Attendance Allowance & Motability Questions (sorry long post).

CollinT

Hello,



I am asking of behalf of my father who is not online. I hope this is the right place and sorry if it rambles on!


Basically my father is 67 and is not in the best of health, mobility wise in particular. He was injured in the forces in the Falklands War back in 1982 and was awarded a 30% War Pension on discharge after he returned to the UK. He has claimed this continually since. He just stoically got on with life since being discharged working as a civilian for the army in accounts. When he retired at 65, he received his state pension as well as his army pension, war pension and small civil service pension.



About 18 months ago, my mother who is also 67 suffered a stroke, which has left her fully wheelchair bound. A Social Worker went to see them when mother was discharged from hospital and put in a claim for Attendance Allowance for each of them. My mother was awarded high rate Attendance Allowance and my father was awarded the lower rate Attendance Allowance.


Now whilst this was very much appreciated, it would have been better if either my mother or father could have been awarded mobility in order they could get an adapted car so dad could drive my mother around in her wheelchair. However he was told he had to be under 65 in order to claim mobility.



About four months ago, my father met up with some of his old army chums, one of whom got the Royal British Legion involved with my father. To cut to the chase, he was advised to put in a deterioration claim for his war pension injuries. He found out yesterday that his war pension has now been increased to 50% and he has been awarded an age addition allowance as well. Also he has been awarded a War Pensioners Mobility Supplement.


So now the questions:


Does this increased war pension award affect either his or my mother’s Attendance Allowance claim? They are both worried they are claiming the Attendance Allowance as well as his increased war pension and they shouldn't be.



Can my father now use his War Pensioners Mobility supplement award to obtain a wheelchair adaptable car on the Motability scheme which he can then use to drive my mother out and about? (I know the car must be for the benefit of the disabled person but in this case both are disabled and only my father will ever drive the car either alone or with my mother as passenger. .


They own their own bungalow as my father used his pension lump sums to fully pay off the mortgage. He has since paid for a wet room bathroom etc and for things like ramps to be fitted in the bungalow so my mother can get around. I understand as my father receives state pension he cannot claim Carers Allowance, but he is finding it difficult to shower and dress my mother etc. Having done some digging on the local council’s website, it would seem as they now have less than £16k in capital they may be entitled to some help from Social Services with care. Is this correct? They don’t mind paying towards the care, so long as they get the help they need.


Sorry for all the questions but I am hoping you knowledgeable people know about these sort of things. (The chap from the British Legion who helped my father with his war pension etc is currently away for the next few weeks and is uncontactable and the social worker who helped them claim the attendance allowance has now moved on).



Any help is appreciated.
Collin

Diary

Attendance allowance is not means tested so they can continue to claim without worrying.

As for motabiliy you would need to contact them directly as to whether the particular war pension mobility entitles them to a car. Their website is pretty helpful or give them a ring. In the scenario you suggested he would be entitled, the person who has their name on the car doesn't have to be the driver in any circumstance.

Councils can have different rules as to Care but as a general idea he would be entitled to some help for both of them. My council charges me for this but not the full amount it usually costs.

pmlindyloo

The war pension mobility supplement makes your dad eligible for the motability scheme.

http://www.motability.co.uk/understanding-the-scheme/eligibility/

CollinT

Hello,

Thank you both very much.

My father will be delighted with the news.

I will try to ring their council's Social Services on their behalf on Monday as I live about 200 miles away from my mother and father so have to arrange things quite long distance as it were.

Thank you again.
Collin

vlad

of course he will have to give up the mobility supplement if he goes for a motability car
when you speak to SS tell them parent(s) need a care assessment