Attendance allowance

Chris Edgerton

Registered User
Oct 22, 2003
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Warwick District
Attendance allowance?:rolleyes:
Is it really for attendance?:confused:
Who could you pay to for fill the care needs as required by the government at the weekly allowance of £62.25 for the higher rate or £41.65 for the lower rate? CLICK HERE for link to Directgove site on care needs.
These are the allowances which need to be increased substantially. Say another higher band for those with a server mental impairment as which is required to get the council tax disregard.
Campaign for an increase in Attendance allowance!!
 

Helena

Registered User
May 24, 2006
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Thoroughly agree tht current levels of Attendance Allowance are derisory and insulting and pay for little

However Carers Allowance is a total disgrace because if you as a carer dare to work or have any income or even just a state pension (pensioner looking after an even older pensioner generally) then you are denied Carers Allowance

The Government is stealing the carers time and goodwill and treating them like skivvies
 

Nebiroth

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Aug 20, 2006
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I agree that Attendance Allowance is pretty poor, however, in balance, Carer Allowance is much worse. People getting AA will be getting a state pension, as well, and possibly Pension Credit - which in itself brings entitlement to other benefits.

Carer Allowance, however, is a derisory amount when you regard it, not as remuneration for the work done (which is bad enough in itself), but as the weekly amount that the Government expect an adult to live on. The Government, via Pension Credit, clearly thinks that a Pensioner cannot live on Basic State Pension of £84/week. Yet a Carer gets less than £50/week and on top gets none of the entitlements a Pensioner will.

As a Carer I don't get free bus travel, free prescriptions, etc.

Carer Allowance is not a gateway to any other benefits.

And to add insult to injury, it's taxable income.

I agree that it is really emotional and financial blackmail; the Government knows that we carers will not abandon our loved ones. So it feels no need to increase the allowance - despite the fact that without carers, it would be faced with an immense bill for looking after people either with professional paid carers or people going into care homes/hospitals.

I would look after my loved ones, even if I got nothing. But I feel that we are pretty much held in contempt by a Government that takes us for granted. No matter how many flowery speeches Tony Blair makes about "valuing carers".
 

Helena

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May 24, 2006
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If you are female over 60 or male over 65 and a carer you DO NOT GET carers allowance simply because you get a state pension

If you are working and a carer you do not get carers allowance because you have an income

Its crazy ..........we are all or will be entitled to state pension although many women do not get full state pension and because they may have a few savings etc they will be denied pension credit so its downright disgraceful that as carers they are denied any benefits

Tony Blair made a big speech in 1997 "he did not want his children to live in a country that robbed the elderly of their homes to pay for care "

Not only has he ensured that Alzheimers patients are especially robbed of their homes he has also ensured thanks to Human Rights Act that their relatives are robbed of their lives because Dementia patients can REFUSE to go into a NH and cause immense strain and stress on their families instead thus relieving the government of responsibility or expense
 

Tender Face

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Mar 14, 2006
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NW England
Helena said:
If you are working and a carer you do not get carers allowance because you have an income

Not sure that's quite true.....

Check out: http://www.direct.gov.uk/CaringForS...cles/fs/en?CONTENT_ID=10012522&chk=kAko1j

I recall looking into this myself a few months back and thought the earnings threshold was somewhat derisory ... but then given a minimum of 35 hours per week must be 'dedicated' to caring (as per definitions, not necessarily my way of looking at it!) to hold down any job at all would be an achievement in itself for many people.....

Given the UK benefits system is so complex (well to me it is....:eek: ) I think the most important thing for people to do is make enquiries on an individual level.... perhaps some of those 'unclaimed millions' we hear of might apply to certain carers...??? Hope springs eternal and all that!

Karen (TF), x
 

Nebiroth

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Aug 20, 2006
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Correct you can work and get Carer Allowance, but the amounts you can earn are really very low; assuming by some miracle you can actually find time to work outside of the 35 hours a week. I think it works out to be about 16 hours a week at Minimum Wage.

Not only that, but by working, you almost inevitably become liable to tax and afaik that would mean doing a tax self-assessment each year, because as far as I know you cannot ask for Carer Allowance to have tax deducted at source.

It's also correct that you can't get both state pension and carer allowance; although on pension you do get a carer premium allowance, which increase the thresholds (by about £25/week) you can "earn" (ie pension income and the savings factor that counts towards "income") before you get barred from Pension Credit.

