Very unfair that Carers Allowance is not paid to pensioners

I'm a full time carer for my husband who has alzheimers, he gets attendance allowance, but as we're both pensioners, and get our state pension I don't get carers allowance, it's classed as a benefit, and they say you can't get 2 benefits,you can also download a form for severe mental impairment, get your gp to tick the boxes and sign it ...gp can't charge for this...then send it to your local council to get a reduction in council tax. it's a very hard and demanding job especially as we get older,and although we do it for our loved ones, I think we are taken advantage of, when I was in my 40's I was a carer,,,I only lasted 6 weeks, we were not given travelling time between clients,eg
one client 8am till 8.30...next client 10 miles away 8.30 till 9am
impossible task.

I wish you luck in negotiating the hoops you'll have to jump through to get anything at all out of the DWP. You - and your GP - will need persistence in buckets.

I would be researching private carer companies now to give you time to shop around. Personal recommendation is always the most reliable but your SS Carers coordinator may also have recommendations. I found her very helpful.

The six weeks free care package is a bonus but will flash past.
I initially resisted the idea of somebody coming into our home, but soon welcomed the extra pair of hands and oddly, moral support.
Ours would shower/wash DH and help him dress, make the bed or change it when necessary and stayed to see him safely downstairs.
Timing could be erratic, but this didn’t matter in the morning as DH could have breakfast in bed, read the paper on his iPad etc.
Evening were trickier and they often turned up just as I had helped DH get ready for bed - but if we had been paying privately perhaps we could have insisted on more exact timing.
As it turned out DH had a fall not long after the “free” care package had expired, ended up in hospital and died there a few days later.
If possible try not to resent the carers, yes they range from fantastic to not great, but if you can learn how to use them to your benefit they can give you that little bit of breathing space.
Good luck. 💐💐

GrauntyHelen

Apply for Attendance allowance but get help to do so Register with your local carers centre and as a carer with your GP I hear your frustration re carers but you must count your blessings that you have them because care packages are as rare as hens teeth I cared for my husband 24/7 for years so I know how difficult it is

This care is onlyfor 6 weeks.

Can't you claim attendance allowance,give it a go?

My mums carers have to wear disposable shoe covers, and they get delivered to my mum via social services, that is the rule to stop bringing germs in the house on their shoes. Not my mums rules but the companies rule, mum gets her carers from social services.

I found with my Father that a private agency still comes when they want to and not at a time to suit the person who is paying for the care.
Most private agencies also work for the local authority, the only difference being you would be paying, while a lot of people have the 6 week entitlement after leaving hospital or means tested free care. The best help would be via a self employed person if you can find a good kind person. I do hope that you can find the right care for your husband.

Agreeing with the suggestions here for AA: also try contacting your local Carers organisation, who could provide help for both of you. Re the visiting carers, my daughter did this and they have such a heavy workload, don't have any time allowed to travel between jobs, and she ended up with parking tickets due to having to try and park as near to her jobs as possible. An impossible task sometimes!

Pebbles101, You are right. I get frustrated with being told there's a cobweb there [we live in the country so seem to get a lot of spiders].
It is nice when someone comes and makes dinner, and clean up afterwards.
Primrose53, You have to have an outside interest, it's not being selfish, it's maintaining your own sanity. I have a drama group.
It's just getting someone to sit with your partner.

Primrose53 . U should definitely get attendance allowance as others have said . Getting used to caring for a disabled husband takes a long time maybe never - letting go of so many things - I find doing the jobs he used to do as well as mine very - dare I say it wearing and often get v cross with the bins. People keep saying I should get more help now he is deteriorating more- he has limbic onset mnd - but so far I cannot see what they can do - I would like it if people understood that it’s not the caring bits like helping them move or dress or cooking etc that are necessarily hard but more the loss one feels of your partnership- I say it’s like there’s no one to just make me a cup of tea any more . My youngest daughter is a brilliant carer but gave up working for any agency or council because of the stress of time managed ‘ appointments “ with vunerable people - of course money is the main issue and a poor system of care .

