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[tara]

My dad died just 2 months ago my mum was diagnosed with dementia 4 days latter. Dvla took my mums licence away due to her get lost and not knowing were she was and being confused.My mum is now on pills that are brilliant and she is coping better due to them.We applied for disability living allowence for mum and she now gets mobility low rate and low rate care.My question is as im mums form of tranport now is the mobiliy for tax and insurance and petrol cost in my car to drive mum about which l do alot, but l have 2 children and money can be tight.I know with children it is.Mum has a bus pass but gets confuesed with paying for things and were to go.She needs someone with her when shes in shops.

[snowberry]

The benefits system is a minefield! Could you perhaps get Carers Allowance or would she have to be living with you?

A while ago, my neighbours husband got it because of his wife's mobility problems & she got it for him as he had dementia.

[tara]

Ive been told by 2 friends who have family have it that its for keeping them indenendent im mums form of transport as she rings me a few times a week to go out.l had to get a bigger car a month ago as we could not all fit in my old small car l now have a 5 seater which costs more to run so surley im like a taxi , l cant keep afording to do it with out asking mum to also put towards the cost which shes happy with but l feel like a money grabber. l work for a living the only thing l could do is take ona extra night at work but l have a 4 year old with learing difficulties so that would be very hard.

[Mrs Potts]

Mobility can help towards keeping people independent and I am sure that what you are doing to help your mum with trips out is exactly this - so don't feel guilty. I am not a dementia expert, but I am sure that in helping your mum do her usual trips and visits, you are also helping her in that way too.

[LolaLayla]

Mrs Potts is right in saying it is vital to keep your mum doing all her usual activities. Many relatives feel they are being kind by cooking etc for their relatives not realising that the skills will be lost if they are not used. I assume that your mum is under 65 as she has this benefit and not the Attendance Allowance. I have only experience of the over 65's and the system could be different here. If someone had to give up their driving license we advised that the money they had used for running a car and the attendance allowance should help pay for taxis or whatever transport needed. So do not feel guilty about taking money for your expenses as that is what the benefit is for. It could also be used to pay someone else to take her shopping. There was also the ability (I am talking about a few years ago so maybe things have changed) to be exempted from council tax if you had dementia so that maybe worth looking into. I assume she has a social worker or psychiatric nurse and if so I would recommend you ask them to ensure your mum is getting all she is entitled to. I hope you get it all worked out.

[Willow]

It would also be worth either making an appointment at your local benefits office or ringing the benefits enquiry line and just asking, some of them can be really helpful. Explain your current circumstances and ask for their help to understand either what you might be entitled to now, or find out at what point as the situation deteriorates (because sadly it will) you will be entitled to benefits.

 

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/FinancialSupport/Introductiontofinancialsupport/DG_065148

[ClaireG]

It's defiantly worth seeing if you can get carers allowance. One of my sons receives DLA and i get CA for him. It's £55.55 a week, so i'm sure would help you out with petrol costs.

[Aunty e]

My dad is disabled and mum has a motability vehicle for him - she has to use it to drive herself around as well, and that's absolutely fine, she buys the extra miles up front. So I can't see anything wrong with you getting some of the mobility allowance in return for ferrying your mum about.

[tara]

You have to spend so many hours looking after somone to get carers allowance plus l earn over the amount and it would affect my tax credits.Mum is happy to help with the cost of the car as its not just running costs it tax and other stuff and since having to get the bigger car my costs have gone up.Tonight im taking her dog and cat to the vet and i would have never got the dog in my old car.

[yvonne]

My Mum had Alzheimers and her social worker helped with the forms, they are a minefield, so sorry to hear about your situation and good luck.