We Care for Each Other – Walsall Carers Hub Helped Us Get the Support We Deserved”

Caring for Each Other

We’re Norman* and Doreen*, as we both have several health issues, we support and care for each other every day.

Like many people, we didn’t necessarily think of ourselves as carers – we are a couple and looking after each other is simply what we do.

However, managing our health and everyday life while relying solely on our small State Pensions was becoming increasingly difficult. Our friends recommended that we reach out to Walsall Carers Hub to see if there was any support available to us.

We’re very glad we did.

Discovering Support We Didn’t Know About

When we spoke to Walsall Carers Hub, they took the time to understand our circumstances, including our health and financial situation.

During the conversation, our Carer Advisor identified that neither of us was receiving Attendance Allowance, despite both being over State Pension age and having health conditions that affect our daily lives.

We hadn’t realised this was something we could potentially claim.

Rather than simply giving us the information and leaving us to work through the process ourselves, the Hub helped us take the next steps.

Help With the Application

Our Carer Advisor contacted the Attendance Allowance helpline on our behalf to start the application process.

When the forms arrived, we contacted the Hub again because we needed help completing them. We were supported to work through the paperwork and explain how our health affects us in our everyday lives.

Having someone there who understood the process made it much easier and gave us confidence that we were providing the information that was needed.

Then we waited to hear the outcome.

The Good News We Had Been Hoping For

We were delighted to find out that we had both been successfully awarded Attendance Allowance.

The additional money has made a real difference to us.

When you are relying on a small pension, even everyday costs can be a worry. Having this additional financial support gives us a little more freedom and helps us manage some of the extra costs associated with our health.

We contacted Walsall Carers Hub afterwards because we wanted them to know how grateful we were for the help we had received.

More Than a Financial Difference

One of the lovely things about having a little more money coming in is that we can now both attend the weekly seated yoga sessions at Walsall Carers Hub.

It gives us an opportunity to get out of the house, do something positive for our health and wellbeing and spend time with other people.

For us, the support has therefore been about much more than completing a benefits form. It has helped us financially while also giving us opportunities to look after our wellbeing and stay connected.

We didn’t know that we could claim Attendance Allowance until we spoke to Walsall Carers Hub. Asking for help has made a real difference to both of us.

If you’re unsure what support is available, don’t worry about knowing exactly what to ask for. Walsall Carers Hub team will listen to your circumstances and help you understand what support may be available to you.

*Norman and Doreen’s names and photo are fictious as they wished to remain anonymous.

Could Walsall Carers Hub Help You Too?

If you look after your husband, wife, partner, relative or friend, you may be an unpaid Carer – even if you have never thought of yourself that way before.

You may also be entitled to financial or practical support that you don’t know about. Register with Walsall Carers Hub via this link, contact the team via email info@walsallcarerhub.org.uk or call 01922 616 798 to speak to an Advisor.