Contents Benefits for People Living with Dementia Main Benefits and How to Claim Pension Credit Attendance Allowance Carer s Allowance Help to Fill in Forms Changes in Circumstances Practical Things to Think About Power of Attorney Appointees Further Information Benefits for People Living with Dementia After a dementia diagnosis you might find yourself having to claim benefits for the first time. It might feel daunting and some people are put off claiming because they think the system is too complicated. Do not worry. This guide will give you an idea of the main benefits you may be entitled to as a person over State Pension Age living with dementia, or a carer. Did you know? Each year billions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed. It is important you get all the money you should be and it could make a real difference. The extra money might help with the additional costs of living with dementia or provide support if you are a carer. Benefit rates change from time to time, usually in April of each year. The figures given in this guide are for the financial year 2016/2017.
For detailed information about entitlements and a benefits check call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222. Main Benefits and How to Claim Pension Credit Pension Credit is a benefit that can give you extra money if you are living on a low income. It comes in two parts Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit. You might be eligible for one part or both. Guarantee Credit will top up your income to a minimum level of 155.60 per week if you are single and 237.55 if you are a couple. Savings Credit is extra money if you ve got some savings or your State Pension is above 133.82 if you are single and 212.97 if you are a couple. It is only available to people aged 65 or over who reached State Pension age before 6 April 2016. The rules for Savings Credit can be complicated, but do not let this put you off. Get advice if you think you might be able to claim. For more information about Pension Credit phone the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222 How to claim Pension Credit: contact the Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 or visit the web page www.dwp.gov.uk/thepensionservice Attendance Allowance There might come a time when living with dementia affects your ability to carry out daily tasks and you may need a bit of extra help to look after yourself. Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people who are 65 or over who have a disability or health condition. Most people living with
dementia are likely to become entitled at some point after their diagnosis. To get Attendance Allowance you need to show how your health condition affects your ability to look after yourself or to keep yourself safe. If you have more than one health condition or disability, and many older people do (such as dementia, visual impairment and arthritis together), you need to explain the effects of all the conditions. When making a claim do not underestimate what you need help with. Be realistic and consider the things you cannot do or have trouble with. Think about a typical day or week in your life and the things you find difficult. It might be useful to keep a diary or speak with someone close to you. Family members, a carer, friends or relatives might help you think of examples and could give you a hand to complete the claim form. Here are some suggestions of the kinds of things to think about if you need help looking after yourself. Using the Toilet You might need help finding the toilet in unfamiliar places, someone to assist you to use the toilet safely or reminders to check your clothing after using the toilet. Looking after your appearance You might need instructions about what to do in the shower or bath or help to identify different items in the bathroom. Some people living with dementia need help with getting washed, shaving or putting on make-up.
Dressing or Undressing You might need a hand to find clean clothes or clothes that match. You might need someone to remind you to change your clothes or to give you a hand with fastening things like laces or buttons. Eating and Drinking You might find it difficult to remember where your food and drink is stored or need help to recognise types of food and drink. You might forget to eat and drink sometimes, or need help to cut up food on your plate. If you enjoy cooking you may need support to read recipes, use equipment like knives or check that food is cooked properly. Taking Medication If you take medication you might need reminders about what time to take it and how much to take. You might find it difficult to recognise your medication or need assistance to read and understand the instructions. Here are some suggestions of the kinds of things to think about if you need help keeping yourself safe. Communication Some people living with dementia notice their communication is affected. For example you might find it difficult to understand people you don t know or notice others struggle to understand you. You may have trouble finding the right word or repeat words and phrases. Someone might need to help you to answer the phone, read letters or fill out forms.