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry when I read Teflon Tony's speech about care homes.
 

Helena

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May 24, 2006
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I only get half the basic UK state pension because of the years i spent caring for my children and grandchildren and i sure as heck do not qualify for any carers allowance i have checked

No one can exist on even the basic state pension never mind with the addition of pension credit so why on earth should pensioners have to struggle to fork out all the costs of travelling / caring for elderly parents and not be entitled to carers allowance

Teflon Tony is a total disgrace ............all talk and zero action other than more and more taxes
 

Tender Face

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Mar 14, 2006
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NW England
Deja vu?

I get the vibes this thread is going down the same road as a previous one ...;)

Helena, I can understand your frustrations - to some degree- I am in my forties - despairing of ever having enough 'pension' to look after myself after all the years I have given over (and will continue to give over) to making 'caring' instead of 'money' my first priority.... if I had my time over again ..... would I have done things differently? Probably not.... best investment I ever made was in learning that 'money can't buy you love' ...

The stress of juggling all the caring as well as living on a shoestring probably means I won't see pension age anyway...... let alone worry about whether I have the financial means to enjoy it.......

Hmmphhhhh, Karen (TF)
 

Helena

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May 24, 2006
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Karen

From what I know about you you have a darn sight more reasons than most to be very very down and upset about the appalling lot life has dealt you
 

Michael E

Registered User
Apr 14, 2005
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Ronda Spain
For what it is worth the situation is very similar here in France or perhaps worse as far as the 'carers' bit goes. (All medications and hospital treatment and fees are 100% free for Alzheimer's patients and the NICE equivalent does not restrict the relevant drugs in any way.)

Everything here is means tested as far as I can see but with different scales depending on the 'problem'.

There is no carers allowance as far as I know.

There is a semi state - semi private system of 'care workers' who, on a means tested sliding scale, will come in as much as 'deemed' necessary to help a resident carer.

On this means tested sliding scale the state pays out a percentage to the person who is ill.. I must say the sliding scale is quite generous - the workers are paid 8 Euros an hour £5.50 approx but on top of that there is holiday, maternity, sickness, more holiday etc etc benefits and the 'private part' of running the service which raises the cost to me to 12€uro an hour = £8.

Just as in the UK if you have little or no money then the state comes in and totally supports the patient..

At risk of bringing the wrath of the forum..... It does seem to me that we have a problem of a changed society... Because of the ease of transport families frequently split up and move away from their home areas.

If it were 'shared' looking after someone with AD 24/7 would not nearly be so onerous... Much of the time they need somebody to be around - keep an eye on them and if there were an extended family of brothers and sisters - aunts and uncles - sons and daughters all willing to chip in it would be 'easy' (ish)

The reality is that most of us are stuck totally alone trying to cope and it's hard but is this sort of coping truly a 'state' problem? I am not sure... I think it is in the first place a 'family' problem and if you are 100% alone trying to cope then some state aid is needed in order to make the economies of helping the carer v the carer becoming ill/quitting, balance out...

I also do not see why the 'state' should pick up the bill for care homes when the patient has funds. Owns houses and has 'dosh' in the bank... That's why people save for a rainy day and lets face it AD is a pretty big storm. If my kids and French relations of my wife choose not to contribute to the 'social problem' of looking after my wife the why the hell should they inherit anything?? What's with all this inheritance bit anyway? My kids are on a looser for starts - we got married at 19 & 21 respectively... by the time I go toes up I hope/expect/want to be around 15 - 20 years so that leaves the kids being retired.... too late to enjoy my ill gotten gains much..

I think there is a point for all of us when we feel we cannot or do not want to cope with the problem any longer... At that point you take what is yours and go. But it is only reasonable that the state is allowed to use your 'relatives' money until most of it is gone???

Hard to believe but I have been a card carrying Socialist all my life and expect to get lynched now on this forum... I have been thinking the above for some time and was not sure if I should say it or not... but bored out of my tree this afternoon and waiting for 2 hours of freedom to arrive in the form of a subsided carer ....
Michael
 

Tender Face

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Mar 14, 2006
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NW England
Hi Michael,

(And just to quickly side-track - must say 'sorry folks' about my last post on this thread. Helena, thanks, you prompted me to realise that for all I try to look at life as a series of 'Learning Experiences', I don't always stay on track!!!! Sunday was weepy, Monday was angry and Tuesday was just a "well-I-dont-care if-I-am-43-I-can-still-do-toddler-tantrums-with-the-best-of-them" kind of day.....)


