In 1989 I had a major stroke, spending 9 months in Hospital and stroke units.

·        On discharge I was awarded DLA (Disability Living Allowance) at the higher rate, this allowing me to obtain a car through Motorbility and with the help of a PA live as near as normal as possible.

In 2007 I was asked, and accepted the new Direct Payment Scheme, to save the council administration expenses.

·        Together with my DLA this worked very well and I could continue my life and voluntary local public work the next few years with the invaluable help of my PA/Carer.

In 2011 the council administrators decided, without warning, to cut the payment for weekend care down to the flat weekday rate only.

·        (i.e.  In 2007 the payment was £9+ per hour weekday and £13+ for weekend) this to include employer NI and work insurance for the employee.

·        I was paying my PA/Carer £9.50p. per hour. Not been able to give a rise since 2007.  He helped me far beyond ‘the call of duty’ and the hours the council paid for. This cut resulted in a drop of my income for care of £102 per month.

The administrators, without medical assessment, took my DLA (a Central Government Allowance, not from council tax payers) a further cut in PA/care income of £210 per month.

This cut of £312 per month at a time when my physical condition was worsening with age problems compounding on the effects of my stroke.

·        In 2007 I could still walk on wrist crutches, shower myself, dress, and still drive and prepare my own meals.

Now in 2012, I am wheelchair bound and have to be taken everywhere, now heavily incontinent have to be showered daily, have to be dressed, cannot drive my car, obtained with the mobility component of DLA. My PA/Carer getting my main meal.

·        The council have taken the other component of my DLA, as part of their care plan, leaving nothing to pay to be driven out, and the attention I need, when out, with my catheter etc.

·        The reduction in the hourly rate and the taking of my DLA, by administrators, has resulted in a loss of 32 hours of help I need as assessed by occupation therapists, medical staff, and central government.

 

 

My Appeal to Richmond Council

My appeal at London Borough of Richmond decision –

·     “To take my central Government Attendance Allowance award as part of their care package after 20 years. The care recommended, after extensive treatment and tests, by professional medics, Doctors, PT, OT, District Nursing Team and many visits to Kingston Hospital throughout 2010/11 was costed out at £1596 per month (in round figures) a monthly  increase over my 2007 award of £386 to pay for the extra care I now needed.

·     My new revised award, in 2011 is all at a flat rate of £9, instead of the higher rate for weekend working, representing the first cut by administrators of £145,  Taking away my Attendance Allowance of £186 makes another cut leaving only a difference of only £281 for all the extra care, it was agreed, I now need.”

On early retirement from my printing business and sub postmaster in Hampton  hill  in  1980,  I  retired  to  my  weekend  cottage  in  Pewsey Wiltshire. Became licensee of a small Hotel in the mid 80’s. It was whilst here I suffered a major stroke, boxing day 1989, spending the next 9 months in Hospital and stroke units. After 2 more years of treatment and Occupational  Therapy,  I  was  registered  as  ‘Indefinitely  Disabled’  and came back to Teddington under the Government mobility of housing scheme.

I was awarded mobility and attendance allowance; I could still drive my automatic car but could only walk on two wrist crutches very slowly and with pain. Where ever I drove to I needed help or be stuck in a car park, unable to get to a toilet and the attendance this allowance was for.

For the next 18 years I was able to get the attendance  and help I needed to attend all normal functions, help far outside the £9 an hour the council want to pay. I.e. A trip to visit old friends in Pewsey/Swindon,

9/10 hour day, and a trip to the coast 10 hour day, my carer was quite happy to attend me as long as I paid expenses, lunch tea, snacks etc.

 from the allowance. He attends me and helps me on this basis for many   hours more than the carers pay would allow; now I am wheelchair bound and do not drive.

Further Hospitalisation with cellulitis left me completely wheelchair, bound physically deteriorating and needing much more care throughout the home. My carer, living only in the next road, often calls any time day and night outside his paid hours when I ‘phone if I need any small help or when I fall. Tasks not measurable with stop a watch and calculator, thus saving the ‘Help Line’ calling out the Ambulance service.

In 2007 I opted, on being asked by the Council, for direct payment to replace ‘home help’ etc. As well as my attendance allowance. This worked very well and I could lead a near as possible to normal life style taking part and continuing in my lifetime activity in the local community.

When I was awarded my Attendance Allowance by the Government, some 20 years ago, I could still walk on crutches, drive, cook my own meals shower etc but cannot do any of these things, very incontinent with a permanent catheter now, one of the reason for my increased care.

The  support  plan  review  dated  May  2011  was  based  on  OT, Doctors and Hospital visits throughout 2010 when my physical condition rapidly deteriorated and continues to do so. I agreed to my   support   plan  as  being  adequate   whilst  I  was  receiving Attendance Allowance. Now this is being included in the plan, this is clearly not enough.

By  taking  my  Attendance  Allowance  as  care,   the  Council  are depriving me of a basic human right, the right to play my part, participate  and make my own contribution  to the community,  (I have always been a member of local groups, committees and discussion groups) attending local art shows, exhibitions, riverside walks and our boroughs parklands.

The  council’s  use  of  the  attendance  allowance  as  care  is  not obligatory, and different people have different needs. The Council attitude seems to be ‘one size fits all’. Some people at 76 are ready and happy to accept a way of life to sit in and be taken once a week to a day centre for bingo and a ‘sing song’. I am not, and far from that stage yet, with an active and absorbing mind and brain. In fact

40 years ago I helped to run those sessions for Teddington People.

When I had my first direct payment, after working out a plan with

Jackie Wade of ‘Ruils’ this included 45 hours for weekend working at

£13 an hour. The new revised award, in 2011 was all at the flat rate of £9, representing the first cut of £145, which I accepted. The original assessment did not include the extra jobs my carer now does, i.e. putting on my compression stockings attending to my catheter thus saving extra calls by the District Nursing Team.                

Taking my Attendance Allowance £186 makes another cut leaving only a difference of only £281 for all the extra care, it was agreed, I now need.

The care recommended by, Doctors, OT, District Nursing Team and many visits to Kingston  Hospital throughout  2010/11  was costed out at £1596 per month, an increase over my 2007 of £386 to pay for the extra care I now needed.

Bullet points

·      The  council’s  use  of  the  attendance  allowance  as  care  is  not obligatory, and different people have different needs.

·         The Council administrators attitude seems to be ‘one size fits all’

·          The  Council  are depriving me of a basic human right, the right to play my part, participate  and make my own contribution  to the community,  

·         I agreed to my  support  plan as being adequate  whilst  I was  receiving central government Attendance Allowance.

·         My award in 2007 included 34 hours at £13 for weekend working, 2011 award all at the rate of £9 making a loss of£136 per month. This was accepted by juggling round the hours and my carer’s family kindly supplying me a roast Sunday lunch.

·         By taking my Disability Allowance (after 20 years) of£196 per month making a total loss of income of £332. Not allowing me to pay for help in going out, have not been out for over 2 months.

Kenneth L. Elmes