Is there any tax rebate for elderly care?

[Valentinesblues]

I live with my grandmother full time and provide 95% of her care.

I’m thinking of going back to work as I’m skint, and miss my career.

I’d be earning around £28k, and looking around, I’d be paying out 18k just in care costs for a lady to sit with her/light household duties/keep an eye on her - she’s all there mentally but prone to falls.

Is there any form of tax rebates I could be entitled to? As after I’ve paid tax I’m going to be negative for going to work.

My grandmother owns her own house and is on a basic pension. I think I know the answer to this but just wondering how people manage elderly care.

Are you claiming attendance allowance?

I don’t think so but not sure

You mean you’ll hire someone to sit with her full time and that will be paid for by you?

I am not sure about tax deductions but there are some benefits you can claim. These are at two levels. The higher level being for those who need night time care as well. The carer can also claim benefits depending on how many hours they spend caring for their loved one.
We claimed these when we looked after our mother when she had dementia.

@Abraid2 when SS came out last year they said I wouldn’t be entitled to AA as my grandmother technically doesn’t need anyone caring after her as she’s got a emergency alarm for when she has a fall (I’ve counted that this week alone I’ve caught her four times as she went to loose her balance - and that’s without her having to do anything apart from walk from the bedroom to the living room/bathroom).

@AutumnRose1

They’d be expected to make her tea, shadow when she walks around the house, make her a snack etc.

She’s just highly at risk of falls as her balance is shockingly bad. We’ve had the OT/falls team in but she doesn’t listen to what they have to say. When she’s feeling well she’ll quite happily stand on a step ladder to have a look to see if the plates have been stacked properly therefore she needs to be supervised 24/7.

Have her reassessed by ss, first take her to the GP and explain the change in her balance. A lot can change in a year. Also look at day care at local homes, I used to work in one and they charged £50 for 9-5 care, all meals and activities provided.

I don’t think there’s much help available tbh. Have you spoken to adult SS with a view to getting an OH assessment on her home to see if there is anything else they can offer or suggest to help when you’re not there. Does she use a walker to help with balance?

@Inforthelonghaul

We’ve had numerous agencies in the home to see how they can support some independence but it’s mainly for her to remain at home - things to help her to get out of bed in the morning/stair lift etc but as a whole she can’t walk without another adult in case her knees give way etc. With the panic alarm she was on the floor for over four hours waiting for an ambulance and that’s when I decided to move in. We’ve just been lucky in the past that she’s fell on carpet - if she has a fall walking in the kitchen she could easily knock her head in on the counter top.

@ThunderPython

I was wondering if homes offered that service and it could be good for her to make some friends. I don’t think she’d be up for even visiting a home as she’s petrified that she’s going to end up in one. I’m also thinking g that some days she’s not feeling 100% and likes to spend the morning in bed - I can’t be having a day off a week when my gran needs a pj day.

Sorry to sound unappreciative of your comments. They’re good suggestions. I just feel like going around in circles all the time with life x

I would reapply for attendance allowance as if she needs that level of supervision she should be eligible.
You need to detail the frequency of falls and also how often she needs help in the night, if her poor balance means she needs help to bath/shower etc
Is she on medication- does she need help with this? There are so many things you probably automatically do that would classify as help with personal care.

Are you being paid to look after her or pay.any rent. I would re apply for attendance and carers allowance. If you look on the Carers UK site they have a lot of good.advice. would you be paying for carers if you go.to.work or would gm be paying for her own car or qualify for .social services.

It sounds as though you need to consider something more permanent like getting your own place and your gran moving into an assisted living facility, like sheltered housing but a little more help if needed. Where we are assisted living apartments are available to rent at about £140 a week including all utilities and that includes a hot meal every day.

Are you sure it will only cost £18k? That figure sounds very low for full time care hours being paid privately.

You don't have to go through SS to apply for AA. I'd suggest you talk to Age Concern about applying for it. As 5dogs says, you'll need to be able to say how many falls she has and all the other things you do for her without thinking. Worth starting a diary now - a bit late for the AA application but would be evidence if you needed to appeal.

OP is she using a walker?

What happens if she needs to use the bathroom at night?

I have found AA raters to be very understanding and willing to allow claims. Ignore the social workers and her Age Concern to help you to complete the forms.