Advise needed

lancashire-lass_2

Please could somebody give me some advise?
My elderly aunt has suffered from heart problems for a number of years, she also has hearing and sight problems.
My uncle (her husband) has been looking after her and doing all the shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening, etc. He recently suffered a stroke and has just returned home.
Like most of their generation they have never claimed any type of benefits, but now find themselves in the situation that my aunt is expected to act as my uncles carer.
She has asked me to help her sort out claiming Carers Allowance - but I thought that the person being cared for had to have needed help for 6 months?
What would be best? My aunt claiming Attendance Allowance for her medical problems and my uncle claiming Carers Allowance? Or would that be allowed seeing as he is now the one needing help?
What is the best advise that I can give them? I don't want to make a bad situation worse!
Any advise gratefully received

nannytone_2

if they are over the age of 65 then neither of them are eligable to claim carers allowance.
there is no reason why both of them shouldnt put in a claim for attendance allowance though.
also contact social services as they may be able to put a care package in place to help them.

lancashire-lass_2

They are both in their 80's - so no Carers Allowance then!
Can they both claim Attendance Allowance?

nannytone_2

yes they can both claim attendance allowance. whether they get it or not is another thing!
if one or both get awarded attendance allowance and someone cares for them for a minimum of 35 hours per week, then that person could claim carers allowance ( assuming that person is under 65)
you really should consider contacting social services, as they may be able to help.

RAS

Yes if they both need help.

Mojisola

My parents are much the same age. They both claim AA and both get an "underlying entitlement" to Carer's Allowance which doesn't give them the full amount of CA but does increase their weekly income.

lancashire-lass_2

Cheers for all the advise
I can phone them now and explain which forms they need to get and complete!
Your help is muchly appreciated.

Mojisola

lancashire-lass wrote: »

Cheers for all the advise
I can phone them now and explain which forms they need to get and complete!
Your help is muchly appreciated.

I would always advise that they get help to fill in the forms - AgeUK, the Pensions Service, DIAL, etc.

We wouldn't have put down half the information that the adviser gave when he filled in the forms for my parents.

LL30

Social services is also a good bet - they could possibly get direct payments to pay for help at home, I'd urge you to at least ring up and have a chat with the duty social worker and see what they say.

sleepless_saver

nannytone wrote: »

if they are over the age of 65 then neither of them are eligable to claim carers allowance.
there is no reason why both of them shouldnt put in a claim for attendance allowance though.
also contact social services as they may be able to put a care package in place to help them.

You can apply for carers allowance even aged over 65 - there is no age limit, but be sure to get the carers allowance form for people in receipt of state pension as there is a different for for non -pensioners. If the state pension is more than the amount of carer’s allowance then you don't get paid any carer’s allowance. But it's normally worth claiming anyway as carer’s allowance may increase entitlement to other benefits, e.g. pension credit, council tax benefit etc.

And there's no reason in principle why someone shouldn't receive both attendance allowance and carers allowance as long as the conditions for both benefits are met.

salau2

Yes they could both claim attendance allowance and both claim carer’s allowance. However, if they are both receiving State Pension it is unlikely that they will be paid Carer’s Allowance. Though, they will have what is classed as an underlying entitlement to Carer’s Allowance. This will add an extra premium - the Carer’s Premium to their Pension Credit applicable amount. Moreover, if they both receive Attendance Allowance and they are the only adults in their house/flat then they will also receive a Severe Disability Premium on their Pension credit applicable amounts. This can be significantly more benefit. Furthermore, if they both receive Pension Credit Guarantee then it is automatic full council tax benefit and maximum housing benefit/LHA. You have one month to appeal decisions. Contact CAB, Welfare Rights, Age UK or SSAFA (if either was in armed forces) and get a full benefits check for them.

Regarding the care, Social Services have a statutory duty for vulnerable people and therefore the Access Team will visit their home and assess their care needs. This can transpire to getting some carers in to help and or getting some adaptations for the property. Just give them a telephone call and ask for someone to come out or contact their GP and ask for a referral.