Disability New Sevice: Mystery over shock fall in disability benefits paid to older people

[Andy]

“Astonishing” figures released by the government show that the number of older disabled people receiving benefits to help with their daily living costs has plummeted since 2011.

The figures show that the number of recipients of attendance allowance (AA) has fallen from 1.6 million in August 2011 to 1.435 million in August 2017, a fall of about 165,000 (just over 10 per cent) in six years, at a time when the UK’s population of older people has been increasing.

The fall in the lower rate of AA is most dramatic, falling from about 687,000 to 550,000, while the number claiming the higher rate fell from 914,000 in 2011 to 886,000 in 2017.

The number claiming lower rate AA (£55.65 a week) has continued to fall every year since 2011, although those on the higher rate (£83.10) fell sharply for the first three years but then rose again slightly over the last three years (from 855,000 to 886,000).
....
But the figures, released by Sarah Newton, the minister for disabled people, to Labour MP Chris Ruane, have caused alarm among campaigners because the growing population of older people would suggest the number of AA claimants should also be increasing rather than falling.

https://www.disabilitynewsservice.c...-in-disability-benefits-paid-to-older-people/

 

[Skycloud]

I think we all know why.

 

[Trish]

The Tories had a plan a couple of years ago to axe attendance allowance and transfer the money to Local Authorities to use in their social care funds. Since social care is means tested, and Attendance allowance is not, many people would have lost any right to help with care costs. I gather the plan was scrapped, but I bet they are being as tough on AA claimants as on PIP.

 

[Sly Saint]

A lot of elderly people are also not aware of the existence of AA (and that it is not means tested);
similarly for people with dementia there are a list of benefits they (or their carers) can claim, that they are eligible for including reduction in council tax (I think this can be retrospectively be claimed for).

As with most benefits there is no clear procedure for claiming and it is largely down to people to do their own research which is clearly a big obstacle for the disabled elderly and dementia sufferers.

https://www.dementiauk.org/living-with-dementia-know-your-benefits-entitlement/

"According to older people's charity Age UK, nearly three million people over 65 are struggling financially, while government figures show that 1.9m pensioners live below the poverty line. Despite this, the benefits targeted at older people are the most likely to go unclaimed."
"
David Samson, welfare benefits expert at the Turn2us benefits advice service, run by the Elizabeth Finn Trust, says that many pensioners are not aware of the financial support available to them. “For example, they may be getting their state pension but not be aware that they are entitled to pension credit,” he says. “The rules for pension credit are more generous than the rules for working people, so they may have an entitlement that they don’t realise.”

"It’s important to get the message out there as we know that claiming the correct benefits can make a huge difference to quality of life."

https://www.moneywise.co.uk/work-family/benefits/benefits-youre-entitled-to-over-65s

 

[Arnie Pye]

Mystery over shock fall in disability benefits paid to older people

I wonder what's mysterious about it?

 

[Sly Saint]

I wonder what's mysterious about it?

One for Miss Marple(?)