What can my Sis in long term care claim?

Keeping_Positive

Hi

My Sis has been unwell now for a few years. Basically severe brain damage from epilepsy. The Social Worker told my Mum that my Sis was entitled to something but wouldnt say what. Mum went to CAB who gave a number but then Mum, as usual, never followed it up :mad:.

Anyways Mum is broke and Sis now needs clothes. The care home say there is a benefit for £15-£20 a week claimable to pay for things like this as well as toiliteries etc.

Can anyone help?

Thanks

Prinzessilein

A few questions to help with deciding what benefits might be payable?

How old is your sister?
Does she live at home (with your mum) ?
What benefits (if any) are being claimed for her already?

It sounds like she might be entitled to DLA (and maybe Carers Allowance for your mum) but more information is needed.

Keeping_Positive

Thanks

She is 30

Lives in a care home - unfortunately far too much work for the family

Nothing claimed at the moment

Prinzessilein

OK....I might be wrong....and others more knowledgeable can correct me...

If she is in a care home then I think that most benefits will be inapplicable. I don't think you get DLA if you are living full time in a home, and that will rule out the Carer's Allowance for your mother too.

Could you or your mother contact the Social Worker and ask for more information on which benefits they think should be claimed?

RAS

Hi

My mum certainly got DLA medium rate whilst living in a care home. They may have changed the rules but it was the home who alerted us to the benefit and organised the assessment and paperwork. We just signed it.

fluffymovie

I think what the social worker is trying to say is that out if benefits she us entitled to such as disability living allowance, incapacity benefit etc, should go to pay for her care but she is entitled to a personal allowance of £22.90 per week from this.

If s services are paying for care, they should be sorting thus. Perhaps contact the care manager or client affairs team at your local or county council

Keeping_Positive

The social worker wouldnt say what could be claimed just that something could be and to go to CAB. I dont want to leave it to Mum as its been left for 3 years as it is and as I work full time me getting to CAB would be difficult.

Im surprised there is something but even the care workers say there is to help with costs the care home doesnt cover. They wont even wash her hair if we dont provide shampoo. Before Mum just paid but she is now used all savings up and as you can see from my Sig I dont really have extra cash. I will source some clothes from car boots and maybe freegle but Id like to get my sis what she can as they can use the money towards trips out as well.

Indie_Kid

If you go into a care home or somewhere similar funded by (or fees assistance provided by) a Health and Social Care Trust, an Education and Library Board, a Health Service Trust or other government department, the care component of Disability Living Allowance may stop on the payday following the 28th day after the date of admission.

If you pay your own fees in a care home or somwhere similar, you can continue to receive the care component of Disability Living Allowance even if you are still receiving Income Support.
From the 19 June 2000 the care component of Disability Living Allowance can be paid to people who finance their own care in accommodation managed by a Health and Social Care Trust, unless they are receiving Income Support, Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based) or Housing Benefit , or are one partner of a married or unmarried couple for whom an amount is included in the Income Support or Jobseeker's Allowance (Income Based).
The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance is not affected if you move into a care home or somewhere similar.

Source - http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/ssa/benefit_information/a-z_of_benefits/disability_living_allowance.htm

Keeping_Positive

The mobility component of Disability Living Allowance is not affected if you move into a care home or somewhere similar.

Disability Living Allowance is withdrawn after 28 days or an aggregate of 28 days in hospital.

Thanks SH1305

She cant walk or move herself so from this she should be able to claim the mobility element but then the line below is a bit confusing. I understand that the government are paying for alot at the moment but its the little bits for personal care that arent covered we need help with yet its the care element that ceases

Ill call the benefits number quoted on the link tomorrow.

anmarj

Keeping_Positive wrote: »

Thanks SH1305

She cant walk or move herself so from this she should be able to claim the mobility element but then the line below is a bit confusing. I understand that the government are paying for alot at the moment but its the little bits for personal care that arent covered we need help with yet its the care element that ceases

Ill call the benefits number quoted on the link tomorrow.

which is correct if she is being funded by the local authority, you may need to as fluffymovie is contact the care manager and get more information from them, if she had been fully self funding ie paid all the fees with no assitance from the local authoirty then the care component could be claimed.

they should have what is known as "pocket money" ie the have income of £150, £128 go towards fees to the care home and the £22 is kept for things like shampoo, magazines etc.

Keeping_Positive

Strange the care home said today we need to claim and that they dont provide that.