Social services and financial errors

The amount we pay for care does not reach the amount SS think we can afford to pay, so deducting tiny amounts from it for stairlift rental and cleaning does not help!

If an assessment is made for care at home using paid carers, then my understanding is that payments for cleaning and gardening are deducted from the assessed amount!! Or should be.
If an individual needs 4 x 2 carers a day, then it’s highly unlikely that cleaning and gardening is going to be done by them…..
As for incontinence pants - words fail me.

Casdon

ronib

Pull up pants seem to be the preferred product for some reason…. And the NHS won’t pay for them.

We have discussed that before ronib, unfortunately the NHS cannot meet the personal preference of every individual user of continence products for financial and logistics reasons, but they do supply a universal, adequate product. If people want to use something else they have to pay themselves, as my mum does. I don’t think I would be possible to get that additional cost funded through any other route.

I looked after my mum for ten years. (Alzheimer's) and always bought tena lady pads and pants for her. The NHS ones were not comfortable for her and the pads came with net knickers which cut her blood supply off ! I don't think that I have ever heard of money being given for cleaning and gardening etc.

I think there needs to be a nursing component for NHS continuing care as opposed to a social need. But it is a nursing need to prevent falls so maybe my friend will qualify. It’s worth following up.

Could your neighbour be eligible for NHS Continuing Care, which is free?

If you can, try and make contact with the Social Prescriber in your GP practice, they are very good at getting on your case and chasing up Social Services. And do be aware that if your social worker is not pulling his/her weight, that you can always ask for a different one?

Yes I know Casdon - I was trying to demonstrate how little £1k a month will stretch … I am totally convinced that the initial financial contribution is wrong. I shall have to wait and see what the senior caseworker suggests.

ronib

Pull up pants seem to be the preferred product for some reason…. And the NHS won’t pay for them.

We have discussed that before ronib, unfortunately the NHS cannot meet the personal preference of every individual user of continence products for financial and logistics reasons, but they do supply a universal, adequate product. If people want to use something else they have to pay themselves, as my mum does. I don’t think I would be possible to get that additional cost funded through any other route.

Help the Aged … thank you shall try.

Pull up pants seem to be the preferred product for some reason…. And the NHS won’t pay for them.

Help the Aged have advisors who should be able to help your friend to sort out her finances. My brother in law had a problem when being discharged from hospital and they were very helpful.

Ronib are we talking about pads that tie at the side, (my dad had those), or are you referring to pants that pull up?

ronib

Disability related expenditure is payable under the Care Act 2014.
Tena super night pants are not supplied by the NHS. £98 for a pack of 8 x 10 pants from Amazon.

My dad had those for night time, fight to get them though as he also had a conveen catheter but would pull it off.
District nurse was brilliant

Disability related expenditure is payable under the Care Act 2014.
Tena super night pants are not supplied by the NHS. £98 for a pack of 8 x 10 pants from Amazon.

I’ve never heard of any extra payment on top of attendance allowance.
Tenna pads are supplied free, via incontinence clinic.

It certainly doesn’t cover the tax bill either…. Tax in advance is £4400 annually.

No definitely not pension credit crazyH. Her monthly bill for care leaves her with about £1k a month which is insufficient for her needs.

If her income is £2700 after tax, how can she be entitled to pension credit? 😳

We filled in the Herts Disability Related Expenses form, but the allowances are pathetic, about £2.50 a week for cleaning and the same for the £1000 every six months we pay for stairlift rental! We have had to pay for everything equipment-wise including a wetroom so he could have a shower and a ramp so he could get into the house on discharge from hospital!

A lot will depend on how she (or other) filled in her forms. Get some help to review the overly complex and designed to catch you out forms.

Also talk to her fuel and water suppliers, get her onto priority services and and reduced rates

Contact the finance dept, they should be taking into account DRE (Disability Related Expenditure)

Update I have discovered that Herts SS were found in breach of the Care Act 2014 by not allowing for cleaning services in assessments. I am still asking questions and not getting any answers.

My parents live in England too ronib. The declaration of savings is part of the financial assessment form. If no financial assessment has been done for your friend, I assume that was because she did not request one, and would be the next step.

Casdon but her pension income per month is around £2,700 after tax. We live in England not Wales. We have not been asked to fill in the declaration of savings form to my knowledge.
A neighbour had been made the contact instead of myself as PoA which has caused me some problems.
Putting the problem through ChatGPT suggests that my friend should be entitled to a refund for an inaccurate financial assessment but ….. the last email suggested that bank statements were insufficient evidence.

She definitely should not be paying for home care if her savings are at that level ronib. Has she completed the declaration of savings form for her financial assessment by Social Services, that is normally done annually for my mum?