Dementia care allowance

Snuzysue

My elderly parents will be moving in with me as my dad has dementia and mum is struggling to cope.  We are in the process of applying for support from our local council to pay towards the cost of carers sitting with dad while my mum has a break.  My question is,  will my and my husbands income be taken into account as part of the means testing?  My parents only have state pension so will hopefully be awarded some support but I'm not sure what if any impact our income will have?  Thank you in advance.  

elsien

The financial assessment will be based on your parent’s finances, not on yours. 

Has he applied for attendance allowance, as if he needs carers he should qualify for at least an element of that. 

Snuzysue

Thank you so much.  That has put my mind at ease.  They don't get anything at the minute. It's so hard to know where to get info and help.  

Mojisola

It would be worth spending some time on www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support

There's loads of useful information and a forum where you can ask for advice from people further down the road than you.

There's a few of us on here as well who have experience of this as well.

If you haven't any experience of claiming benefits, try to get help with filling out the forms - Attendance Allowance for your Dad and then Carer's Allowance for your Mum.

elsien

You could also try Age Uk - they have an advice line but also some very good factsheets about  care and financial assessments.
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/age-uk-advice-line/

Also have a look at the Care Act assessment  - dad will have an assessment of his own needs but mum is also entitled to her own assessment as a carer. It’s possible she may need to challenge the outcome so best to be prepared.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs41_how_to_get_care_and_support_fcs.pdf

lisyloo

We engaged social care. MIL got went to a day care center where they did singing, jigsaws, bingo. They provided a mini bus including an escort as the driver couldn’t look after the bus and passengers and collect someone in a wheelchair. They collected here from the flat. She had to pay about £6 for lunch, coffee, tea & toast.
Would it be worth enagaging your social care team. It’s a bit of a lottery. Ours were very good and realised that some people complain about everything and others nothing.