Financial Assistance with Carers Fees

bloolagoon

Evening all

I have an elderly relative that I care for. They need help to wash, dress/undress and make meals breakfast etc.

Due to personal circs I am not able to help out as much as I have been and we have been getting a carer to come in am and pm and also a cleaner.

The relative is just above the Pension Credits limit so not rich by any means so paying over £100 a week in carers fees is crippling.

Is there anything they can claim? They live in an assisted living home and it is their carers that are used if this makes a difference.

sleepless_saver

Your relative should claim attendance allowance, and also should get a full assessment and help with care costs. Have a look at this Age UK info on care at home and also, specifically on costs, this Age UK factsheet (pdf file). She (or you) can phone the local social services department and ask for an (urgent) social care assessment.

(If your relative is just above pension credit limits it is quite possible that receiving attendance allowance will result in her becoming entitled to pension credit.)

bloolagoon

Many thanks. I have read the link and not sure if they qualify for the higher rate (well they do, but they don't have night carers). occasionally I get a call during the night but they tend to deal (badly) with their night time needs until I arrive in the morning. They do have carers to put them to bed, but not over night but the lower rate seems to be a good fit for them. This won't cover all carers fees but will certainly be a huge help till I am able to take this over again.

Not sure what you mean by phoning social services? She is in an assisted living home (deemed unable to live at home), but this wasn't via social services. Can you please explain how they can help? I don't think they'd take too kindly to involving them as they are highly proud

Mojisola

bloolagoon wrote: »

Many thanks. I have read the link and not sure if they qualify for the higher rate (well they do, but they don't have night carers). occasionally I get a call during the night but they tend to deal (badly) with their night time needs until I arrive in the morning. They do have carers to put them to bed, but not over night but the lower rate seems to be a good fit for them. This won't cover all carers fees but will certainly be a huge help till I am able to take this over again.

You don't have to have night carers to claim the higher rate AA - you just have to have the need. If you then choose to spend the allowance on extra day-time care, that's your choice.

bloolagoon

It's rather confusing. Part of the condition involves the necessity to change bedding at night, but the relative will simply place extra towels, childrens potty training bedding and remove them in the morning. so yes they have needs (not every night though). The higher rate would make a difference to their bills, but I'm still convinced that they require or meet this higher need. The carers get them out of bed at 6 - 7 am and put them to bed at 10-11 pm.

I do the lunch time and tea time help and get them ready for bed, so technically other than the occasional mishap all is good over night.

Mojisola

Fill in the forms explaining their needs - not how they cope with them at the moment.

If the help wouldn't be needed every night, the chances are they won't get the higher rate.

Pollycat

bloolagoon
you seem to be trying to determine whether your relative is eligible for Attendance Allowance, rather than letting DWP decide.

I agree with Mojisola - complete the forms, concentrating on detailing the care needs rather than describing illnesses.

The worst they can do is say 'no' and you can then appeal if you disagree with the decision.

I'd also take a look at this website to see if there are any other benefits that your relative may be entitled to:
http://www.turn2us.org.uk/benefits_search.aspx

Alternatively, book an appointment with the CAB.

If your relative is awarded AA, you may then be entitled to Carer's Allowance (if you care for them for more than 35 hours a week) but there are some restrictions e.g. depends on how much you are earning.

More info on these benefits here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/index.htm

CouponWoman

I agree with Polly, don't second guess the AA units decision on what your relative is entitled to.

For attendance needs you only have to NEED the help, it doesn't ask if you HAVE the help.

Simply needing help is the criteria for getting Attendance Allowance, what your relative does with the money once she gets it is up to her. If she chooses to pay for a carer its up to her.

Social Services can do a financial assessment and need assessment on your relative and decide if they can provide any financial assistance to help with carers.

xx

Pollycat

I'm not really sure what 'assisted living' is.

My Mum & Dad lived in a warden-controlled senior person's council-owned flat.

When Dad was diagnosed with Dementia (and before he had to go into a care home), we contacted our local Social Services and they did an assessment.
They provided some physical aids (grab rails etc) and put together a 'virtual' budget that provided a carer every morning to get him up, dressed & showered, 2 afternoons per week at a Day care centre and half a day respite for Mum per week.

This was free because of Dad's age/income.

I'm not sure if this is relevant to your situation or not, but you would need your relative to be on board about speaking to SS.

miss_marsters

My grandparents get attendance allowance, Nana high, grandad low - they also both have carers daily - but this doesnt directly link to the attendance allowance.

If your relative needs extra support they need to be assessed by the adult care team at social services, they come and disscuss their needs and how they can be met (i think its better someone is their with them, either yourself or an advocate to keep a note on the mass of info, they will probably get!)

Dependant on income and savings they will get up to 4 visits funded morning call, lunch, teatime and bedtime.

Night time needs are a tricky one - most social services would say if they need care during the night they would be better suited to residental care - purely due to the cost of carers during the night.

But there is nothing stopping them paying privately for help during the night.

AA is there to pay for the extra things, like meals on wheels, taxis if they cant walk etc, maybe a cleaner to help with household chores - but of course they can spend it on what they like.

My advice is not to mention to SS that you are on hand to help, as most likely they will want you to provide the care.

my grandparents have a morning call with breakfast, teatime (with http://www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/ - like frozen meals on wheels. The carers will heat these up with a cup of tea.)

and put my nana to bed.

make sure they get the AA and anything else they are entitled too, and you as well

they should be able to use the same carers - if you inform SS or there is direct payments http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/moneytaxandbenefits/benefitstaxcreditsandothersupport/disabledpeople/dg_10018721

which means your relative can choose where to spend their care budget

Good luck x

Mojisola

miss_marsters wrote: »

If your relative needs extra support they need to be assessed by the adult care team at social services, they come and disscuss their needs and how they can be met (i think its better someone is their with them, either yourself or an advocate to keep a note on the mass of info, they will probably get!)x

Good post throughout. I would just add that many older people will downplay their needs. If I hadn't been with my parents when SS and OTs visited, they would have given them all the impression that they managed quite well on their own. I had to keep saying "Well, don't you usually need someone to do xxx for you? You haven't been able to go out on your own since xxx, have you?" and so on.