My Mum had been claiming the lower rate of AA for many years before she went into a care home, due to her rheumatoid arthritis. The SW thought she should be eligible for the higher rate, when she began to have hallucinations and started phoning us at night and in the early hours of the morning. We did claim, but were refused at first and then eventually, after Mum was moved into the nursing home, we sucessfully claimed the higher rate for her.
Mum is self-funding, but receives (or should receive) the medium rate nursing care contribution and the higher rate attendance allowance. Basically she is paying for most of her NH fees herself, and also quite a bit of income tax on her pensions. She is still waiting for 5 months of RNCC and the Income Tax people think she may have over paid her tax, but we've not heard yet.(They phoned us about it)
Sometimes I feel that the system is there to make life as difficult as possible for us.
Still, on a brighter note, Mum's new tennants have the key and are moving in next week, so she has a little extra income towards her NH fees.
Kayla