Can they really do this?

[hecciesmum]

Hi - I've never posted on this forum before, but I was hoping that you might all know a bitmore about this than I do.

My grandfather has had Alzheimers for the last 6 or 7 years and is now at the stage where he is going into residential care because my 78 year old Grandmother can no longer cope with looking after him at home. APparently, because his private pension is in his name only, my grandmother will lose all of it as it will be taken to pay for his care and she will have to live on 119pounds a week from the state.

I understand that he has to contribute to his care, but we had thought that they might at least be leaving her a portion of the pension a month. We are all very shocked at this as it will be a struggle for her on this and it seems incredibly unjust that because in their generation it was the "norm" for the man to have all assets in his name, that she is going to get royally screwed.

She won't suffer that much as we will all chip in to help her regularly if need be, but I just wondered if anyone could give me some advice on this.

Much appreciated

Hecciesmum

I hope someone can come on and give you some advice. Is it worth speaking with the citizen advice bureau or age concern?

Contact age concern, they will be able to help with what entilements your grandmother can get and also fill in the forms.

My mum who lives down the road has spoken to the benefits department who has stated that this is what the state classifies her as "requiring" to live on. Some of it is her state pension, and the rest is made up of an income allowance. One positive is that apparently as a result of this she won't have to pay council tax anymore, which will help out majorly!
It's all so sad....yesterday she cried down the phone to me and said, "your grandfather always told me not to worry about money as he would look after everything and said that we would get old and die together".

Life is so bloody unjust . My pops was the life and soul of the party and I was his princess, and now he doesn't even know who I am....I have spent the last week crying as I can't believe that we have really got to this stage.

hecciesmum,

As said earlier please contact age concern, they deal with probelms all the time, rather then the benifits office who deal with all the time.

WE will call age concern later - thanks. Sorry to go on, just feeling very down about the whole thing....

hecciesmum, so sorry to hear about your grandfather and the problems you're having.
My grandma has advanced AD. Have you discovered the AD organisation forum ? very good for support and answering practical questions.