PIP and Attendance Allowance

[EnchentButteler]

DMIL (divorced) has recently moved into a nursing home. Never claimed PIP or Attendance Allowance before but the home costs are burning through her savings because she has quite a particular set of needs.

DH is looking into ways to fund the care costs and I came across PIP and Attendance Allowance and wondered how likely she would be to get them with her needs. She needs reminding every time she needs her medication for other health conditions. She can walk/shuffle about 100m with a walker or on someone's arm before going shaky. She cannot hold a conversation although can make the right noises in the right places. Has no ability to make any decisions herself including how and when to cook/eat but can put food in her own mouth. Does not have reliable continence and wears pads.

DH is already running around organising her affairs so if he's got no chance we won't bother. She's had several moves over the last few months so she really needs to stay in this home but not for more than a year sadly at the current prices.

people already in receipt of it and paying their own fees may still keep it, although lose the mobility part if in a nursing home, so it could be worth applying.
https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/money/benefits/benefits-hospital-and-care-homes

Thank you.

Although interesting they lose the mobility part. Is there an expectation people in nursing homes don't go out??

No, the PP meant that people over pension age can't get PIP.
They can only apply for AA as the elderly generally do have mobility problems. They can't apply for PIP.

I think the PP thought that PIP was already being paid.
It isn't, is it?
You can claim AA though.

And there is no mobility component to AA. Just care, and it sounds like she would qualify.

www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/eligibility#:~:text=If%20you're%20in%20a,your%20care%20home%20costs%20yourself.

She might get AA, she won't get PIP

I applied for DM for AA and I was surprised at how quickly it was processed and agreed. Literally a fortnight from me posting the form back she had her first payment.

if she is over state pension age, you need to apply for AA. she is certainly eligible, but it may be helpful to get advice on filling in the forms.
try carers' centre and or age uk.
she is probably due for the higher rate, but you may have to start with the lower rate.
what age is she.
is there any reason why you/DH did not apple earlier.
what are her assets.
were social services involved in assessing her care needs ?

No, but there's the expectation that the fees they are paying cover support for them to go out that they may have had to pay for separately previously.

CAB has good advice on its website for filling in the form.

It's all come about very quickly due to severe deterioration in less than a year. She has never managed her own affairs leaving it to FIL (until he went AWOL and divorced her out of the blue).

Thank you for the clarification around PIP. I won't bother chasing that up but will look into AA thank you.