Financial Support/Benefits/POA for PLWD/Carers
Check that eligible benefits are being claimed. Please see below for benefits that people might be eligible for.
Please also check that the PLWD and the Carer have their POA’s in place. Offer help to complete the form if needed.
Please record on Charity Log in the benefits section on service user record and on the SGN project.
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is for people over state pension age that need help and the following apply:
- they have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
- their disability or health condition is severe enough for them to need help caring for themselves or someone to supervise them, for their own or someone else’s safety
- they have needed that help for at least 6 months
Please help to complete forms/apply. Signpost the client to the DWP helpline to order a claim form and book a 1:1 with them for when the form arrives. Please help them to complete the form and then tell them they need to post it to the DWP with the supporting evidence.
The Attendance Allowance helpline number is 0800 731 0122.
NOTE: If the PLWD is in receipt of Lower Rate (LR) Attendance Allowance, check eligibility for Higher Rate (HR) and help them order a form from DWP. The difference between HR and LR is;
LR = needs help or supervision day OR night
HR = needs help or supervision day AND night.
NOTE: if the client is in possession of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) they do not qualify for AA and they are better off staying on DLA. DLA is an old benefit and is no longer available for new applicants.
NOTE: You can now apply for AA online but if the client orders the form, payment will be backdated to the date of the phone call which will give them time to gather the information/evidence needed to apply.
More information is available here https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
PIP is for people under state pension age and if all the following apply:
- they are 16 or over
- they have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability
- they have difficulty doing everyday tasks or getting around
- they expect the difficulties to last for at least 12 months from when they started
- they must be under state pension age if you’ve not received PIP before.
Please help to complete forms/apply. Signpost the client to the DWP helpline to order a claim form and book a 1:1 with them for when the form arrives. Please help them to complete the form and then tell them they need to post it to the DWP.
The PIP new claims helpline number is 0800 917 2222
NOTE: if the client is in possession of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) they do not qualify for PIP and they are better off staying on DLA. DLA is an old benefit and is no longer available for new applicants.
NOTE: You can now apply for PIP online but if the client orders the form, payment will be backdated to the date of the phone call which will give them time to gather the information/evidence needed to apply. If the client is able/happy to make the claim themselves without your help it may be easier for them to do it online.
More information is available here https://www.gov.uk/pip
Carers Allowance
Unpaid family carers may be eligible for Carers Allowance if they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone. This can include:
- helping with washing and cooking
- taking the person they care for to a doctor’s appointment
- helping with household tasks, like managing bills and shopping
All of the following must apply:
- they are 16 or over
- they spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone
- they’ve been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years (this does not apply if they’re a refugee or have humanitarian protection status)
- they normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or they live abroad as a member of the armed forces (they might still be eligible if they’re moving to or already living in an EEA country or Switzerland)
- they’re not in full-time education
- they’re not studying for 21 hours a week or more
- they’re not subject to immigration control
- their earnings are £196 or less a week after tax, National Insurance and expenses
You cannot get the full amount of both Carer’s Allowance and State Pension at the same time.
If their pension is £83.30 a week or more, they will not get a Carer’s Allowance payment.
If their pension is less than £83.30 a week, they will get a Carer’s Allowance payment to make up the difference.
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that both the carer and the cared for person get. Please check here for more information https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
The Carers Allowance claims helpline number is 0800 731 0297
More information is available here https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance
Blue Badge
The extension of the Blue Badge scheme in 2019 recognised that non-physical conditions like dementia can also prevent people from travelling safely. Clients may be eligible for a Blue Badge if any of the following apply;
- Feeling extremely anxious or fearful in public or open spaces.
- Becoming so disoriented in unfamiliar environments, like busy car parks or roads, that you put yourself at risk.
- Requiring physical assistance or constant supervision to ensure your safety, even for short distances.
Please help to apply or renew online;
The client will need a recent head and shoulders digital photo. You can take this with your phone and crop the picture and upload it to the application. Make sure you have a light background on the picture. Please delete the picture from your phone afterwards.
The client will need a photo of the following: You can take a picture with your phone and upload it to the application. Please make sure you delete it afterwards.
- proof of identity (such as a birth certificate, passport or driving licence)
- proof of address (such as a Council Tax bill or government letter)
- proof of PIP or Attendance Allowance.
- National Insurance number (if they have one)
- the details of your current Blue Badge (if you’re reapplying)
Apply Here https://apply-blue-badge.service.gov.uk/applicant
Pension Credit
Pension Credit if for people that do not receive a full state pension.
Pension Credit tops up:
- weekly income to £227.10 for a single person
- joint weekly income to £346.60 if you have a partner
If income is higher, they might still be eligible for Pension Credit if they have a disability, care for someone, have savings or have housing costs.
Full details about Pension Credit are available here https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
The Pension Credit helpline number is 0800 99 1234
Council Tax Reduction
The amount of potential discount on a council tax bill will depend on a range of factors, including how many people live in the residence, if they meet other eligibility criteria and proof of dementia diagnosis.
100% full exemption criteria explained
A person with dementia who is ‘severely mentally impaired’ will qualify for a 100% discount on Council Tax – in other words, they will be exempt – if they live alone, or if any other adults in the home are:
- also ‘severely mentally impaired’
- a full-time student at college or university
50% criteria explained
There will be a 50% Council Tax if any other adults the person with dementia lives with are ‘disregarded’. People who are ‘disregarded’ include those who are:
- under 18
- 18 or 19 and in full-time education
- on certain apprentice schemes
- a full-time student at college or university
- under 25 and receiving funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency
- a student nurse
- a foreign language assistant registered with the British Council
- the person’s live-in carer (unless the carer is their spouse, partner or child under 18)
- a diplomat
25% criteria explained
If you live with someone with dementia who qualifies for a Council Tax discount, you will receive a 25% discount if:
- there are no other adults in the household, or
- everyone else you live with is ‘disregarded’
Please signpost the client to contact their local council direct. To evidence that the person’s dementia has a significant effect on how they function they may need a letter from their doctor. They will also need to prove to their local council that they receive other benefits such as Attendance Allowance or PIP.
Power of Attorney (POA)
A Power of Attorney is one of the most important legal document a person with dementia needs. A Power of Attorney is a legal process that allows the person with dementia to appoint another person to look after their affairs when they are no longer able to. This can be any person – or more than one person – who will act on their behalf, such as a spouse, partner, a relative or a friend. In some cases, it may be appropriate to nominate a solicitor, or a professional attorney. We always suggest that both the person with dementia and the spouse/carer have a POA in place and that there is more than one POA and that they can act jointly or severally.
They will need both a POA for finance & property, and a POA for health & welfare.
POA’s can be done online direct with the Office of Public Guardian for a small admin fee. Please familiarise yourself with the POA application process so that you can provide guidance to clients on how to do it.
NOTE: if someone has complex financial situation or family dynamics we highly recommend that they use a solicitor to create their POA’s.
Full details can be found here https://www.gov.uk/power-of-attorney/make-lasting-power