84 yr old mum has just been told of the, many benefits she should be on. backdate claim?

[minxthemanx]

I'm very cross. My mum is 84, lives alone in.her house, mentally v v sharp but physically struggles; 2 artificial knees, one hip, heart condition, high blood pressure etc etc. At the Dr surgery recently she saw a notice about citizens advice giving sessions re finances; she went last week. Her only income us, state

why does it not work at the other end of life? sadly because with an ever aging population it would cost the tax payer too much. No free parking for cancer patients at QMC/City Nottingham either btw which I was shocked about.

No they won't backdate sorry.

Age UK and CAB are excellent sources of info and support. Also worth you having a look at Turn2Us.org the benefits calculator gave give you an idea what mum might be entitled to.

Benefits will not be backdated further than three months in any circumstances. Your mum may not have previously qualified for help but now as her financial and health circumstances have changed she may qualify

Mum will only qualify for AA if she has physical disabilities. Not being able to manage her garden wouldn't count.

Professionally I have the pleasure of meeting many independent and competent older people, its their resilience that keeps them going but does sometimes mean they miss out on claims.

Just read your post agsin IS would have been refused due to age not 5k income. Am baffled as to why you didn't look into pension credit AA etc that is your/ your dm's responsibility not the governments.

DLA (now PIP) can only be claimed under 65 - above that the person would have to claim AA. However 'not being able to manage the garden/housework' wouldn't itself entitle her to anything - the tests focus on inability to make a meal, wash and dress, communicate and get around.

Age UK have excellent financial advisers who can also assist with filling in forms for any disability-related benefit - don't try completing those without help.

Pension credit, winter fuel allowance and being registered with all utilities as a vulnerable person, single persons discount on council tax, may all be worth looking at.

AA is also available to the terminally ill such as my DF.

I cannot understand the attitudes of people saying its the OPs responsibility to have organised all this for her mum. My dad was very anti claiming of benefits during his working life and his children have never had to claim either so noone in his family had even heard of AA. He made an enquiry about income support but was too old (despite working at his point of diagnosis) and he wasn't eligible for disability benefit but he wasn't told what he was able to claim. He was a very independent and proud man and it took some effort to get him to agree to getting the doctor to affirm that he was terminally ill in order for him to be able to make a claim. Not a nice thing to have to confront while you are still having treatment to try cure it.

Anyway I'm derailing. Good luck to your mum OP.

My stepdad claims dla and he is 70.

wannabestressfree DLA can continue to be received after the age of 65 if the initial claim was made before that age.

If making a claim for help with care needs after the age of 65, then you would be expected to make a claim for Attendance Allowance. No mobility component would be payable as the government expects old people to get too infirm to walk and they just have to put up with it.

A person who cares for someone with illness or disability for more than 35 hours a week may claim Carers Allowance/or the Carer Addition if over State Pension Age and on a low income. Best to gets some proper benefits advice though to make sure all relevant benefits have been claimed.

Chund the saving limit for IS is 16k not 6k however it is reduced after 6k

Attendance allowance is NOT for personal care only. It is to help with the extra costs of disability. It is for conditions likely to last more than 6 months (do not temporary like hip replacement). Once you have met the conditions and do long as you continue to do so, you can spend it on what you like! So my dad USA his to get waitrose and Wiltshire farm foods deliver his food each week and to pay someone to pop in daily to check he is alive. If he spent it on a world cruise that would be ok too. You don't have to justify what you spend it on. Inevitably people in poor health or with disabilities have extra costs eg heating, food, washing, gardening that able bodied people do not.
I think GPs should have to tell sick/elderly/disabled/carers of their rights to claim and local authorities should be fully funding the CAB (who don't always get if right but do their level best with an excellent expert information system).

And yes, this is my area of expertise. But OP if you don't claim you don't get. Ignorance sadly is no excuse so get you to the DWP, now!

My iphone is conspiring - my dad USES his AA...
Etc