Living with dementia magazine April 2009
Claim your benefits
Billions of pounds worth of benefits which older people are entitled to are going unclaimed because people are not aware of their rights. Below are just a few of the main benefits carers and people with dementia who live in England* can claim.
Carers allowance
Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers so it is important to find out if you can receive it. Carer's Allowance is currently worth £53.10pw.
This benefit, formerly known as invalid care allowance, can be paid to carers who spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone receiving either attendance allowance or the disability living allowance care component at the highest or middle rate (see below). The carer does not have to be related to or living with the person they provide care for.
This benefit does not depend on the past payment of national insurance contributions, but is taxable. It gives most carers under state pension age a national insurance credit each week to help protect their state pension rights.
Carers must be over 16 when they first claim. In some cases, the person being cared for could lose some of their benefits if carer's allowance is claimed, so it is important to seek advice before making a claim.
You can receive only one Carer's Allowance, no matter how many people you care for. And if you share the care with someone else, only one person can claim the allowance. You can also backdate your claim for Carer's Allowance for up to three months before you apply. If you are awarded this benefit, find out whether you qualify for the Carer Premium.
Attendance allowance
This is a benefit for disabled people aged 65 or over, who find it difficult to care for themselves because of a disability or long term health problem. If you are under 65, you should claim Disability Living Allowance (see below).
You can get Attendance Allowance if you find things like dressing and washing very difficult, if you need someone to make sure that you are safe, or you have a terminal illness.
The benefit is paid at one of two rates:
Disability Living Allowance is a benefit paid to people aged under 65 who need to help to look after themselves and/or to get around because of a long-term health problem or disability. This might be because they need help getting washed, dressed, taking medication, have problems walking, or need someone to ensure they are safe. There are two parts to the benefit:
Care component
The care component is paid to people who need help to look after themselves and can be paid at one of three different rates; lower (£18.65pw), middle (£47.10pw) or higher (£70.35pw).
Mobility Component
The mobility component is for people who, because of their illness or disability, have difficulties walking. It is paid at one of two rates; lower (£18.65) or higher (£49.10pw).
Council tax
If you are caring for someone with dementia living at home and they are receiving appropriate disability benefits (such as attendance allowance or the higher or middle care components of disability living allowance), they can be disregarded for council tax purposes and you can claim a 25 per cent discount.
Alzheimer's Society's free factsheet, Benefits (413), has more information on other benefits and how to claim them. This needs to be read with Benefits rates and income/savings thresholds (431), which is being updated to include rates from April 2009.
To order the factsheets, call Xcalibre on 01753 535751 or email alzheimers@xcalibrefs.co.uk. You can also download them at alzheimers.org.uk/factsheets
To find out about your eligibility for benefits, call the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00.
*Different arrangements apply in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
Carers allowance
Carer's Allowance is the main state benefit for carers so it is important to find out if you can receive it. Carer's Allowance is currently worth £53.10pw.
This benefit, formerly known as invalid care allowance, can be paid to carers who spend at least 35 hours a week looking after someone receiving either attendance allowance or the disability living allowance care component at the highest or middle rate (see below). The carer does not have to be related to or living with the person they provide care for.
This benefit does not depend on the past payment of national insurance contributions, but is taxable. It gives most carers under state pension age a national insurance credit each week to help protect their state pension rights.
Carers must be over 16 when they first claim. In some cases, the person being cared for could lose some of their benefits if carer's allowance is claimed, so it is important to seek advice before making a claim.
You can receive only one Carer's Allowance, no matter how many people you care for. And if you share the care with someone else, only one person can claim the allowance. You can also backdate your claim for Carer's Allowance for up to three months before you apply. If you are awarded this benefit, find out whether you qualify for the Carer Premium.
Attendance allowance
This is a benefit for disabled people aged 65 or over, who find it difficult to care for themselves because of a disability or long term health problem. If you are under 65, you should claim Disability Living Allowance (see below).
You can get Attendance Allowance if you find things like dressing and washing very difficult, if you need someone to make sure that you are safe, or you have a terminal illness.
The benefit is paid at one of two rates:
- The lower rate is for people who have difficulties either during the day or at night (£47.10 pw)
- The higher rate is for people who have difficulties both during the day and at night (£70.35 pw).This benefit is tax free and does not depend on national insurance contributions. Getting Attendance Allowance can also mean you receive extra Pension Credit , Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Benefit.
Disability Living Allowance is a benefit paid to people aged under 65 who need to help to look after themselves and/or to get around because of a long-term health problem or disability. This might be because they need help getting washed, dressed, taking medication, have problems walking, or need someone to ensure they are safe. There are two parts to the benefit:
Care component
The care component is paid to people who need help to look after themselves and can be paid at one of three different rates; lower (£18.65pw), middle (£47.10pw) or higher (£70.35pw).
Mobility Component
The mobility component is for people who, because of their illness or disability, have difficulties walking. It is paid at one of two rates; lower (£18.65) or higher (£49.10pw).
Council tax
If you are caring for someone with dementia living at home and they are receiving appropriate disability benefits (such as attendance allowance or the higher or middle care components of disability living allowance), they can be disregarded for council tax purposes and you can claim a 25 per cent discount.
Alzheimer's Society's free factsheet, Benefits (413), has more information on other benefits and how to claim them. This needs to be read with Benefits rates and income/savings thresholds (431), which is being updated to include rates from April 2009.
To order the factsheets, call Xcalibre on 01753 535751 or email alzheimers@xcalibrefs.co.uk. You can also download them at alzheimers.org.uk/factsheets
To find out about your eligibility for benefits, call the Benefits Enquiry Line on 0800 88 22 00.
*Different arrangements apply in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
In this section
- Is dementia hereditary?
- You are here: Claim your benefits
- Banking brains for dementia
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