benefits question

[chuff1]

Hello

I am 68 years of age on state pension, I have copd and finding everyday life such as dressing, washing, cooking, making a brew etc etc increasingly difficult as Im sure many others on here do.

Am I entitled to any benefits Im thinking no, but my good lady wife seems to think I may be? Who is right?

Mick

[Mopsey1897]

Hi Mick. There are benefits available but I wouldn’t know what you personally can claim, some maybe means tested? There’s a carers allowance for anyone looking after you including your wife and a PIP where the payments are for helping with every day needs and can be used towards a motobility car. Perhaps have a look online at the DWP website or ring Citizens Advice for help? If your wife works, this may affect some benefits. I expect others on here could help. Good luck

[chuff1 in reply to Mopsey1897]

Thanks Mopsey, the fact that my wife works I thought could be a problem, I will probably ring Citizens Advice tomorrow.

Mick

[Nickcv in reply to Mopsey1897]

The original poster is receiving the state pension so is not entitled to PIP but is entitled to claim attendance allowance. Unfortunately there is no mobility component attached to this benefit.

[Swizzy]

You can only apply for PIP until 6 mths before you turn 65.

. Carers allowance is a payment to the carer. Your best bet is Attendance Allowance which is paid directly to the person who meeds assistance. I think that Age UK or Citizens Advice are best to advise you given your own circumstances.

[chuff1 in reply to Swizzy]

Thanks for your reply swizzy, will make some enquiries about Attendance allowance tomorrow

Mick

[tomc]

hI Mick, Welcome to the house of fun I hope you learn a lot of new things to help you on your journey.

The only I am sure of (because it happened to me, Is, once you are of retirement age you will not qualify for PIP. With me there has been a drastic decline in my conditions BUT because i am retired (and now 73.. I will not be considered for an uplift of my PIP.

Basically, If you are retired you probably will not get PIP....BUT, Give it a go nevertheless you never know until you try.

AND if you fail for PIP you may get some other benefit.

Good luck to you and nice to see you here.

Tom

[chuff1 in reply to tomc]

Thanks Tom, wasnt really thinking of PIP but maybe Attendance Allowance, will make some enquiries tomorrow

Mick

[Teresa1950 in reply to chuff1]

You can't claim PIP, once you have retired, but you can apply for Attendance Allowance.

[chuff1 in reply to Teresa1950]

Thank you Teresa, its Attendance that I will be applying for.

[Thepainterswife in reply to chuff1]

My husband got Attendance Allowance after he retired until he died aged 74 For the first few years he was on the lower rate and in the last year it was increased to the higher rate as his condition deteriorated I was six years younger than him and If I remember rightly I was working when he started to receive it . I am now having treatment for cancer and receive AA ( I’m 71 ) On both occasions my daughter persuaded us to apply we were quite reluctant but as she said - they won’t just tell you if you’re entitled to it you have to ask ! it’s worth applying , not too much paper work and we were accepted with no issues and I really appreciate it due to extra transport costs etc I now have Good luck 😊

[BreatheasyBe in reply to tomc]

Hi Tomc double check if you can apply for uplift of pip as my dad is on the old system DLA and we were successful in getting his uplifted as a result of him requiring more support due to his various illnesses in his late 70’s. I thought of you already had pip in place before pension age you would still get any uplift.

[Alberta56]

There are 2 levels of Attendance Allowance, depending on how much care you are deemed to need. As far as I remember it is not means tested. Good luck in applying for it.

[chuff1 in reply to Alberta56]

No it looks that way to me too, thaks Alberta.

[Vinny5]

yes you can definitely get Attendance Allowance. I do I have severe copd and get

Paid highest rate and really helps me pay for assistance etc. very long form to complete get citizens advice to help you do it.

[chuff1 in reply to Vinny5]

Thanks vinny,awaiting form

[garshe]

Attendance Allowance is not means tested. You could be entitled to lower or higher . Best bet is a letter from your GP stating what stage your COPD is. Age Concern will fill on the application form for you and best to have as much paperwork I.e. hospital appointments, treatments, scans etc to include with application form . Good luck xx.Sheila

[chuff1 in reply to garshe]

Thank you sheila xx

[garshe in reply to chuff1]

When you are filling the form in always put your worse days.. XxSheila 👍

[PaulineHM]

Hi Chuff,

As others have advised, definitely apply for Attendance Allowance and CAB can help you apply for it. It is very useful for when you need to buy in care.

Carers Allowance- maybe your wife can apply although I think it depends on how much they earns so it may or may not be appropriate to apply.

Go well

Pauline.

[Blyth1]

Hi chuff1, if you ring for your attendance allowance form to be sent to you then your claim is back dated to the date you requested it ,and you have 6 weeks to complete the form. If you download the form then you are only paid from the date they receive it. Suprisingly when I claimed last year they were very quick in answering the phone!

Yes the form is long, unless you are classed as having a life limiting condition and your Gp / Consultant or specialist nurse provides you with an SR1 (?) form. Then you can skip a lot of the questions.

When you fill in the form do so thinking of your worst days and help you require, not your best days.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

[chuff1 in reply to Blyth1]

Thank you Blyth, good advice, take care

Mick

[armstrong2]

hi to you attendance allowance is paid only after retirement ...you can only claim pip before retirement ...good luck

[chuff1 in reply to armstrong2]

Thank you Armstrong

[LissacFrance]

Hi, with a name like chuff, tha must be up norf. On the principle that women are always right, I would say yes you should be entitled to benefits. In ddition to DWP site get hold of your local social services office, they should be able to help. Good luck, and take care, Chris.

