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Applying for Carer's Allowance - what are my chances of success?

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  • 03-04-2014 4:16pm
    #1
    bowloforanges
    Closed Accounts Posts: 64 ✭✭


    Hi folks,

    I recently applied for carers allowance for my grandmother, she had a stroke a few years ago and has been experiencing a few falls over the few months so I feel like she need's someone there all the time in case she hurts herself.

    Anyways, my grandmother's GP filled out the medical form, however, over half of categories were ticked off as mild with only 4 or 5 ticked as moderate. So I'm afraid that the medical report evidence isn't substancial enough - does anyone know from their own experience what they think the odds are? Or, how hard in general is it for people to recieve carer's allowance?

    Thanks in advance, appreciate any advice on this matter,

    Lauren.
    Tagged:


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    #2
    Frito
    Registered Users Posts: 769 ✭✭✭Frito


    I think it mainly depends on what you do as a carer for the person you care for, ie do you care for a person for at least 35 hours per week over seven days?

    Obviously the medical report plays a part, but to give yourself the best chance you have to spell out exactly what you do for your grandmother on a day-to-day basis. Don't assume the assessor reads between the lines. For instance, instead of saying "help getting up", break it down into what you do ie assisting out of bed (with or without mobility aid) transfer to toilet, assisting with wash/shower (top half, lower half, both or fetching toiletries), assisting to dress (top half, lower half, both or sequencing clothes). That's three lines on getting someone up, washed and dressed!

    If your gran has had a stroke perhaps she's had an OT or physio help in the past? You could get hold of their assessment and forward it to the assessor in support of your claim (with your gran's consent obviously). Or if she has home help you could do the same with their risk assessment and care plan. I did something similar with my mam when I applied. I didn't have concerns about the GP report but I felt that sending all the assessments that my mam had done gave a more detailed reflection of her needs and therefore the care I was giving (I sent speech and language reports, cancer nurse specialist reports, any reports on her basically!)

    Sorry for the long post, hope it's helpful, but I'll reiterate that the best advice is to break down exactly what you do and don't think assessors will read between the lines.


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