can any one advise me?

[tobby1428]

hello everyone ! can anyone advise me and my wife.we recently applied for and got carers allowance,it was even backdated 3 months.my wife has cared and looked after me for the last 25 years this was after a really bad case of guillane barre syndrome followed by the discovery of 3 large dvts in my left leg.i can barely walk 2 metres without falling down.we have had dla and now pip for the last 25 years receiving the high care component and the high mobility amount,i drive a motability car but I cannot go into the shops as my wife cannot push me in my wheelchair as I am overweight and she has a bad knee and will probably need the knee joint replacement operation.even though I used to work for the government,they have not made it easy for me to get my benefits(this is where I show my stupidity!).we always assumed that the care component of the dla/pip was the carers allowance,it was only when they were reviewing my esa(employment support allowance or sick money) that we were told to claim carers allowance,which we did and were awarded it! even though I get a two thirds pension from my former employer together with the benefits I am entitled to,we have had to pay our mortgage,full council tax,prescriptions and dental care.since turning 60 we have had a little bit of relaxation from the prescription costs.bringing up 2 children incurred quite high costs and regrettably when the credit crunch happened we had to seek help with our debts from citizens advice,we were referred to pay plan who are helping us to pay our debts.i know its a big maybe but if we had the carers allowance when I was first declared disabled then we might not be in the financial mess we find ourselves in.has any one out there got a claim backdated more than 3 months? I read all the heartbreaking stories that you show and I am often reduced to tears over them and yes some people will laugh at my plight and yes maybe they are right.but I need funds to get a motorised wheelchair,possibly a stair lift or a even a downstairs toilet installed.i am not asking for something that I was not entitled to,i just need some advice.

[sassy59]

Hello tobby1428, you have a lot to contend with it seems and you’ve come to the right place for advice.

I would contact the citizens advice bureau or you could ask DWP about your carers allowance and see what they say.

I do wish you well and hope you get some answers. Take care. Xxxxx

[Hidden]

Hi toby1428,

First of all please be assured that our lovely care community members won’t ever laugh at others’ problems. We are all here to help however we can and I hope someone will have your answer. I can see from your previous posts over time that you’ve had a long struggle with your own health and now your wife’s too.

This isn’t something I’ve had to deal with myself, so I can’t be of much help, but given that CAB have helped you in the past, my advice would be to seek further help there. I can understand how very frustrating it must be to feel you are being deprived of benefits you should have had, and can only hope you can find a resolution.

With very best wishes.

[katieoxo60]

I would suggest you contact a solicitor so you can appeal on a point of law, some citizens advice bureaus have a legal adviser, but I fear you have been wrongly assessed a long time ago. With respect a stairlift ect contact your social services for a social care needs assessment which includes a financial assessment with benefits advice, needs like stairlifts ect and any advice on what other entitlements you may claim. It is not just about help with carers. There are also grants, specially reduced telephone services, fuel allowances, cheaper internet for disabled & older persons, vulnerable registers, rate rebates are assessed differently for disabled and over 60s. All these little extras can help your finances go further, unfortunately the only one who can obtain them is yourself by filling in forms . Solicitors do a first free session in most areas it is not easy but you need to take that first step to get the ball rolling. Disability now have a good advice service on line as do many other disability action groups. It will take time but do not be fobbed off. Every best wish. Oh do you not have a social worker?, to advise as you have been disabled for many years. Good Luck and take care

[tobby1428 in reply to katieoxo60]

thank you to all you wonderful people for your kind words and yes you brought tears to my eyes. what I did not say is that once I get the bit between my teeth I will not let go i even won my case for a dla when the dss rejected my claim when my so called consultant asked one his lackeys to fill my forms in,which she did without ever seeing me resulting in the dss stopping all my benefits because they thought I was going back to work even though I had taken medical retirement on the advice of my consultant! we nearly lost everything.i can remember going to the local benefit advice office where one of the advisers told me that there was no chance of getting this decision reversed.how wrong she was it took some time but I got all my benefits back plus the arrears and we also got an apology from the consultant and the hospital ! I took great delight in going back to the benefit advice centre with my various letters of apology etc and showing them.so this is what will spur me on. when I worked it was for the dss although it was not benefits I worked dealing with national insurance so I had a good idea of what was going on.i have a plan which starts with contacting the dwp via a recorded delivery letter(phoning them is a waste of time,the last time it took me 46 minutes of waiting before they answered my call)stay tuned for further developments,again thanks to everyone who took the time to respond!

[Hidden]

Hi, If one of you is registered disabled, you can get a reduction in your council tax. Contact your council and they will sort it for you.

[katieoxo60]

Hi again, glad to hear you are taking that vital first step, but as you know there will be many more on the way. You sound like me no Uturns no matter how long it takes. There have been cases of people getting thousands of pounds but having to go to court to do so, I have just been reading some old paperwork from a case remember to look up the meaning of disability , that it can be a passed disability, or an ongoing illness, and must affect your ability to do everyday tasks or prevent you from doing them. As you were getting benefit then your disability is not in dipute, and it is the DWPs job to ensure you get the highest amount for your circumstances, even if that is not the benefit you were receiving. Certain benefits are only received if you receive other benefits so to speak.

[SquirrelsHolt]

Hi tobby1428 and I've been reading your previous posts/blog and I take my hat off to you and your dear wife. You both must have literally gone to help and back what with one thing or another. I'm certain that I wouldn't have been able to pick up the pieces like you did and soldier on. You asked if anyone got carers allowance back dated and although some folk say it is a postcode "thing" as to whether you'll be even considered etc etc......I did put in for my full time Carter's allowance to be back dated as I too was suffering from severe depression (probably the least medically urgent thing) but.I was never,ever told I was entitled to CA and that was not my fault. I did have to take the matter to Tribunal appeal,which to be honest,nearly killed me,but I won and it was backdated a further 6 months. So with the original back date of 6 months and then again=12 months backdated CA. I would say to for it if you have the will to go to the bitter end and 85% of all appeals are won by the claimant. I hope things are a little easier health wise for you both and maybe the summer months will brighten us all up. My God I know I need it. Keep in touch won't you and I wish you and your devoted wife well.