Strange state of affairs! I know of several people who live alone and still get the higher rate of attendance allowance.
Strange state of affairs indeed, Chess! Sorry, I hadn't heard that that was possible.
Strange state of affairs! I know of several people who live alone and still get the higher rate of attendance allowance.
I have got notification today that my Dad has been awarded the lower rate of Attendance Allowance back dated to 17/03/08.It only took four weeks for a decision this time.
Thank you all for your input I couldn't have done it without you & of course many thanks to the lovely lady from Age Concern for filling in the form on out behalf, I must call her & thank her on Monday.
I was given a council tax exemption form from the SW that briefly entered our lives before she knew my Dad would be self funding. I couldn't fill it in before as he he was not receiving any of the appropriate benefits and I now believe this is means tested so I would be wasting my time anyway am I correct?
Thanks very much for your input once again Nebiroth, jude1950 & ROSEANN I think I might send the form off to 'suck it & see' but am a little concerned about a letter from the council upsetting him.Effectively, a resident can be disregarded, for council tax purposes, if they are deemed "mentally incompetent". I believe that most councils define this as "being unable to understand what Council Tax is, or what it is for"
He does know what Council Tax is for, when he got his new bill in April he phoned them up trying to pay it all on his debit card despite having had a direct debit in place for many years & it saying so on his bill.
My local authority says:
Severely Mentally Impaired
For Council Tax purposes a person will be regarded as severely mentally impaired if he or she suffers, for whatever reason, from severe mental impairment of intelligence or social functioning which appears to be permanent eg Alzheimer’s or other similar illnesses.
To determine if a person may meet this criteria we refer to the following as general guidance:-
Severe impairment of intelligence - is usually to mean an IQ of 50 or less.
Severe impairment of social functioning - will probably be taken to mean that the person has severe learning difficulties and cannot learn more than the basic self care skills such as dressing, eating, using the toilet, washing etc. He can do all of the those things although I think the washing is slipping his mind these days.
The person must be certified by a doctor as being severely mentally impaired and must be entitled to at least one of the following benefits: Yes he was diagnosed with VAD last September
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Incapacity Benefit at the long-term rate.
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Attendance Allowance.
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Severe Disablement Allowance.
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The care component of a Disability Living Allowance.
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An increase in Disablement Allowance where constant attendance is needed.
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Disability Working Allowance.
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An Unemployability supplement or allowance.
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Constant Attendance Allowance.
From that I read that you could be either severely mentally impaired (the IQ thing) OR socially impaired, you don't have to be both. He is not severely mentally impaired yet, socially, yes. Lower rate Attendance allowance just awarded.
Oh, one pitfall to watch out for: if you apply the council may write to the person in whose name the council tax payments have been being made.
You don't want a letter arriving for Dad saying "you have applied to be disregarded for council tax purposes as being mentally incompetent"! Very good point, no I don't, he's certainly aware enough to be very upset by it as he forgets his diagnosis.
Do you have Power of Attorney? You could have all council tax responsibilites shifted to yourself No I do not have Power of Attorney in place, although one is lodged at the solictors..
Hi Chrissyan
Congratulations an getting the allowance, with regard to the council tax as soon as my hubby got the allowance we sent the forms off and he was given a 25% discount because I live with him, I believe if the person lives on their own they are disregarded.
We were not means tested but as you know all councils work different but it is worth aplying for even if you only get the 25%.
He was only on the lower level when he got it.
Good luck Roseann
The doctor must have been sent a form by the LA because I did not send it to him