What financial support is available to those living with dementia?
Published: 26/07/2023
What financial support is available to those living with dementia?
Receiving a dementia diagnosis can be devastating for your whole family. Once the initial shock has subsided, many families then start to worry about the practical side of things.
Sadly, this information is not widely available to those who need it the most. It’s down to families to navigate the world of dementia care support on their own. In this guide, we will explore some of the most popular sources of financial support available to those living with dementia.
1. Attendance allowance
Attendance allowance is available to help with social care costs for those of state pension age and older. You could get either £61.85 or £92.40 a week to help with personal support, depending on whether you need care either during the day/ night or both.
This funding is paid directly to you, so you’re free to assign it as you like. It can go towards your personal care, or you could use it for getting help with household tasks like cleaning or gardening.
There is no need for a formal diagnosis of your physical or mental disability, but the form to apply for this allowance is very long. It’s 31 pages long and has 52 questions, so it’s a good idea to ask for support in completing this. Charities like AgeUK may be able to offer help.
You can find the forms to apply for attendance allowance here.
Once you qualify for this support, it can open the door to other types of support, including pension credits, council tax discounts, council tax reductions and housing benefit. You may also be eligible for cold weather payments, the Winter Fuel allowance and help with NHS care.
2. Council tax discounts and reductions
Once you have secured the attendance allowance, you can then apply for a council tax discount. You will get a 25% discount if there are two people living in the property and a 100% discount if the person with dementia lives alone. If you have a live-in carer, this won’t typically impact your council tax discount.
If you are claiming a discount on your council tax and have to make modifications to your property, you can also apply for a change to your council tax band. If you’re already in the lowest council tax band, you’ll get a further 17% discount.
3. Energy rebates
If you are exempt from paying council tax, you will also be eligible for the April 2022 Energy Rebate of £150. This rebate is paid directly to you from your local council.
You could also be eligible for the winter fuel allowance. This is available to all people of pension age and ranges from £250 to £600 to help pay heating bills in the colder months.
During periods of particularly cold weather, you might also be entitled to a cold weather payment. You could get £25 per day if the average temperature in your area is recorded as below zero for seven days or more. This runs from 1st November to the 31st March every year. You don’t need to apply for this; if you’re eligible, it will be paid directly to you.
4. Blue parking badges
A Blue Parking Badge will enable you to use disabled parking bays when you are out and about. This can be given to your carer or another person living in your household who would typically be responsible for driving you around.
You can apply for your blue parking badge here. It costs £10 for a Blue Badge in England and £20 in Scotland. The scheme is free in Wales.
5. RADAR key
While you are applying for your Blue Parking Badge, you can also apply for the RADAR key. This will give you access to over 10,000 locked disabled toilets throughout the country. You can buy your RADAR key here for £6
6. Continence support
Continence services will be available through your local GP. Once you have a diagnosis of dementia, your GP will be able to advise you on the support available to you in your area. The support available ranges from free advice to free supplies of bed pads.
6. VAT relief
If you have to purchase new goods for your home that are solely for the use of the disabled person, then you may be able to claim back VAT on the purchase. To claim the VAT exemption, you have to demonstrate your eligibility to the supplier. There is no way to claim the VAT back from HMRC.
- adjustable beds
- stair lifts
- wheelchairs
- medical appliances to help with severe injuries
- alarms
- braille paper or low vision aids
- cars, or the leasing of a motability vehicle
- building work to make your home more accessible
