Attendance Allowance Query

Bunter_2

sh1305 wrote: »

I thought this was only for the mobility component?

Not sure what you mean. If you get DLA (either component) before age 65, you can continue to claim after age 65. Problem arises (as in the o/p's case) if claimant is getting mobility only and then care needs arise after age 65.

Bunter_2

richard9991 wrote: »

my aunty has been on low mobility component only since she was 63 this year she was 67 and now has problems with breathing etc she needs 24 hour home oxegen therapy she asked dla in blackpool for a review of dla to get care component and got awarded high rate care compont of dla and low rate mobility of dla awarded indefinatly just looked at the award notice and is deffo dla not AA

Fair enough Richard. So o/p could apply for review of DLA with view to seeking award of care component.

The claimant simply needs to be aware that when they ask for a review of the case the DLA may choose to re-assess the entitlement to the mobility component as well as consider the eligibility to the care element.

Indie_Kid

Bunter wrote: »

Not sure what you mean. If you get DLA (either component) before age 65, you can continue to claim after age 65. Problem arises (as in the o/p's case) if claimant is getting mobility only and then care needs arise after age 65.

What I meant was, with DLA, if you receive mobility and apply for care after 65, then surely you'd get that and not AA?

Mojisola

I understood that because the lower rate of AA is the same as middle rate care DLA and the higher rates are the same, it's one occasion where you can apply for either. If you get DLA mobility and then, post 65, have care needs, some advisors will say apply under DLA rules and others will say apply for AA.

Just in case the mobility gets looked at again if you apply for DLA care, I would try for AA.

Bunter_2

sh1305 wrote: »

What I meant was, with DLA, if you receive mobility and apply for care after 65, then surely you'd get that and not AA?

Yes: After reading Richard9991's post that would seem to be the case. I must have got it the wrong way round. I think it must be that if you are getting the care component of DLA (prior to age 65) then you cannot get the mobility component after age 65 unless the conditions were met prior to age 65.

The answer to the o/p's question would seem to be that the claimant cannot get AA in addition to the current award of DLA and needs to ask for a review of the DLA with a view to getting the care component as well as the mobility component.

Bunter_2

Bunter wrote: »

The answer to the o/p's question would seem to be that the claimant cannot get AA in addition to the current award of DLA and needs to ask for a review of the DLA with a view to getting the care component as well as the mobility component.

Just to make things more complicated: I have just read that it may not be possible to get a "new" award of lower rate care after age 65. Therefor the claimant would probably have to satisfy the conditions for middle rate or higher rate care of DLA.

agatha_crispie

Thanks for all your replies. He doesn't want to have his DLA looked at again as I have heard that it can be taken away and he only won it on appeal. I think we will go to a Welfare Rights Adviser. You are all so kind
Aggie xx

Mojisola

Do let us know what happens, agatha. Every time this query comes up there are a range of ideas but it would be interesting to hear what actually happens in a claim.

Liquorice_Twirls

My Dad received the mobility component of DLA for a few years and last year, as he needed more care applied for AA as he was in his seventies and thought that AA was what was paid over 65.

He was contacted and told that as he was already receiving DLA (albeit the mobility only component), his claim would be processed as if it was for DLA as once you are on DLA your claim continues as this ie you only get AA if you were 65 or over when you initially apply.

And AFAIK the mobility component is only payable if you make a claim for it via DLA when you are under 65.

He was awarded the higher rate and so now receives this along with the mobility part.