What can my aunt claim? Mentally and physically disabled

ManicMum

Hello

My aunt is schizophrenic and has been on benefits for years (guess incapacity?). She is about 75 now.

She owns her own home. Recently she has also become physically disabled and now walks with a stick. Has arthritis in knees so that won't be getting better.

She has been sent back home after spell in hospital and a halfway house whilst recovering.

Can anyone tell me if there is anything else she can claim for? She is now paying out for meals on wheels and some sort of alert service.

My parents do a lot of running about for her too - shopping, bills etc. Is there any sort of attendance allowance they can claim?

thanks

DomRavioli

Attendance allowance - over 65 version of DLA. Might be able to get direct payments through the council - Depends on savings, housing and a few other things, ask social services for an assessment as its the only way you can get it. If she owns her own house, she may be required to pay towards long term care because of it. If you speak to the DWP they will advise you.

nannytone_2

at the age of 75 your aunt would be receiving state pension/pension credit and nit incapacity benefit.

your parents wouldnt be able to claim attendance allowance, but your aunt might be able to.
the fact that she has difficulty walking is irrelevant, as there is no mobility componant with AA. if she needs help with her personal care, them she should claim.
how old are your parents?
if they are under pension age and your aunt received AA they could claim carers allowance if they care for her for at least 35 hours per week.

ManicMum

thanks. She is in her own home (although jointly owned with my Dad and another sister so complicated situation if forced to sell for care home needs). That's other thing my parents wondered about. They think they may need to sell the house and use all the money for care as looking as though my aunt will have to go into care home. If owned 3 ways though, I can't see how they can take the others' shares? Also, my parents may need to pay for their own care one day and may need that money.

She has no savings.

My parents are 64 and 65. They are both retired.

Will tell them about the attendance allowance. Thanks

dmg24

They will not have to sell the house, however a charge may be put on the house for when it is sold. The rights of your father etc will depend on how recently ownership has been transferred to them.

Mojisola

Fading_Star wrote: »

Your aunt may be entitled to the mobility component of disability living allowance/attendance allowance as it would be for your aunt being over 75. Don't know if she's already getting it? But if not she should probably get a care component, depending on the severity of her schizophrenia and how much her arthritis affects her activities of daily living. Also a mobility component, which is awarded if you cannot walk/cannot walk far without pain and discomfort.

The OP's aunt is too old to get any mobility payments unless she has been receiving them since before she was 65.

Your parents would be entitled to carer's allowance, but only if your aunt gets a middle or higher rate care component of attendance allowance, and only if the parent claiming earned less than £100 per week. They would also need to spend 35 hours a week or more caring for your aunt.

As the parents are both pensioners, they could not receive Carer's Allowance but if their income is low, they may be entitled to "an underlying entitlement to CA" which will give them a little extra money.

Fading_Star

Mojisola wrote: »

As the parents are both pensioners, they could not receive Carer's Allowance but if their income is low, they may be entitled to "an underlying entitlement to CA" which will give them a little extra money.

Sorry, I didn't realise! Sorry to the original poster for giving you false information...should have read your post more carefully!

ManicMum

dmg24 wrote: »

They will not have to sell the house, however a charge may be put on the house for when it is sold. The rights of your father etc will depend on how recently ownership has been transferred to them.

Hi. Thanks. House belonged to my Nan and when she died 8 years ago, it was willed to her 3 children, 1 of which (my aunt) had lived with her for years, on condition she could remain in the house. This isn't a problem and my Dad and other aunt happy for her to remain but looking now like she will need to go into care. The house would then be sold I guess and the money split 3 ways.

dmg24

ManicMum wrote: »

Hi. Thanks. House belonged to my Nan and when she died 8 years ago, it was willed to her 3 children, 1 of which (my aunt) had lived with her for years, on condition she could remain in the house. This isn't a problem and my Dad and other aunt happy for her to remain but looking now like she will need to go into care. The house would then be sold I guess and the money split 3 ways.

That shouldn't be a problem then, as the rest of the property was never your aunts. What I am not sure of is how a charge is placed on a third interest, it must be pretty common though so I would imagine social services will know.