Is there a way a local authority can find out how much money you have in your bank accounts?

diystarter7

Thanks OP

Ask your mum to convince him to see GP/etc.
Reassure dad that it's mostly nothing and even if it is, as with almost anything the earlier it is diagnosed the better the outcomes.

I've met many like your dad via work but they are often with their other half living together and sleeping separate rooms and hardly talk and when they do they argue.

"Losing your mind" these days like I said, tell him to see a gp for a fw question often puts alls minds at rest.


Re agreable to moving - get him moved to a shelter place if poss.

You are a good kid to your parents as it should be but sadly there are some that are not - credit to you for trying.

Take care.

elsien

I think you may find you struggle to find him somewhere to move to while he has rent arrears where he is. Not being in arrears tends to be a pre-requisite for a swap.  Could that be a way in to getting him to pay? Once his arrears are sorted you can help him to look at other options? 

I’m wondering if his disability payment is DLA or PIP if he started claiming before he was 65. Neither of those are means tested. 

Do you think he would be willing to share finance details if you mention the possibility of housing benefit and getting his rent paid. With of course the understanding he will need to prove that he hasn’t got a lump sum stashed away somewhere. 

@diystarter7 if you read the OP again properly, the gentleman is already having tests. 

skm1981

elsien said:

I think you may find you struggle to find him somewhere to move to while he has rent arrears where he is. Not being in arrears tends to be a pre-requisite for a swap.  Could that be a way in to getting him to pay? Once his arrears are sorted you can help him to look at other options? 

I’m wondering if his disability payment is DLA or PIP if he started claiming before he was 65. Neither of those are means tested. 

Do you think he would be willing to share finance details if you mention the possibility of housing benefit and getting his rent paid. With of course the understanding he will need to prove that he hasn’t got a lump sum stashed away somewhere. 

@diystarter7 if you read the OP again properly, the gentleman is already having tests. 

I've thought this too.  I did say to my dad this morning that if he wants to move, he should pay the rent arrears and move on because I thought the same, somewhere else might look and think he doesn't pay his rent, we're not going to take him.  

I can't remember when he started claiming the DLA.  It was definitely a good few years ago and I'm sure in relation to his diabetes, which I was surprised at as I didn't think that meant you qualified.  Perhaps there was another reason that I've forgotten or didn't know about.  Do anyone know what happens if he doesn't prove one way or the other if he has savings or not?  Will it just be assumed he does have savings or will they be able to obtain this information through a court order or something?  I guess they'd need some kind of permission to do this.

diystarter7

@skm1981
Thanks and good luck.

elsien

He will have to declare on the benefit application that he is telling the truth about his finances. They are not going to scouring bank accounts looking for him, but If this then turns out not to be the case and the DWP find out otherwise (and I have no idea what systems they use to check but I do know they can match up to tax etc - maybe one for the benefits board?) he would be committing fraud. He would have to pay back any overpayment and there is the option for him to be prosecuted.  A dementia diagnosis doesn't mean that he doesn't know what he's doing if he says he's not got money when he has, given his overall financial attitude anyway.
If he lacks capacity around his finances and needs an appointee then the appointee would have to do every thing they could to find out the correct information, or answer "don't know" which may then impact on his claim. 

Your brother getting hold of any letters if he can get dad to agree would seem to be the best bet. Do you think he's likely to have savings accounts as well as his day to day bank account, given the over 16K you suspect he may have? What about your mother - is he likely to share any relevant information with her? 

Murphybear

You can’t get benefits  for diabetes if that’s the only health issue.

if he needs help with personal care such as washing or dressing he may be able to get Attendance Allowance.  It’s not means tested so savings don’t matter.   He doesn’t have to actually have the care to get the money and he can live on his own.  It’s best to get help to fill out the form, both Citizens Advice and Age Concern are helpful.  

From what you are saying he might be better off in sheltered housing.  He can still have his own flat but will be part of a community for over 55s/60s.  

elsien

If he’s already on DLA/PIP it would be a mistake to change to AA as there is no mobility component.
And you can’t say you can’t get them for diabetes because it’s based on the impact not on the diagnosis. 

skm1981

Yeah I'm not sure what the benefit it is.  I just feel like it's £200 a month and I thought it was for his diabetes because I remember being a bit shocked that that would have made him qualify.  But then he does also have a heart problem which he now has a pacemaker for.  I don't know, like I said, he just doesn't really discuss money with us.  My mum doesn't have a clue either, but she's of the same opinion, that she thinks he's got a lot of money somewhere.  

I've wondered about what would be the best living situation for him.  I've thought if he could get a flat near my mum and brother, they can pop in and see him all the time and we can also pay to have carers come in throughout the day when he might need this.  My father in law lives in a place that I think they call assisted living, so I've also thought maybe that would be an option.  

diystarter7

Murphybear said:

You can’t get benefits  for diabetes if that’s the only health issue.

if he needs help with personal care such as washing or dressing he may be able to get Attendance Allowance.  It’s not means tested so savings don’t matter.   He doesn’t have to actually have the care to get the money and he can live on his own.  It’s best to get help to fill out the form, both Citizens Advice and Age Concern are helpful.  

From what you are saying he might be better off in sheltered housing.  He can still have his own flat but will be part of a community for over 55s/60s.  

Hi

The highlighted bit. I hear you but at times I've heard people say that they have got dla/etc because of their "diabetes." Meaning
the complications that may come with advanced/uncontrolled diabetes complications that affect mobility, personal care, and activities of daily living.

Thanks

elsien

skm1981 said:

Yeah I'm not sure what the benefit it is.  I just feel like it's £200 a month and I thought it was for his diabetes because I remember being a bit shocked that that would have made him qualify.  But then he does also have a heart problem which he now has a pacemaker for.  I don't know, like I said, he just doesn't really discuss money with us.  My mum doesn't have a clue either, but she's of the same opinion, that she thinks he's got a lot of money somewhere.  

I've wondered about what would be the best living situation for him.  I've thought if he could get a flat near my mum and brother, they can pop in and see him all the time and we can also pay to have carers come in throughout the day when he might need this.  My father in law lives in a place that I think they call assisted living, so I've also thought maybe that would be an option.  

If he would agree to a care act assessment, that would properly assess the day to day support that he needs in the different areas. If he wished, a family member or advocate could support him through that process. Once the assessment is complete then he could either source and pay for his own care, or a financial assessment would be done to show if he qualifies for free support, or local authority support with him paying a financial contribution. 

Have a read of this to give you an idea of how any assessment would work. If it would help to sell it to him, it's not just around carers it's about his wellbeing and what is important to him. 
How to get care and support (ageuk.org.uk)


There are two types of sheltered accommodation - one is warden controlled sheltered housing where there is mainly someone there is case there is a problem and any care comes in as a separate package. Or housing with care/assisted living where the person does have identified care needs and the setting employs support staff who go in to provide the care - in my area that tends to need a minumum level of hours a week. 
Assisted Living (extra-care housing) | Housing choices | Age UK

He does need to get those arrears etc sorted first though and moving forwards clarity on whether he can claim housing benefit or not.