This was over 10 years ago now, but I seem to remember that my parents were entitled to Carers Allowance, for looking after each other. (If I am correct, then maybe the rules have changed). My parents were loathe to apply but were told that they should. They also received Attendance Allowance. I could not apply for Carers allowance as I was over pensionable age.

Apply for Attendance allowance but get help to do so Register with your local carers centre and as a carer with your GP I hear your frustration re carers but you must count your blessings that you have them because care packages are as rare as hens teeth I cared for my husband 24/7 for years so I know how difficult it is

I am a full time carer for my wife who has MND, I have been so for about 2 years.
The allowances we get are
Attendance Allowance[ both retired ]
Just received 25% of our council tax
Blue badge
Now in contact with our local council about, Severely mentally impaired[ horrid name ], which can also reduce council tax.
Also have a look at Social Tariffs, gas, electric, water and broadband.
It will depend on your suppliers. Try their websites
This site may help.

www.socialtariff.co.uk/water-social-tariff-am-i-eligible/

Bit of a faff finding things, but could help.

I 2 nd try claiming for attendance allowance. I believe it’s the most underclaimed benefit. Pleeeez do it.

But you have to get the form back with in 6 weeks for that to apply.

As others have said, your husband can apply for Attendance Allowance. This isn't means tested. It also looks like he will qualify for the higher rate, which is around £400+ per month. It's a very daunting form and Citizens Advice and Age UK will help you to fill this in. It starts from the date you rang to request the form.

You can both claim attendance allowance. Massive form to fill in but you should both get it. Contact citizens advice or a family member or Age UK. I did it for my mum but dad got it too as he was looking after her 24/7 and he was 85.

Primrose, do see if you have a local carers group. They usually have someone who can advise on benefits and all sorts of other things, some do carers cafes. You sound isolated and this might help you. Google carers uk. I'm sorry about your husband and I really feel your frustration with respect to the care he is receiving

Primrose 💐

dissillusioned2022

I realy do feel for you. We had help from Social services, but they were so useless I gave them their marking orders after a fortnight.

Sorry to hear that. We had a nice woman this morning who was chatty, thorough and did a full strip wash for my husband and then dressed him in clean clothes.

He is unable to get in the bath/shower. She took her time and cleared away after herself. That is honestly all I ask.

I think it is shocking that some of the people they send out don’t have a caring bone in their body and want to get paid for a shift and only spend 10 minutes “caring”.

I realy do feel for you. We had help from Social services, but they were so useless I gave them their marking orders after a fortnight.

You can also ask for a Carer's Assessment which might entitle you to things that help you in your caring role. My friend gets a cleaner after hers.

AgeUk have a brilliant website with lots of great down loads but, as I said above, ring them and talk to an advisor.

Primrose, you and your husband might also qualify for further benefits as well as AA so please make some further enquiries. Get in touch with your county Social Services or any local disability support charity in your area.

theworriedwell

Jaxjacky

But your husband can get Attendance Allowance and pension Primrose

But Primrose is doing the caring. If she was younger he could still be getting attendance allowance and Primrose could be getting carers allowance.

I sympathise Primrose, been husbands carer for over 30 years. Never got CA when I was working can't get it now as I'm a pensioner. Heads they win tails I lose.

theworriedwell wow, that is a long, long time to be caring.

I cared for my late Mum for 14 years until 2020. Never thought I would still be caring at 71!

If you and I applied for jobs we would be considered too old yet we are ideal as unpaid carers.

Jaxjacky

But your husband can get Attendance Allowance and pension Primrose

But Primrose is doing the caring. If she was younger he could still be getting attendance allowance and Primrose could be getting carers allowance.

I sympathise Primrose, been husbands carer for over 30 years. Never got CA when I was working can't get it now as I'm a pensioner. Heads they win tails I lose.