Benefits for Uncle

[BOBSCOUSE]

Hi all, long time no speaky (Mrs. Bobscouse is expecting our third child in the next few weeks so I've been doing loads to get the house up together ). Sorry for being a stranger - even sorrier for being a strange lurker, which I have been.

Advice/information required from the well informed please.

My uncle is 67, has had a business for the last 23 years which has struggled in the last couple of years and which he has now closed down. He owns the land and has planning permission for development.

Whilst he is waiting for the development side of things to be sorted out (lengthy delays caused by Lloyds bank - soulless *******s, is there anything they do which even remotely benefits anyone bar themselves?) he has no income barring his pension, therefore feeling the pinch quite badly.

He has been registered disabled for the last 5 or 6 years due to heart problems and also septic arthritis - what I would like to know is whether he should or could have been claiming any other benefits (DLA maybe?) and can he claim it for the whole period in which he is registered disabled. He thinks probably not, due to his owning a business, and is too proud to ask.

Due to his health, his daughter was effectively managing the business and he was practically on sick leave - I've told him that I think he might have been entitled to DLA for the whole period for this reason, but wanted to check it out with you lovely people on here before encouraging him to take it further.

Anyone able to help with some advice?

[enaid]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

hello Bob and am sorry about your uncle this age thing is a bugger

Here is the info from directgov http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...rt/DG_10011731
Have a read through that i am sure your uncle would be able to claim, I also think he will only be able to claim from the date the claim went in. Good Luck and if you read through that info you will see other benefits that can be triggered when DLA is awarded.

Also congrats on No 3 lol hope all goes well.
Enaid xx

[enaid]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

OOps Bob just saw your uncle is 67, that didnt register sorry will have another look.

Attendance Allowance http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disabled...ce/DG_10012425

[WelshMam2009]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

May I ask what you mean when you say that your Uncle has been registered disabled for the past 5/6 years BobScouse?

My only note of caution here would be that they are really tightening up on new DLA applications and I presume it will be the same with Attendance Allowance. Lots of people are being turned down and are having to appeal.

[Amethyst]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

reggers: hey Bob, Congrats on the new bump xxxx Sorry I can;t help with the benefits thing, it's insanely complicated for my brain once DLA comes into the mix.

[BOBSCOUSE]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

Hi again folks, thanks very much for the information and the well-wishes for the baby. Many people think I must be insane, our eldest daughter is 12 and our son 11 this month - I'm okay with that as I know I've been insane for years.

I will take a look at the info. for my uncle and see if there is anything that will enlighten me as to the validity of any claim.

Welshmam, by registered disabled, I mean that he has been having treatment for septic arthritis and also for heart problems over the last few years. To what extent that means he is considered disabled I don't know, only that he has had a disabled badge for his car for those years :tinysmile_grin_t: . The septic arthritis is severe and affects his mobility quite a lot. He had three stents put into blood vessels around his heart just last week, so treatment is ongoing for the heart probs.

Hope that answers your query, my uncle is what you might call a "private person" and it is difficult to get personal info. out of him (stubborn get!!).

Thanks again,
Bob

[enaid]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

Well like i said DLA is not for the over 65's sad but true, I think Attendance Allowance and maybe look at Pension credits. Good Luck xx

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

Indeed Attendance Allowance is what you should be claiming this is for over 65's where as DLA is for under 65's.

PF

[BOBSCOUSE]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

Thanks again for all the help. And it can't be back-dated? I'd hoped (of course!!) that it would be possible, after all, many people are simply unaware of the benefits that they are entitled to and won't claim until later on.

[pompeyfaith]

Re: Benefits for Uncle

Afraid not I tried this with DLA but did not work as far as they were concerned it was my fault I did not claim before.

The claim is likely to take at least 3 mths to complete and they take the claim from the date you signed the form so it will be backdated to then that's all.

PF