over 65 DLA mobility now needs care

des147

Hi my family have come to a very desperate time in our lives concerning my father's health so I have arrived here to seek advice over benefits.

Father aged 76 has a life award for high rate mobility DLA and I'm almost sure this has been in place prior to his 65th birthday.

Just of late hes health has deteriorated to now needing care needs due to suspected dementia he been going downhill for a some time now an due to been in denial it hard to get him to take tests but everything come to a head an I think all this will soon happen he's cares needs have skyrocketed...

1st question
I'm on the understanding that the way forward after diagnosis is not to claim Attendance allowance as this is not possible due to the active DLA mobility claim and that even filling in an AA claim form would simply cause a supersession of DLA claim for care component. From what I have read the way forward would be to ring DLA explain that my father's health has deteriorated to now needing Care component on top of hes already established lifelong Mobility award.. Is the correct way to go ?

2nd Question
If the above advice was correct obviously any care award would need to be assessed but would doing this trigger a reassessment or put at risk the life long award to DLA mobility element ?

calcotti

Question 1: Yes, ring DLA unit and request a review of the DLA award. Father will be sent a health questionnaire to complete and return. You are correct that if he were to claim AA the DLA mobility would be lost. I think the DLA award will be a complete reassessment so it is possible that the Mobility component could decrease (but I’m not sure about this).

Is your father still capable of managing his benefits. If not you may need to look at becoming a DWP appointee to do this for him https://www.gov.uk/become-appointee-for-someone-claiming-benefits

On the broader front he may wish to look at granting you Power of Attorney to manage his more general affairs if the need arises.

des147

Thank You for rapid reply It is concerning to think asking for care element could put jeopardy to his lifelong High rate mobility award. Considering none of hes mobility conditions have improved these been primarily a degenerative spine condition however since the award he has a heart condition causing breathlessness fatigue.. What is the likelihood of downgrade of mobility component based on this info. It terrible in all this turmoil and stress trying to sort benefits is akin to a pull on a one arm bandit.

he forgot pin to hes card last week must of had 3 failed attempts had to take him to bank to take the ban off hes card he still manages hes money but making a claim for benefit is well beyond hes limits..an yet don't think he at stage where his money has to go into an appointee account.. but we really do take things daily with him.

calcotti

Loss of the mobility award appears unlikely in the circumstances but it is the DWP’s decision. I have now checked quidance here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658374/dmgch61.pdf and it appears that the mobility component will either continue at the higher rate or be lost, it cannot be reduced to the lower rate (see paragraph 61582).

des147

ok many thanks for the confirmation