Keeping Safe in the Home Some people living with dementia have difficulties with spatial awareness, such as misjudging distances or the size and shapes of objects. You may also have physical difficulties. This means you might find it hard to get up and down stairs safely, need help to avoid bumping into objects or have had falls. Describe any falls of stumbles you have had and if you needed help afterwards, for example if you had to go to the doctor. If you have difficulties with memory or confusion you might forget where you are, where appliances in the home are kept and how they work. You may forget to lock your doors and windows when you go out or at night time. If you enjoy cooking you might worry about staying safe while using the oven and remembering to switch it off after use. You might need support to deal with callers who come to your door. For example, remembering to check their ID or assistance with singing for parcels. Keeping Safe out and about You should explain the type of help you need when you are out and about. For example, if you use public transport you may need support with handling money, buying a ticket or someone to remind you where to get off. If you have to cross a road you might find it hard to judge when it is safe to do so. When you are shopping you might struggle to find the items you want or to read and understand the labels. You can apply for Attendance Allowance regardless of how much income or savings you have. You must have been in need of care or supervision for 6 months before your award can begin.
There are two rates of Attendance Allowance. 1. a lower rate of 55.10 per week if you need help during the day or during the night 2. a higher rate of 82.30 per week if you need help during the day and night You do not have to spend the money you get on care. You can decide to spend it on anything you want. For more information about Attendance Allowance call the Age Scotland helpline on 0800 12 44 222. How to claim Attendance Allowance: phone the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0345 605 6055 or visit the web page www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance Carer s Allowance If you care for someone living with dementia you might be eligible for Carer s Allowance which is paid at 62.10 per week. To claim it you must care for a person who receives a disability benefit. This could be Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment. Claiming Carer s Allowance can mean the person you care for gets less in income-related benefits, such as Pension Credit. You should get advice about this before making a claim. If your State Pension is higher than Carer s Allowance, you will not be paid Carer s Allowance. However, extra money might be added to any income-related benefits you get, such as pension credit or housing benefit. To get Carer s Allowance you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for the person. This might include:
Physically helping the person, for example washing and dressing. Assisting with daily tasks, such as preparing meals. Keeping an eye on the person to make sure they do not do something that would be dangerous to themselves or others. For more information on Carer s Allowance call the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222. How to claim Carer s Allowance: phone the Carers Allowance Unit on 0345 608 4321 or visit the web page www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/howto-claim Help to Fill in Forms For many people filling in a claim form can be quite confusing and it can be hard to understand what information you need to put down. Do not worry, there is plenty of help available out there. If you need help with filling in a form phone the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222 for a referral to the DWP or contact details for a local benefits advice agency. Changes in Circumstances If your circumstances change, for example you need to go into hospital you should tell the authority that is responsible for paying your benefit. If you do not it might result in an overpayment or underpayment. For information and advice phone the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222. Practical Things to Think about For some people living with dementia there may come a time when you do not have capacity to deal with financial matters and you will not be able to manage a benefits claim on your own. Capacity is the ability to
make decisions for ourselves. For more information see Age Scotland s publication A Guide to Mental Capacity in Scotland. There are two ways a plan can be put in place. If you still have capacity you might want to think about arranging a power of attorney. Power of Attorney Family members, friends, carers and relatives do not have the automatic right to make decisions on your behalf. A Power of Attorney is a legal document which gives someone else the authority to make decisions about your life if you have lost the ability to do so. Power of Attorney allows you to appoint a person you trust to look after your financial affairs and could include the powers to claim benefits or pay bills. See Age Scotland s publication A Guide to Power of Attorney in Scotland for more information or visit the web page for The Office of the Public Guardian (Scotland): www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk Another option is someone becoming an appointee for you. Appointees If you do lose capacity and you do not have a Power of Attorney in place, a family member, friend, carer or relative could become an appointee for you. Being an appointee means they would be responsible for making benefits claims on your behalf. A person who is prepared to be the appointee has to make an application to the Department of Work and Pensions. For more information phone the Age Scotland Helpline on 0800 12 44 222. Further Information If you would like more information on benefits, including benefits for people of working age see Age Scotland s publication Benefits Maze