great news also, which is part of why I've not been around. Not sure if I mentioned that I was having some pain, so went for a scan and they found that I have polycystic ovaries (PCO). Since before then I've not ovulated (and need AF before I can do the hormone tests) which is not looking good, and then I had a GTT test as insulin resistance can be an issue with PCOS, and they told me y'day that I have Impaired Glucose Tolerance. (cue fertility and miscarriage issues, for starters) On top of that I have a urology referral set up (to see if the pain I initially presented with has something to do with my bladder, or if it's an additional thing), and I currently have 2 simultaneous kidney infections - which are pretty painful! (feel like I'm being struck across the lower back with an iron bar tbh ) So keeping the PMA up is a bit hard going atm

Pobby

Sorry to hear of your loss.

Trialia

Thank you, all of you.

Her memorial service is this afternoon, our time, as a Celebration of Life. I had an email from her mother this morning, and she asked if she could use some of my words from my original email to her in the service. I'm really honoured by that. It eases the pain a tiny bit to know that, though I can't be there - it is in Ottawa - in a way, I still can.

LameWolf

((((((BZ)))))

(((((Trialia)))))

mary-op

sunnyone - thanks for the info. I phoned Pensions people yesterday about Pension Credit and they said I'm entitled to it and also OH should get Carers Allowance and they're sending necessary forms -mind you he's done his back in at the minute shifting stuff in the garden so I'm not sure who's caring for who...........we're both on walking sticks.........what a pair............lol Thank goodness we've got some good friends:)

daska

formaldehyde_perfume wrote: »

A little while ago I complained on here that all housing suitable for me that had come up was for over 55's and the woman on the phone when I rang the local housing association said there was just no way I'd be considered for it because of my age. I had a think about it and when I went to CAB yesterday I asked whether that was age discrimination, they didn't know but they still had an appointment with the local discrimination service that come in once a month and that happens to be this thursday! Hopefully they'll say yes it is discrimination and help me fight to be considered for whatever property is suitable, regardless of age consideration. Either way at least I will know.

I recently went looking at retirement homes with my dad and, while we were at one of them the manager said "and of course you'd be allowed to move in whatever your age". They have an over 55 age limit OR disabled policy. Of course being me I was cheeky and asked whether that included my 3 yr old. But it's definitely worth challenging, why would a 55 year old, able and in good health, need specialist housing more than someone younger who has a long term illness or disability? If it helps to have an example of a company who already operates this policy the company is Retirement Security Ltd.

sunnyone

mary-op wrote: »

sunnyone - thanks for the info. I phoned Pensions people yesterday about Pension Credit and they said I'm entitled to it and also OH should get Carers Allowance and they're sending necessary forms -mind you he's done his back in at the minute shifting stuff in the garden so I'm not sure who's caring for who...........we're both on walking sticks.........what a pair............lol Thank goodness we've got some good friends:)

carering comes in many forms mary and Im sure that like most married couples that you have forgotten all the things that you do for each other ordinarily each day, I know that we rub together nicely and even before we both becames disabled we both did the things that we did best into out marrage.

It will probably mean a fair bit extra money coming in for you both which always makes affording the things that you need for your disability easier to fund, it your potless the bills always come before something to make life easier/more comfortable/able to manage something yourself etc.

formaldehyde_perfume

daska wrote: »

I recently went looking at retirement homes with my dad and, while we were at one of them the manager said "and of course you'd be allowed to move in whatever your age". They have an over 55 age limit OR disabled policy. Of course being me I was cheeky and asked whether that included my 3 yr old. But it's definitely worth challenging, why would a 55 year old, able and in good health, need specialist housing more than someone younger who has a long term illness or disability? If it helps to have an example of a company who already operates this policy the company is Retirement Security Ltd.

Thanks. The appointment went really well, he phoned them up and they started saying the same stuff as they did to me but then he told them the legal position and they started backtracking and basically they now know that he is on my side and I should be taken seriously. He also thought I should be put in band A which is really pleasing, the only down side is that I will have to wait 6 to 8 weeks before I can start looking at properties.

Also, a shop in town wants to sell my jewellery .. It will be such a low turn over that it won't affect my benefits and it gives me a bit of a purpose. Fab!