Stroke/Dementia - Live in Carer - Financial Help

MBer13

Hi all, my girlfriend's Nan has unfortunately recently suffered from a stroke and now has pretty bad dementia to the point she needs a full time live-in carer. They have found this privately, and although she has fairly substantial savings currently, this will be gone within 2 years at the current rate. I have tried to research and found she can claim Attendance Allowance, but only after 6 months? 

This all happened very recently and it has been a bit crazy to sort everything from the sounds of it! Is there anything else they can do to help financially? Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

born_again

Is staying in her own home the best option, or would moving in to a care home be better for her? 

MBer13

I think the family are very against moving her to a care home if at all possible. She currently lives in a sort of outbuilding right next to their house, which has 2 bedrooms (one for her, one for the carer) so it works quite well for them. The family support and spend a lot of time with her. I was just hoping there might be some sort of financial support/options so that they can continue with this setup for as long as possible?

mad_spaniel

NHS continuing healthcare may be a possibility. It's very hard to get, but maybe worthwhile doing some research on. HTH

greyteam1959

mad_spaniel said:

NHS continuing healthcare may be a possibility. It's very hard to get, but maybe worthwhile doing some research on. HTH

I looked into this for my elderly dad.
It is nearly impossible to get.

greyteam1959

Get onto the government website & start a claim for Attendance Allowance immediately.
I don't think your info re the 6 months is correct but I could be wrong.
Also make sure that one of the family claims Carers Allowance if they are eligible.
Unfortunately until the ladies savings are reduced down to around £13000 there will be very little financial help available.

tacpot12

The waiting time of 6 months is correct, unless she has a terminal illness. However, the waiting time starts from the point at which she needed the care, not the point of application, so if the carer has been needed since say, 1st December 2020, the six months will be over on 1st June 2021.

It is important to realise that this is what her Nan has been saving for! To not use these savings when she needs the care would not be in her best interests. 

pmlindyloo

I agree about applying for AA right away.

There does not need to be a full time carer in place for someone to receive AA so it is possible that your girlfriend's nan may have needed care previously to the full time carer being employed.

There is very useful information of Citizen's Advice website here:

How to claim Attendance Allowance - Citizens Advice

To the right of the first page there is also help for completing the form.

Does the lady need adjustments to her home to accommodate her needs?  Although there may not be financial help available (you do not say how much in savings the lady has) there is a wealth of information about suitable aids etc available.

Does the lady have a social worker?

CKhalvashi

greyteam1959 said:

Get onto the government website & start a claim for Attendance Allowance immediately.
I don't think your info re the 6 months is correct but I could be wrong.
Also make sure that one of the family claims Carers Allowance if they are eligible.
Unfortunately until the ladies savings are reduced down to around £13000 there will be very little financial help available.

Completely agree with this, except in England it's £23250, different thresholds are set in different parts of the UK.

50Twuncle

CKhalvashi said:

greyteam1959 said:

Get onto the government website & start a claim for Attendance Allowance immediately.
I don't think your info re the 6 months is correct but I could be wrong.
Also make sure that one of the family claims Carers Allowance if they are eligible.
Unfortunately until the ladies savings are reduced down to around £13000 there will be very little financial help available.

Completely agree with this, except in England it's £23250, different thresholds are set in different parts of the UK.

I believe that the threshold in England is £23,250 INCLUDING the value of the home - so if she owns her own home - unless its a shed then - unfortunately any government assistance is out of the question !

CKhalvashi

50Twuncle said:

CKhalvashi said:

greyteam1959 said:

Get onto the government website & start a claim for Attendance Allowance immediately.
I don't think your info re the 6 months is correct but I could be wrong.
Also make sure that one of the family claims Carers Allowance if they are eligible.
Unfortunately until the ladies savings are reduced down to around £13000 there will be very little financial help available.

Completely agree with this, except in England it's £23250, different thresholds are set in different parts of the UK.

I believe that the threshold in England is £23,250 INCLUDING the value of the home - so if she owns her own home - unless its a shed then - unfortunately any government assistance is out of the question !

If care is provided at home, as the family want, and another person is living there, then the value of the property will not be taken into account.

I can dig up the full legislation on request, as it may be more lenient than this. I dealt with a case last year however where this was definitely the situation, with the property in question being within Hertfordshire.

No comment on whether this would be applicable or not has been made in the OP.