Mum and Dad, benefits?

shopaholic2

HI,
Both my parents are in their late 70's, and have very recently been quite ill. Dad had his gall bladder out 3 weeks ago, after being ill since december.
Literally the day after he came home from hospital mum started with sickness and diarrhoea.
She was admitted to hospital after collapsing at home, diagniosed with viral gastroeneteritis, and sent home. Didn't get any better. HAd dr out and also her own GP.
Collapsed again at home last wednesday and was admitted, still in there now, had various tests....ANYWAY....
The upshot is they have realised they are not as young as they were, and are looking at any finacial help they might be entitled to to get help at home.
Mum, in the past, has done it all, and dads done the garden, but they are just too, er, old? Frail? Knackered??

Mum has a blue badge, as she has COPD, and i was hoping to help them claim some attendence allowance? Carers allowance?
Or what??

I can't help them much as I am disabled, and i have help coming in myself.
I'm their only child, and there's no one else to help.

HELP!!!!!!!

anmarj

Call the pension service and ask for a visiting officer to come out and do a benefit check, they will go through everything and see if there is anything they can claim, would be the easiest way

Mojisola

anmarj wrote: »

Call the pension service and ask for a visiting officer to come out and do a benefit check, they will go through everything and see if there is anything they can claim, would be the easiest way

Another vote for the Pension Service. They were very helpful when they visited my parents.

shopaholic2

Thanks Guys, Can you point me in the direction of a phone number?
Also, my parents are not well off, but they do ok, no mortgage etc and plenty of savings, so I wouldn't want anyone to sneer at them and ask why they wanted to claim money when they already have some?!

Oldernotwiser

shopaholic2 wrote: »

Thanks Guys, Can you point me in the direction of a phone number?
Also, my parents are not well off, but they do ok, no mortgage etc and plenty of savings, so I wouldn't want anyone to sneer at them and ask why they wanted to claim money when they already have some?!

I certainly don't think that anyone should sneer at them and AA isn't means tested but I don't really understand why they're not already using their savings to pay for help, even if they can, eventually claim a benefit as well.

Mojisola

shopaholic2 wrote: »

Thanks Guys, Can you point me in the direction of a phone number?
Also, my parents are not well off, but they do ok, no mortgage etc and plenty of savings, so I wouldn't want anyone to sneer at them and ask why they wanted to claim money when they already have some?!

https://www.dwp.gov.uk/about-dwp/customer-delivery/the-pension-service/

As well as looking at any benefits they may be entitled to, they should also have an assessment by an Occupational Therapist. A good OT will be able to suggest ways of making life easier at home. If your parents have some savings, they will probably have to pay for any items themselves.

It may also be worth a visit from Social Services to assess their needs.

You can go directly to one of the agencies and get some carers in and organise a gardener, cleaner, etc, but you probably know about that if you have your own help.

Like most people, my parents found it very hard to start down this road. I followed the advice that the OT gave them that the equipment and helpers coming in actually let them maintain their independence, rather than taking anything away. They are a decade or more older than your parents and are still living at home because of the help they have accepted.

Although you aren't able to do any physical caring for them, you will probably be taking on some of the responsibility for organising their lives. As such, you will be able to have a Carer's Assessment done by SS. As you have your own needs, it's probably more important for you. You will have to be careful that starting to look after your parents doesn't adversely affect your own health.

If they are amenable, now is also the time to look at organising Power of Attorney paperwork and make sure they have their wills sorted out.

poppasmurf_bewdley

If your Mum is in hospital, ask to see a Social Worker whilst you are visiting her, or the hospital will arrange for a Social Worker to visit when she is discharged.

That's what happened with my Mum, and the Social Worker sorted out everything for her, including home help, etc, etc.

The trouble with elderly people is they don't think they are disabled. My Mum always thought of disabled people as having no legs (like after the war) and things like that. She never realised that not being able to walk to the shops and carry her shopping home could be classed as disabled.

ERICS_MUM

poppasmurf_bewdley wrote: »

If your Mum is in hospital, ask to see a Social Worker whilst you are visiting her, or the hospital will arrange for a Social Worker to visit when she is discharged.

That's what happened with my Mum, and the Social Worker sorted out everything for her, including home help, etc, etc.

The trouble with elderly people is they don't think they are disabled. My Mum always thought of disabled people as having no legs (like after the war) and things like that. She never realised that not being able to walk to the shops and carry her shopping home could be classed as disabled.

My mum was exactly the same! Eventually persuaded her to see someone from Social Services to see if she would qualify for Attendance Allowance. The woman came to mum's house and was marvellous with the application form - it was only when it was all written down in detail that mum admitted what a struggle she was having.

She was awarded the higher level Attendance Allowance and it has made a world of difference to her life. Also having the AA allowed her to claim a reduction in council tax.

This extra money means she can buy better food (mainly the good quality veg and ready meals from Marks and Spencer) which she can cook easily. She bought a walking frame, had a walk-in shower fitted and bought a "daylight" lamp so she can read and do her embroidery again. She can afford to have a private chiropodist come to her flat (she's diabetic and I was worried about her feet). All these things have given her a much better quality of life so that even at 87 she still likes clothes shopping and going to a pensioners "gym" class.

She can also contribute towards petrol so we can go out a bit - she likes a run out in the country and stop for tea and cakes !

Please do call and get an assessment. Good luck :beer:

Linda xx

poppasmurf_bewdley

ERICS_MUM wrote: »

My mum was exactly the same! Eventually persuaded her to see someone from Social Services to see if she would qualify for Attendance Allowance. The woman came to mum's house and was marvellous with the application form - it was only when it was all written down in detail that mum admitted what a struggle she was having.

She was awarded the higher level Attendance Allowance and it has made a world of difference to her life. Also having the AA allowed her to claim a reduction in council tax.

This extra money means she can buy better food (mainly the good quality veg and ready meals from Marks and Spencer) which she can cook easily. She bought a walking frame, had a walk-in shower fitted and bought a "daylight" lamp so she can read and do her embroidery again. She can afford to have a private chiropodist come to her flat (she's diabetic and I was worried about her feet). All these things have given her a much better quality of life so that even at 87 she still likes clothes shopping and going to a pensioners "gym" class.

She can also contribute towards petrol so we can go out a bit - she likes a run out in the country and stop for tea and cakes !

Please do call and get an assessment. Good luck :beer:

Linda xx

Yes, that's exactly what Attendance Allowance is for. The Social Worker told my Mum that she could now afford to get a taxi whenever she needed to go out. She was also able to afford a reclining bed and an electric chair that enabled her to get up and down with ease.

I would encourage anyone with elderly parents who have difficulty getting out and about to try and get help.

shopaholic2

Mum asked to see social worker whilst she's in hospital....nurse said that as she is independent she has "no chance".
Charming.
She is independent, but only cos she HAS to be iyswim. With some help, her life, and dads, would be that bit easier.

clemmatis

A nurse said it? Did she refuse to call a hospital social worker?

You could ring hospital social services yourself -- and your local social services, but simply to ask advice, and Age UK.