Hello emscub(?)
I suggest you try for a reassessment for your Nan.
Attendance allowance can be claimed by people who need help with personal care or require supervision to avoid risk to themselves or others.
The criteria for the different levels of attendance allowance work something like this:
Care needs might include help or prompting with activities such as washing, dressing, eating, going to the toilet, turning over or settling in bed, or taking medication. They may also include assistance with social and recreational activities. Supervision needs include any watching over that is necessary to avoid certain risks inside or outside the home.
Someone with dementia is likely to qualify for the top rates of attendance allowance if they need frequent help or prompting with personal care, or continual supervision to avoid danger during the day, and either help with personal care or supervision for a prolonged period or several times during the night.
They are likely to qualify for the lower rate of attendance allowance or middle rate of disability living allowance care component if they need frequent help with personal care or supervision either during the day or night.
Someone may qualify for the lower rate of disability living allowance if they can show that they need help with personal care for some of the day or cannot prepare a main cooked meal for themselves without assistance.
The attendance allowance claim form can be pretty daunting to complete and it's often useful to seek help when attempting to do so - some Citizens Advice Bureaux provide a service by which they'll go through the form with you.
The only other benefit that you could also try claiming for is Carer's allowance. This can be paid to carers who spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone receiving attendance allowance. The carer does not have to be related to or living with the person for whom they provide care. Carers are not eligible for carer’s allowance if they earn more than a limited amount each a week after the deduction of allowable expenses, if they are in full time education, or if they are receiving more than a specified amount from certain other pensions or benefits. However, they may be entitled to an extra premium if they are receiving certain other benefits, such as income support or pension credit.
It's also worthwhile checking what arrangements your Nan's local social services department has for providing respite care - your parents deserve, and are entitled to, a break.
I've put some, hopefully, useful links below and you can also call the Alzheimer's Society helpline for more information or tips on 0845 300 0336 open 8.30 to 6.30 Monday to Friday (but closed Thursday and Friday this week)
http://www.carersonline.org.uk/ (useful information for carers)
http://www.communitycare.co.uk/Reference/default.asp?lisectionID=18&liParentID=17 (handy straightforward explanation of benefits)
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/After_diagnosis/Sorting_out_your_money/info_welfare.htm (Alzheimer's Society information on benefits)
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Caring...tia/Coping_with_caring/info_shorttermcare.htm (Alzheimer's Society information on respite care)