Attendance Allowance

Newly_retired

I work for CAB and we do lots of forms, though do not go out to people's homes.
Maybe not using the consultants' letters was to avoid focussing on the medical conditions but on the NEEDS for care/supervision etc.
They can always be used if you have to go to appeal.

Biggles

Errata wrote: »

Did she say why they wouldn't accompany the application? Seems a bit odd.

I thought they always contacted the doctors direct, rather than relying on an 'edited' selection provided by the applicant?

diolch

Biggles wrote: »

I thought they always contacted the doctors direct, rather than relying on an 'edited' selection provided by the applicant?

That's what I believed to be the case. I filled the online one for the Mrs. Took about 20 mins. She has Arthritis affecting nearly every joint as well as a cyst on her liver which is currently 6" long! (grown from 3" in the past year or so. That gives her constant pain, especially when it bleeds. Then she has Odema (water retention) which makes getting round very difficult.

Anyhow, we waited about 3 weeks and were told that there is nothing wrong with her! uhh, right!!!

Found out the reason, she hasn't told her GP of her many problems, just puts in her repeat script and carries on. The GP reported that he knew nothing that would indicate she had ANY problems.

Point is, they contacted the GP for a report to see if we were lying, which on the face of it, we are!!

Never mind - you can't win them all.

Newly_retired

Sometimes I have found that they do not ask GPs and consultants for reports. This is unacceptable and grounds for appeal.

PennyForThem_2

OH on recommendation of GP went to Age concern to fill in form in January this year. He was a teacher, but said that AC helped no end and were really focused on answering the questions in the right way.

Got higher rate as a result.

diolch

PennyForThem wrote: »

OH on recommendation of GP went to Age concern to fill in form in January this year. He was a teacher, but said that AC helped no end and were really focused on answering the questions in the right way.

Got higher rate as a result.

Your GP must know a lot about your abilities, needs etc to even consider suggesting that.

Maybe it is important then to make your GP aware of everything that is happening in your life.

Not like my Mrs - she is a closed book to everyone except me!

margaretclare

diolch wrote: »

Your GP must know a lot about your abilities, needs etc to even consider suggesting that.

Maybe it is important then to make your GP aware of everything that is happening in your life.

Not like my Mrs - she is a closed book to everyone except me!

Well, certainly everything that affects your medical condition(s) and needs and therefore, how you live your life.

DH had only been to the GP on the morning of the day he went to see the adviser at DIAL. He wanted a full blood test and review of all his medications (think he's taken on board my doubts about the value of statins!) and a couple of other things to discuss. Our GPs work well as a team and they have all the information about what has happened to DH since he came to live here. Various of them have been here and seen him at home. However, what AA (and DLA too) is about is not so much the medical/surgical condition as how it affects the person's life and what they're able to do and that, in turn, is down to the person himself/herself. For instance, we got a new lawn-mower which is very easy to use. DH can do about a quarter of the lawn - and it's not such a big one - and then has to stop because his knee is hurting him too much. Yes, I know we could easily get someone to do it for us, and in the past I've done just that. He doesn't want that. Same with shopping. He can only go round the supermarket because he has a trolley to hang on to. 'What's wrong with internet shopping?' I ask. 'I like to see what I'm buying' he replies.

There's no answer to some people. They have to do whatever they feel they can do and whatever is right for them. You can't run someone else's life for them, not even your nearest and dearest.

*Chattie*

Presumably the AA is to pay for someone to actually mow the lawn then? Not quite sure I understand your point.

Mojisola

*Chattie* wrote: »

Presumably the AA is to pay for someone to actually mow the lawn then?

Or it could have been used to pay for the new, easier-to-use mower that means he can carry on cutting it himself, even if it takes several sessions to do it.

margaretclare

*Chattie* wrote: »

Presumably the AA is to pay for someone to actually mow the lawn then? Not quite sure I understand your point.

How do you not understand this?: "There's no answer to some people. They have to do whatever they feel they can do and whatever is right for them. You can't run someone else's life for them, not even your nearest and dearest. "

i wrote this in response to diolch and his description of her missus. BTW, it's not helpful for her to just request repeats all the time, and the GP should get her in for a periodic review. Medical conditions do improve or worsen, different types of medication come out, what was helpful and appropriate one year may not be so next year. How does the GP know if he doesn't see her?

Doing the lawn is not the issue. For many years I paid a contractor to keep this garden in order. DH won't hear of it. He doesn't want anyone doing things in this garden.

Same with the shopping. I detest supermarkets but would be prepared to do an online shop for the basics. DH likes to see what they have. Today wasn't a good day, though - he wanted to go to Tesco because he had some money-back vouchers and 'it is manic in there'. I believe it!! I've managed to get through to him on some things. I dislike meat bought in supermarkets and at last I got him to agree to go to a local farm shop where I bought a small leg of lamb for the weekend and some burgers that they make on the premises.