What benefits are people with dementia entitled to?

It isn't just care in your own home in Gloucestershire, as provided by Bramble Home Care (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk), that helps to maintain your independence and quality of life after you are diagnosed with dementia. Indeed, critical financial support is also available via the wide range of benefits to which those with dementia and their carers can be entitled. Bear in mind, though, that some of these benefits can be more complicated to access than others, and that some are means-tested, being dictated by income or savings.

The forms can be long and detailed, so you shouldn't hesitate to get expert help with completing them if required. You may be able to receive assistance from a social worker, Citizens Advice Bureau or local welfare rights service. Age UK and the Benefit Enquiry Line can also advise on your benefits application when you are receiving dementia care in Gloucestershire. It may be possible for you to arrange a home visit with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), depending on the type of benefit applied for, or you may find the information that you need on the GOV.UK website.

The main benefits that apply to those receiving help at home in Gloucestershire from us are Attendance allowance, Disability living allowance and Personal independence payment. These aren't based on the dementia diagnosis, but your daily living, care and mobility requirements. They are tax-free benefits that are not means-tested or based on National Insurance contributions. Attendance allowance is for those aged 65 or over, and covers personal care needs - for example, with washing and dressing or taking medication.

Disability living allowance, meanwhile, is now being phased out, with people aged under 65 instead needing to apply for Personal independence payment, which covers daily living and mobility. If you are still in work while receiving our respite care in Gloucestershire, there are further benefits that you may be eligible for, depending on your individual circumstances. These include Working tax credit, a means-tested benefit that some people working on a low wage can claim - although it is being phased out from next year, and replaced by Universal credit, which is replacing many means-tested benefits for working-age people in Great Britain from October 2013.

You may also want to investigate Statutory sick pay, Employment and support allowance, Income support, Winter fuel and Cold weather payments, Housing benefit and Council tax support if you are receiving domiciliary care in Gloucestershire from us and still struggling to cover your vital expenses. If you are the person looking after someone with dementia for a minimum of 35 hours a week, you may be entitled to Carer's allowance - although you should seek advice on whether receiving this benefit may reduce the amount to which the person with dementia is entitled.

Those benefitting from Bramble Home Care's (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk) home help in Gloucester may also be interested in appointing someone that they trust to receive and manage their benefits money. If this interests you, simply contact DWP for more information.

Editor’s Note: Bramble Home Care (http://www.bramblehomecare.co.uk) are represented by the search engine advertising and digital marketing specialists Jumping Spider Media. Email: info@jumpingspidermedia.co.uk or call: +44 (0)20 3070 1959 / +34 952 783 637.