Post Stroke Financial Assistance

maxgrazza

In August one week after receiving her first state pension payment my wife had a stroke, she is still in a rehab unit but expected to be discharge home end of November, where she will require permanent help with dressing and toileting and even standing and I will have to give up my job to look after her. I'm told there is no benefit available until February (6 months rule) when she could claim attendance allowance, and then I could claim carers allowance BUT only until I get my state pension in May. She needs a stair lift, bathroom converted, standing aids, adjustable bed. Is there any financial help with this? In addition she cannot access the car and I will need to buy a larger one to get her about. However again I am told she cannot get a Motability Car because she's a pensioner. Does the government think pensioners don't need to go out?  There is a lot of information on the web but much of it is confusing and I've tried almost every day to get through to CAB. Can anyone point me in the right direction.

Alice_Holt

The benefit is AA, as you have identified.

Talk to the Stroke Association about the possibility of grants for adaptions, etc.

KxMx

Contact your local social services for an assessment of her needs, they will consider equipment/adaptions that she needs and conduct a financial assessment as to who pays for what.

Engage with the rehab unit as well, they should have a duty social worker who can give advice. 

calcotti

You can apply for AA in advance but will not be paid anything until 6 months after the stroke. It may be applying in about December in order to allow the claim to be processed - if you wait to claim until February you then have to wait for the processing time before a decision is made.

You are correct that you cannot receive CA unless she is awarded AA and you are also correct taht the CA will stop when you receive your SP.

Have you checked whether you would, as a couple, have any entitled to Universal Credit until you reach pension age? Try a benefits calculator.
https://www.entitledto.co.uk
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk

Approach your local authority for a needs assessment
AgeUK have factsheets that many be informatve
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs6_finding_help_at_home_fcs.pdf
uk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs41_how_to_get_care_and_support_fcs.pdfhttps://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs46_paying_for_care_and_support_at_home_fcs.pdf
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs42_disability_equipment_and_home_adaptations_fcs.pdf

whizzywoo

It's also possible that when you both reach State Pension Age that you may qualify for Pension Credit but this will be dependant on your joint income and savings.
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

Even though the money from Carer's Allowance will stop when you reach State Pension Age you will still have an underlying entitlement to it.  This means that the threshold of income before qualifying for Pension Credit is higher.

Do you have any health issues yourself which would enable you to claim a disability benefit?  

poppy12345

There's no mobility part to AA so no you can't access the motability scheme.