Dad is 97 and lives with us. He has vascular dementia, had a stroke 12 years ago and now he's incontinent, can't feed, wash, walk, talk or understand.
As he has no savings and gets a little pension credit, he should qualify for the severe disability premium of approx £65 a week.
It’s a bit ironic that the criteria for this benefit is that he be severely disabled, as it goes towards paying for his care. However he daren’t be so severely disabled that he actually needs the care, because if he lives with anyone, he loses this entitlement. As he did.
On these grounds one can only assume that nobody is ever actually entitled to this benefit!
I have queried this with the pensions department and was told rather rudely, that I couldn't have it both ways....as I was caring for Dad I'd be entitled to Carer's Allowance of approx the same amount. However, as I'm sure we are all aware on this site, you can't get the Carer's Allowance if you are in receipt of a state pension or have earnings of above £110 per week.
Does this make any difference with the Pensions department.....NO. I actually had to pay back the amount Dad had been awarded since he'd been with us.
Thanks for listening, this is more of a moan than a question!
As he has no savings and gets a little pension credit, he should qualify for the severe disability premium of approx £65 a week.
It’s a bit ironic that the criteria for this benefit is that he be severely disabled, as it goes towards paying for his care. However he daren’t be so severely disabled that he actually needs the care, because if he lives with anyone, he loses this entitlement. As he did.
On these grounds one can only assume that nobody is ever actually entitled to this benefit!
I have queried this with the pensions department and was told rather rudely, that I couldn't have it both ways....as I was caring for Dad I'd be entitled to Carer's Allowance of approx the same amount. However, as I'm sure we are all aware on this site, you can't get the Carer's Allowance if you are in receipt of a state pension or have earnings of above £110 per week.
Does this make any difference with the Pensions department.....NO. I actually had to pay back the amount Dad had been awarded since he'd been with us.
Thanks for listening, this is more of a moan than a question!