AA and PIP in Care Homes

Hi
I am hoping you are able to clarify something please? I recently heard Martin Lewis on TV encouraging everyone with disabilities who reside in a Care Home to think about submitting a claim for AA or PIP (depending on their age). He was aske by the news presenter if they could keep these benefits if they were awarded and he hesitated slightly before saying yes. However, I believe he is wrong. I am under the impression that anyone being awarded AA in a Care Home does not receive it as their care is being fully covered and paid for by the local authorities/NHS. If they are self funding, then they do receive the payments. I also understand that anyone awarded PIP will lose the care component if they are having their fees paid for by the NHS or local authorities. Are you able to shed some much needed light on this? I ask mainly because I have a good friend in a local Care Home who should quite easily qualify for AA, but he hasn't applied as he is being funded by the NHS/local authorities and he believes he will not receive "both" payments so to speak.
Thank You.
Regards:-Hughie

Hi Hughie

Unfortunately I too belive that Martin Lewis is wrong in this respect! When our mother went into a care home this was fully funded and we were told there was no point in her claiming Attendance Allowance because it could not be paid alongside the NHS funding as this would constitute a double payment! I'm not quite sure what the position would be if the person was only partially funded by the NHS or local authority however as you've said your friend is fully funded I believe your friend is correct in believing he would not receive "both" payments! There therefore seems to me no point in him making a claim for AA, having said that though it might be a good idea for him to ask about this himself. As mentioned our mother had a social social worker and as your friend is fully funded toohe may well have one too or if not there's likely to be someone else within the local authority or NHS who would be able to answer this.

Kind regards

Mr B

I believe you are correct.
My dad is in a care home and still claims AA as he is self funding. We did contact DWP when he first moved in and there’s not been a problem with it. When his savings run out and the LA pays the care home fees then he’ll lose his AA.