Michael E said:
At risk of bringing the wrath of the forum..... It does seem to me that we have a problem of a changed society... Because of the ease of transport families frequently split up and move away from their home areas......

Personally I can't see why you stating your opinion should invoke any 'wrath'.... and (personally) I think it is a hugely valid point and (personally) couldn't agree more...

Michael, I'm sure it was you first suggested we needed a 'Wine Bar' as well as Tea Room (that was a compliment not a slur on your character!!!:cool: ) - I'm beginning to wonder we need an area specifically for financial/political considerations .....you know, some of the 'theory' stuff away from the practical/emotional support????

As well as a place to 'vent' on the political and gain ideas on the 'financial' it might help 'harness' all the very valid, different points of view for some good purpose......

There will be probably be some good reason it's not here already which I haven't thought of .... logic isn't my strong point this week!!!!! Over to those who can think straight.....

Love, Karen (TF), x


(PS: Hope you enjoyed your couple of hours this afternoon)
 

Helena

Registered User
May 24, 2006
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I too believe this forum should be able to encompass all our views and feelings about AD/VD and its ramifications

However I know if I posted my real feelings about the entire subject i would be booted off

I just hope that if i ever get to my Mothers age and succumb to her condition the laws then in place will allow my daughters to honour my very strong wishes and mean they do not have to endure what my sister and I are coping with
 

mel

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Apr 30, 2006
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Sheffield
........but Helena
However I know if I posted my real feelings about the entire subject i would be booted off
Surely that is the point of this forum.....to allow people to air their true feelings....I don't always agree with people's points of view but it sure makes interesting reading!

michael....did the carer arrive....did you manage to get some time off?
 

Michael E

Registered User
Apr 14, 2005
619
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Ronda Spain
michael....did the carer arrive....did you manage to get some time off?

Yes thank you - actually the system works really well - the 'team' are very reliable although Monique's reaction to them is less so.....

Went to the cash and carry to get in a load of stuff - It's easier to buy wholesale and stock the stuff rather than try to take Monique shopping.... She is really 'lost' these days but remembers the past like there is no tomorrow!!!

love

Michael
 

mel

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Apr 30, 2006
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Sheffield
Went to the cash and carry to get in a load of stuff - It's easier to buy wholesale and stock the stuff rather than try to take Monique shopping....

In my case its thank goodness for on line shopping!!!
 

Chris Edgerton

Registered User
Oct 22, 2003
73
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Warwick District
Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, Teflon Tony? Transport families and finally

Attendance Allowance, Carers Allowance, Teflon Tony? Transport families and finally on-line shopping. Chinese whispers are alive and well.:D

On-line shopping a great idea; but the careers without a break! You can not do this for long.

I have claimed Careers Allowance. I started caring because I was available. However as I was claiming Job Seekers Allowance when I became a care I was told that as I was no longer available for work, I could no longer receive Job Seekers Allowance. So on to Income Support and Carers Allowance, but Income Support is only for subsistence living so I end up about £15 a week better off what I was claiming on Job Seekers Allowance.

And as a carer of my mother with dementia it became a 24/7 job. It became too much, and she is now in a privately funded Elderly Mentally Infirm care home. As such she keeps her Attendance Allowance. I feel that at this stage a higher level of Attendance Allowance is justified as she is severely mentally impaired (sic) "a requirement for council tax disregard”. Note, I am not asking for free bed and board.

Although people with dementia may start as privately funded, their money will soon on average run out. The Attendance Allowance increase would also enable the person to be placed in a home with a holistic approach; low or no drugs. Not one, which is with the help of the doctor, uses a chemical cosh. Or what we see in the forum, “why is the person with dementia sleeping all the time?” Although dementia does have a variety of effects we must note, not all sleepiness is a result of heavy handedness with drugs.

Also if there was an appropriate level of Attendance Allowance to reflect the medium to advanced stages of a person with dementia who needs 24/7 care. The Allowance could be used as to the benefit of the person with dementia; the personal career or a bought in carer.

This thread and its comments have been very interesting; should we have another forum for as it was suggested - political/campaigning? Well I feel it all merges into the field of Dementia and who cares.

The grass is always greener, or seems to be. Its interesting to hear about life in France. Some in England or perhaps I should say the United Kingdom of Great Britain believe it is as regards to health. But remember in an insurance scheme you only get out what you put in.