[chuff1 in reply to LissacFrance]

Hi Chris, up norf!! I was born and bred in Margate, whilst in Royal Navy I was known as mouthy southy! .......and yes my wife is invariably right

Thanks Chris, you take care too

Mick

[LissacFrance in reply to chuff1]

Margate is definitely darn souf. I`m from Sheffield but now some 600 miles south of London. Chuff is certainly a northern word, from around Sheffield area. I can think of several people who would have been/are worthy of Mouthy Southy. Trump, Musk and others to name a couple. Must go, time to take dogs out despite te temp being - far too many, i.e. about -4. Chris.

[JHutton1994]

PIP is the first one that came to mind. CAB do have benefits assessors you can speak to, but from the sounds of it you'd definitely be elligible for PIP at the minimum and if you qualify for higher rate daily living your wife can claim carer's allowance.

[Bevvy in reply to JHutton1994]

At 68yrs this person is too old to apply for PIP. They need to apply for Attendance Allowance.

[Maggity]

Hi, you can contact Age uk who will carry out a full benifit check for you and your wife. They will then email you through the break down so you can see exactly what you may be entitled to and how to claim it. It was very straightforward and can all be done over the phone just by having yours and your wife's financial details to hand. Good luck.

[chuff1 in reply to Maggity]

Hi Maggity, already done that one, entitled to £0......I will try not to spend it all at once

Mick

[Maggity in reply to chuff1]

Yes, I was the same Mick, not even help with energy costs anymore 😢

[Poppy2525 in reply to chuff1]

It does seem that if you are claiming all the benefits under the sun you will get all the disability benefits as well. I know 2 x people that get a new car and all expenses paid ! nowhere near as bad as me

There’s me with COPD stage 4 (end stage) nothing

[gingermusic]

I would have thought you could apply for Attendance Allowance worth giving it a go

[katieoxo60]

Hi chuff1, there is no one benefits question for any claim. 🙂 However there are some benefits only dependent on your income not wives, a carer has to be able to look after you for a minimum of 35 hrs per week and earn quite a low sum by todays standards. Pip can't be claimed after 65 unless you were entitled before retirement however attendance allowance can be claimed after retirement . The regulations are stiff but often small things like not being able to dress can get you low rate. claiming NHS discounts on low income grounds can passport you to help with dental costs,and glasses but not prescriptions as they are free on retirement. Rate rebates are often overlooked but as a pensioner you can have £10, 000 capital/savings and still get some rebate even though your wife works it is based on net income not gross. Each thing you claim has to be assessed seperate with form filling. Even which type of state pension you get makes a difference. Pension credit is another option too. My advise is if in doubt claim you have nothing to loose and some things passport you to other perks. Never presume your not entitled untill told in writing and the reason for refusal. Some Gps and churches do benefit rights sessions besides ones mentioned. Good luck and expect a wait to see someone and sort it all out Bye for now.

[chuff1 in reply to katieoxo60]

Thanks Katie, good advice there, am claiming attendance allowance, when form arrives

Mick

[katieoxo60 in reply to chuff1]

Hi chuff1, you can go on line both on the benefits site and Age UK and they have a calculater that you put in all your details and it will tell you what you may be entitled to. I'm not conversant with how universal credit works but your wife might be entitled to that . Another one for you to think about some benefits are paid to working people. THe DWP has to pay you what ever is the best benefit for your circumstances .

[PaperQueen]

Your wife is right of course, as we women always are! 🤣 As you are retired (I assume) you should apply for Attendance Allowance or PIP (personal independence payment) if you're not. Remember to say how it is for you on your worst day. Your local Age UK or Citizens Advice should be able to help you fill in the form. I'm not sure if your wife could claim Carer's Allowance, but that is something else you could look into. Good luck. Sally xx

[chuff1]

My wife is normally right to be honest, I am indeed retired and will be claiming attendance allowance.

Stay well Sally

Mick xx

[AsthmaandLung Administrator]

As the members have mentioned, you may be able to get Attendance Allowance- here are some links to information and how to claim, the CAB or Age UK can help with forms, you may need to make an appointment.

ageuk.org.uk/information-ad...

gov.uk/attendance-allowance...

citizensadvice.org.uk/wales...

ageuk.org.uk/?

Do feel free to call the helpline if you would like to talk through your query. asthmaandlung.org.uk/about-...

Kind regards

Helpline Team

[Heaven20]

My application for attendance allowance was turned down, I think because I live alone I have to look after myself. It's hard you know, I have bronchiectasis and if you have it you know how you feel on your bad days. It was explained to me that because I can dress myself etc I don't qualify. Theres nothing else so I just carry on. This isn't a sob story just reality. I hope you are successful whatever you do.

[Bevvy in reply to Heaven20]

No it really is how you complete the form. The fact you live alone is irrelevant. I am on PIP and live alone. Of course I have to manage things for example getting dressed but it takes me far longer than most people my age! So that went on my form.

I suggest you reapply for Attendance Allowance but get help completing the form. There really is a method to it. Go to someone like Age Concern or CAB who can assist with this.

[Curryandchips]

Hi depends were you live.

Go to Gov.uk and type Attendance allowance in the search bar

[janedivney in reply to Curryandchips]

Yes, I believe it’s different in some parts of Scotland

[janedivney]

Good luck, chuff. Don’t think of AA as “benefits”. Strictly speaking it isn’t, it’s to help you with the cost of living with a chronic illness, paying for care etc