Social Services Benefits

[jennyjoan]

I am making an enquiry of a friend of mine who is very ill with everything COPD, Breast cancer and many many other complaints.

However she keeps positive and has managed to remain in her home which consists of upstairs bathroom and bedroom but is finding it very difficult to go upstairs now.

Although she has been ill for a number of years she should have received DLA at that time she was under 65 but she never applied for it.

However she has just recently received Attendance Allowance (now 74 years old) and been awarded and paid back like just 2 months now and she is delighted with it.

She has asked me to find out and I don't know what to tell her. The authorities (NHS) district nurse, carers and other able bodies have told her she is entitled to get a little bedroom, bathroom built outside her back of her house (on the garden per se).

She is wondering will she have to pay for this out of her own money or because she is on AA - it could be funded by the NHS ie would the building be means-tested. She is not on Pension Credit either.

Thanks for any advice re this matter.

[bednobs]

the nhs does not fund building bedrooms

[barry1010]

The council does give grants for adaptions, not sure how it works in NI though
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants

[bednobs]

she might get social fundin if she is of limited means, but it seems to bme it'd be cheaper and quicker to get a stairlift

[barry1010]

Up to £25k in NI for a downstairs bathroom etc

[barry1010]

Good point, bednobs - if she's not in a wheelchair it will be a stairlift

[Paigntonian]

All you need to do is to go onto the Gov.uk website and all benefit entitlements are there.

[Buenchico]

^^^ The Gov.uk website doesn't cover Northern Ireland (where Jennyjoan lives), Paigntonian.

Information on benefits in NI in general:
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/information-and-services/benefits-and-money/benefits-and-financial-support

Information about Disabled Facilities Grants in NI (which is primarily what Jennyjoan is asking about):
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/disabled-facilities-grants

[barry1010]

Buenchico, the 2nd page of my link states up to £25k in NI