Step father mobility issues - blue badge holder - are there any benefits to help.

Sunnylifeover50plan

Morning

Essentially my wife and I are staying with my step father until our house purchase completes in a few weeks time.

He no longer drives because of his tremors and general dexterity and this is why he has a blue badge. He is dependant on family or taxis to get to and from hospital/ doctors appointments, or indeed any travel.

Since we arrived he has expressed an interest in a mobility scooter and a tilt and rise motorised chair. He increasing struggles onto and off of his sofa given muscle weakness and tremors caused by his diabetes.

He is on a very modest set of pensions of circa £14k pa and currently receives around £73 a week which goes towards a gardener and cleaner. This is the only benefit he receives.

Can someone suggest if Pip or any other benefit might be suitable for him? He is 82 and lives in his own home which has already had some adjustments made to help with; stairs, shower, bed.

thanks

sheramber

Sunnylifeover50plan said:

Morning

Essentially my wife and I are staying with my step father until our house purchase completes in a few weeks time.

He no longer drives because of his tremors and general dexterity and this is why he has a blue badge. He is dependant on family or taxis to get to and from hospital/ doctors appointments, or indeed any travel.

Since we arrived he has expressed an interest in a mobility scooter and a tilt and rise motorised chair. He increasing struggles onto and off of his sofa given muscle weakness and tremors caused by his diabetes.

He is on a very modest set of pensions of circa £14k pa and currently receives around £73 a week which goes towards a gardener and cleaner. This is the only benefit he receives.

Can someone suggest if Pip or any other benefit might be suitable for him? He is 82 and lives in his own home which has already had some adjustments made to help with; stairs, shower, bed.

thanks

Is the £73 a week Attendance Allowance?

Torry_Quine

As he's a pensioner then PIP is not available to him. Attendance Allowance doesn't have a mobility component 

KxMx

He could look for a grant:

https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/
 

pmlindyloo

If he is receiving Attendance Allowance then it is possible that he would be eligible for Pension Credit.

If awarded then he would not have to pay any council tax and would also be eligible for various health services.

An award of Pension Credit is likely to depend on his receipt of Attendance Allowance, whether anyone is receiving Carer's Allowance for him, the exact amount of his total income - state pension and private pension(s) and his savings. 

Put accurate details into this calculator www.entitledto.co.uk to find out.

If he is eligible for Pension Credit then google for further information.

Sunnylifeover50plan

sheramber said:

Sunnylifeover50plan said:

Morning

Essentially my wife and I are staying with my step father until our house purchase completes in a few weeks time.

He no longer drives because of his tremors and general dexterity and this is why he has a blue badge. He is dependant on family or taxis to get to and from hospital/ doctors appointments, or indeed any travel.

Since we arrived he has expressed an interest in a mobility scooter and a tilt and rise motorised chair. He increasing struggles onto and off of his sofa given muscle weakness and tremors caused by his diabetes.

He is on a very modest set of pensions of circa £14k pa and currently receives around £73 a week which goes towards a gardener and cleaner. This is the only benefit he receives.

Can someone suggest if Pip or any other benefit might be suitable for him? He is 82 and lives in his own home which has already had some adjustments made to help with; stairs, shower, bed.

thanks

Is the £73 a week Attendance Allowance?

Yes sorry, forgot to include the description.

Rubyroobs

The Attendance Allowance is the disability benefit so he's already getting that. As others have said if he lives alone and no-one claims carers allowance for living with him he may qualify for Pension credit so definitely worth checking for that once you have left the property - he would need to be living alone to get the severe disability benefit included in a Pension credit calculation. 

Sunnylifeover50plan

thanks all.

Misslayed

If his dexterity/mobility problems mean he struggles to get in and out of bed, to get into the bath or take a shower, to open medication packets, then he may be entitled to the higher rate of Attendance Allowance (AA). That’s £110.40 a week. Regardless of whether he gets support, if he really needs it at night as well as day. Worth exploring?

Topsinger

Local authorities via social services can provide equipment, including riser/recliner chairs if deemed necessary. His GP would be a good starting point as they often have a so called ‘social prescriber’ who should help.

If he lives alone he is entitled to a discount on council tax regardless of financial or health circumstances. 

Sunnylifeover50plan

thanks again