UK Attendance Allowance

[Jupeter]

Some of you here in the UK may not be aware of the financial support available for those over 65 with a chronic ailment that requires support from other people. Check on the following website for the official information. The benefit is paid at two levels depending on the level of need, and is currently £54 or £81 per week, paid every 4 weeks.

gov.uk/attendance-allowance...

You should take into consideration what support you have need for due to your condition and things you would previously have done for yourself. Your care provider can be your spouse or another person, living in or in daily attendance.

Support for such things as gardening, house cleaning, decorating, shopping, dressing, dog walking are all contributing to a decline in your quality of life. Even simple things like cutting up meat at mealtimes or helping with drinking from cups, which many PwP have to have. But many people are either unaware of the Attendance Allowance or think they are ineligible. Support from your GP is essential, anything you put in your claim must be ratified by him/her.

When making an application, note that the payments, if they are awarded, start from the date when you registered your interest. If you telephone the DWP to request an application form, the awarded payments are backdated to the date of that phone call, which can be a month or so.

Paying someone to clean the house, or do the ironing, or the gardening, can help ease the strain on your primary carer, most often your spouse. So, even if you are reluctant to claim, give a little thought to how much this will help them.

[JohnPepper]

Hi Jupiter.

You are so lucky! We can only dream of that sort of support for people with chronic illnesses. I'm envious of you.

John

[cabbagecottage in reply to JohnPepper]

so sorry to hear that John ,

we consider ourselves very fortunate to be able to apply for this funding .

for others , do you know that you can also claim a council tax reduction if you have had certain alterations done to all ow you to stay in your own home , such as changing the use of another room downstairs to have room for wheel chair commode or bed etc .

Inly lowers down to next band but every little helps .

If you have electric aids istalled Stairlifts or hoist register for priority with your electric company for priority in case of a power cut .

[JohnPepper in reply to cabbagecottage]

Hi CabbageCottage. Brag, Brag, Brag! We have no assistance whatsoever. We don't even have an old-age pension if we own a home. There is no national health, other than at Government Hospitals at which you have to queue all day and the whole of the next day for medication, which is not free. It is a real incentive to stay healthy and save money when you are working. Maybe England could learn a bit from that!

Kind regards

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

People don't fall prey to debilitating illness so they can get a handout. There are many incentives to stay healthy apart from need. The US safety net does not go as far as the UK one and yes, you are lucky to have recognition and support.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. Thanks, long time no hear!

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

Still doing well, no meds, a little credit to you.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. I'm glad to hear it. Keep up the good work and start enjoying life again.

Good luck!

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

The lowest point is when I got the diagnosis. Then period of research immersion and realization RX or not I have the rest of life to figure out. Plan to do as much good and have as much fun as possible, RX or not.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. Yes! Depression resulting from the diagnosis is one of our biggest problems. With the benefit of hindsight, If my neurologist had not said that "I would become totally immobile and bedridden and there was nothing I could do about it", then I would have got better much quicker.

I would have done everything I did, but a lot sooner and I would not have taken Sinemet and Simetryl for the first two years. Depression can be managed, especially if you can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

Interestingly in the last few weeks I read two NY Times obits that mentioned Parkinsons as the cause of death, one was a 93-year old woman and the other a 91-year old man. Now wouldn't you think that is an appropriate age to exit? To be born creates one certainty and that there is death in the future and Parkinsons at least gives us a sense of mortality....so you have to outrun, out-jump and postpone that reality, no differently than anyone else.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. Nobody ever died from Pd. Pd does often cause us to get pneumonia or other chest infections that do cause death, and indirectly it can be claimed that Pd does cause us to get some other condition that does cause death.

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

You and I know that but maybe NY Times doesn't. Departing after 90 we can admit is a full, long lifespan and neither of my parents lived that long, although my great aunt died at 91 of the flu. But she was still working full time, lived on a fifth floor walkup apartment and walked to work every day. She also dyed her hair red to look young, which she actually did.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. Its funny that people who are forced to do exercise tend to live healthier lives. I wonder why?

John

[racerCP in reply to JohnPepper]

Frankly I love exercising and the kind of people it attracts. I had thought of getting a certificate as a personal trainer after retiring but as it turned out I have to personally train myself. I rejoined my old gym which has a large pool and many aerobic classes with mostly 20-year olds who look like models work out...it's inspiring even if I can't always keep up exactly. I'm aiming for being active during whatever time I do live. Days I can't get out because of cold, rain or icy conditions I do the 7-minute NY Times routine and starting on a 20-minute routine as well.

[JohnPepper in reply to racerCP]

Hi Racer. You appear to be doing very well. I would not mind taking part in a workout with some 20-year old models. I doubt if I would get much physical benefit from it but it would be nice to brag about it to my friends. It would no doubt give the models something to giggle about to their friends.

John

[12stargate in reply to JohnPepper]

Hi John;

In your book, did you recommend aerobic walking 5 days a week for 45 min each day?

Thanks!!

[Pete-1 in reply to racerCP]

John,

Does that mean that when people have run out of money and having been evicted from their homes do they go and huddle in a street corner or under a bridge somewhere to just die. I assume charities are more active over in the US, Now that's great but can that be relied upon year on year?

[Jupeter in reply to JohnPepper]

Yes John, we are lucky. And I wasn't intending to brag, just that I am aware that many people are unaware of the benefits they can claim to ease their lives a little.

In a period of austerity, such as we have been for 4 years, these benefits are still available.

[JohnPepper in reply to Jupeter]

Hi Jupeter. I was not being nasty I was just pulling your leg! I like to joke with people and hopefully raise a smile or two.

I love South Africa, but you have to work a lot harder at standing still. I would not swap it for any other country even though we are going through tough times.

Thanks for coming back to me.

John

[Jupeter in reply to JohnPepper]

John, no problem. I always wanted to visit S Africa but never made it. Apart from a week in a Timeshare in The Gambia, I haven't touched the African continent at all. Pity, but I can't complain too much. I will be taking my last holiday later this year, on the Queen Mary 2 to New York (family visit). Beats flying, you arrive relaxed, no jetlag, and we can take our dog with us. Due to my P and Osteo-arthritis and low BP, I won't be able to travel in the future but, at 79, I might not want to!

[JohnPepper in reply to Jupeter]

Hi Jupeter. Enjoy travel while you can. It is becoming more and more difficult for us, as we get older, but it is fun.

John

[cabbagecottage]

Where are you living John .

it must be , I do really appreciate all the help we get .

[earthdweller]

We are certainly very lucky to be able to claim benefits like this.

Another important benefit to know about is Carers Allowance.

You may be entitled to this if care for somebody else.

"Carer’s Allowance is £61.35 a week to help you look after someone with substantial caring needs.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.

You must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.

Carer’s Allowance is taxable. It can also affect your other benefits."

gov.uk/carers-allowance/ove...

[12stargate]

What a wonderful service!!

Do we have enything like that here in the US?

[Beckey in reply to 12stargate]

Maybe through one of the foundations?

[12stargate]

That is a thought!! Thanks, and blessings galore, Becky Hugs from Eva