Hi
i wonder if anyone can help me.
a brief outline, my mum is 84 and has Parkinson's disease. About 2 and half years ago, she had the lower amount of attendance allowance given to her, just recently we as a family are now providing her care during the night, so applied for the higher rate. By care, I mean we take it in turns to stay over with her during the night between us siblings due to her waking and falling.
whilst talking to attendance allowance, they noticed she didn't get extra pension credit for a severe disability. I said I didn't know anything about this and no one had informed us from pension credit. She advised me to call the pension which I did. I explained everything, and all the care, and that we take turns to stay over with her. One person mentioned that she doesn't live on her own as she has the care overnight. I explained that we have our own homes and only staying 2 nights a week in turn with each other, otherwise we wouldn't be able to cope in our lives and jobs. He went on to say well she is still living with others.
This got me thinking as she doesn't pay any council tax anymore for the exact same reason, Parkinson's disease. I was worried that we would have to pay all that back now, We also explained the same details to them how we care for her overnight and they said that still means she lives on her own. I've called them again on Friday and explained what pension credit said and the council said no, she lives on her own. Just because she has people caring for her doesn't mean she doesn't live on her own as we have our own homes.
I called pension credit and spoke to a lovely lady who also clarified that my mum is on her own regardless who provides care and that we do not claim carers allowance. She said a letter was sent the 16th of June to my mum saying that she may be entitled to extra pension credit and to fill the form in and that I should receive it the next day.
yesterday my mum received a letter from pension credit, however it wasn't dated 16th June but the 20th June. It says she is not entitled to the severe disability pension credit. It gives no reason, so I do not understand why they've rejected it and it contradicts what was said on Friday.
it does say we can appeal but it honestly seems so much hassle. It makes me question if the council tax is correct. My poor mum wants to start paying it again at £269 a month as she thinks now she is committing fraud. She is getting in a right panic. I just do not understand how one can say she lives on her own and the other say she is not.
I feel all last week I was on the phone to them all, I don't know whether it's worth calling again. Who's right or who's wrong.
on another note, for the last 2 and half years she didn't have any care over night and would of been entitled. So she basically missed out on over £8000 from the pension credit. How unfair so many elderly miss out on what they are entitled to and they are not informed. Especially as many of the elderly have dementia etc so wouldn't be capable of knowing or applying :(
if anyone has any advice I would be grateful.