Helping my parents with entitlements

Brallaqueen

Hello, apologies if this is a bit of a garbled post but I have two separated parents with individual needs & they are looking to me for help!

My mum lives in the UK and currently gets low rate care DLA, state pension and works pension. She does not think she is eligible for pension credit. She has been getting LRC DLA for ten years and says it is for her hip (hip operation at 56 left her with mobility difficulties). However she is also going blind and is under the low vision clinic at the local hospital due to retinal tear rendering her blind in one eye, and now macular degeneration which cannot be treated. Up til now she has not done anything about the blindness issue but I wanted to know if this, in addition to the mobility, would mean she is entitled to anything else?

My dad lives in Eire. He came over to the UK in late 60s to work and returned to Eire in 1994. He is trying to claim his pension. However due to being a bit of a mess generally he has no idea of his national insurance number, or employment history. He also struggles with reading and writing so forms are a mystery to him. Together we have filled in a form from the HMRC requesting his National Insurance number but I don't know the next step if/when they reply to him. He gave my address as this is where he stays when he visits and the letter was sent off two weeks ago but nothing has come through yet.


I would really appreciate any help or knowledge anyone cares to share.

Mojisola

Brallaqueen wrote: »

My mum lives in the UK and currently gets low rate care DLA, state pension and works pension. She does not think she is eligible for pension credit. She has been getting LRC DLA for ten years and says it is for her hip (hip operation at 56 left her with mobility difficulties). However she is also going blind and is under the low vision clinic at the local hospital due to retinal tear rendering her blind in one eye, and now macular degeneration which cannot be treated. Up til now she has not done anything about the blindness issue but I wanted to know if this, in addition to the mobility, would mean she is entitled to anything else?

I would get an advisor to do a benefit check for her - AgeUK, RNIB, CAB. She may be able to claim for care needs as well as the mobility. Pension Credit may also be a possibility.

Has she been assessed at home by an Occupational Therapist for any aids that would help her stay independent?

Brallaqueen

Mojisola- thank you very much for your response. Re - benefit check - will my mum need any evidence of her disabilities from the doctor in order to prove that she needs additional help? Will she need to do one of those ATOS assessments do you think? She was medically retired at 56 due to hip.

I think that someone came from the RNIB when she first tore her retina to offer her items etc but mum felt that they were just trying to sell her stuff. The family is adapting the bungalow as we go along.