Benefit Advice

Threebabes

Hello

My mam and her partner do not live together, she has cancer in her breast and brain. When she gets out of hospital she could benefit with her partner living with her, shes unstable on her feet etc. He is also on benefits not working caring for her, getting her to appointments and occupying her etc.

Does anyone know what benefits my mam would loose if he was to move in with her permanently? She is on higher rate disability benefit and no idea what he is on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated at this difficult time.

seven-day-weekend

Her Disability Benefit would be safe, but we need to know what other benefits they are both on, including any help they might get with rent and Council Tax, before anyone can say what they would be entitled to.

whodathunkit

Does he claim Carers Allowance for her already?

Mojisola

Threebabes wrote: »

Hello

My mam and her partner do not live together, she has cancer in her breast and brain. When she gets out of hospital she could benefit with her partner living with her, shes unstable on her feet etc. He is also on benefits not working caring for her, getting her to appointments and occupying her etc.

Does anyone know what benefits my mam would loose if he was to move in with her permanently? She is on higher rate disability benefit and no idea what he is on.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated at this difficult time.

Is this the care or mobility element or both?

If she is getting middle or high rate care, he could claim Carer's Allowance.

You can try out several different scenarios on a benefit checker.

cattie

As your mother is on higher rate care of DLA, if she receives the severe disability premium, she could lose this, which is paid to those on higher rate care DLA who live alone & who nobody claims carer's allowance for.

The welfare rights specialist at the hospital, or Macmillan nurses would be
the best people to approach to find out all the help & support your mother might be entitled to.

confuseddaughter_2

cattie wrote: »

As your mother is on higher rate care of DLA, if she receives the severe disability premium, she could lose this, which is paid to those on higher rate care DLA who live alone & who nobody claims carer's allowance for.

The welfare rights specialist at the hospital, or Macmillan nurses would be
the best people to approach to find out all the help & support your mother might be entitled to.

I didn't know that there were Welfare Rights specialists based in hospitals? Mum and dad spend half their lives in them yet no one has ever approached them to ask if they needed any help with sorting out their claims. Maybe it is for patients to hold out the 'porridge bowl of poverty' and ask for more?

tomtontom

confuseddaughter wrote: »

I didn't know that there were Welfare Rights specialists based in hospitals? Mum and dad spend half their lives in them yet no one has ever approached them to ask if they needed any help with sorting out their claims. Maybe it is for patients to hold out the 'porridge bowl of poverty' and ask for more?

They tend to be attached to certain departments, such as oncology and mental health services.

confuseddaughter_2

tomtontom wrote: »

They tend to be attached to certain departments, such as oncology and mental health services.

Thanks, that does really surprise me. Oncology I can understand. But, my dad has been under the care of the local CMHT for nearly 20 years, he is now under the same team but one that specifically deals with the 'older person'. In addition he has spent time, in the past, under section in a secure psychiatric hospital as he was considered to be a danger to himself and others about him. No one has ever approached him with regards to asking if he was getting his full benefit entitlement. He only made the various claims when I realised that they were missing meals and racking up unpaid bills. I arranged for him to claim ESA in 2011 and DLA from 1998.
Maybe hospitals need to publicise this service for all patients a little better.
Are they currently supposed to be proactive and approach patients from the mental health and oncology services?

Threebabes

Thank you for all your advice. Im not sure what benefits they are receiving. I do know she is getting the high level for her disability allowance not sure what else tho.

I am going to suggest that they get in touch with Macmillan who offer ive looked up and they do offer financial advice.

cbrown372

confuseddaughter wrote: »

Thanks, that does really surprise me. Oncology I can understand. But, my dad has been under the care of the local CMHT for nearly 20 years, he is now under the same team but one that specifically deals with the 'older person'. In addition he has spent time, in the past, under section in a secure psychiatric hospital as he was considered to be a danger to himself and others about him. No one has ever approached him with regards to asking if he was getting his full benefit entitlement. He only made the various claims when I realised that they were missing meals and racking up unpaid bills. I arranged for him to claim ESA in 2011 and DLA from 1998.
Maybe hospitals need to publicise this service for all patients a little better.
Are they currently supposed to be proactive and approach patients from the mental health and oncology services?

It really does surprise me you didn't know this considering you personally have used hospitals across the country for your treatment let alone all your family medical history. Goodness you could write a book about it I imagine.

cbrown372

Threebabes wrote: »

Thank you for all your advice. Im not sure what benefits they are receiving. I do know she is getting the high level for her disability allowance not sure what else tho.

I am going to suggest that they get in touch with Macmillan who offer ive looked up and they do offer financial advice.

I'd try Maggies Centres online too, they have forums you can read.