Help Needed Regarding Attendance Allowance

[yelenots]

My Mum has been in a nursing for almost 2 yrs now and is deteriorating.
I have today received a letter from DWP saying they have stopped her Attendance Allowance. I rung them straight away and was told that as is self funding they aren't paying it anymore - apparently she isnt entitled to it?
My Mum uses her pensions to pay part of the fees and the outstanding amount is a charge put on the house. She does not have any savings so I am selling her property.
I was under the impression that the AA was not means tested and everyone who qualifies gets it?
Hope someone can help, just been in tears since I opened the letter as without this money she cant pay the monthly amount to the nursing home.
Thanks

[woofgang]

scroll down to 2a
http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2050.pdf

If your Mum is completely self funding then she CAN claim attendance allowance.

and here's the confirmation from a government website
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/health-and-well-being/health-services/residential-care-and-nursing-homes/residential-care-and-nursing-homes-and-benefits.htm

The age concern info is a bit old, before you go back to DWP, it might be a good idea to phone Age Concern.

[yelenots]

Thank you ..... I'll have a read! Trying not to worry anymore about it tonight or I'll not sleep!

[bednobs]

my understanding i =s the same as yours yelnots

[woofgang]

you are welcome yelenots try not to get too wound up tonight x

[atalanta]

My father was self-funding in the nursing home, and did get attendance allowance until he died at the age of 100. If things have changed, they have changed very recently.

[tonywiltshire]

Attendance allowance is not means tested and should be paid at £53.00 or £79.15 per week the higher amount being where attention is required during the night. AA can be for a limited period only or may stop if you go into some types of care home or a hospital.

[ubasses]

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/documents/en-gb/factsheets/fs34_attendance_allowance_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

This is Age UK Fact sheet for 2013 and I cannot see any reason for your Mum not to receive it.

[yelenots]

Thank you everyone.....when I get home from work later I will be making some phone calls.....but its just what I don't need at the moment!

[Rosetta]

If you are still having problems yelenots contact CAB. My understanding, unless changed very recently, is that AA is payable when self funding nursing home placements. Have there been any other changes, like NHS accepting responsibility for funding? In any case CAB could advise.

[yelenots]

Thank you everyone......I've managed to sort it out! It should never of been stopped in the first place (clerical error apparently) and they are transferring the money within the few days! I'm happy again now!

[julia-mag]

Thats good news, and will let you sleep much better to-night. Nice to hear you got such a quick result as well.

[murraymints]

That's good....these clerical errors can cause such distress....

[ubasses]

So pleased you have sorted it, I am in a very similar situation with my Mum and like you the AA is a gosend, This is all stress you did not need.

[woofgang]

relief...but that's not a clerical error that tells you the wrong thing on the phone and gives you a bad time, that's a bleeding idiot who wants their face smacked.

[yelenots]

Think they felt sorry for me as I started crying on the phone! It worked though because within 15 minutes they had sorted it out & rung me back - they had even phoned my local council up to check she was self funding. Fastest service I have ever had from them but they are still a disgrace after making a decision like that without clarifying it first.