Over 65 trying to claim disability allowance help

rock-on_2

My OH has had back problems for years. He's been in constant pain, often unable to move but because the GP tells him there's not a lot can be done other than pain killers, not much point going to the GP.

He's had to go a few times this year as he's been in mega pain, not even able to dress himself at times, can't sit for long, can't walk for long and has to lie flat on his back to get some relief. Then he can't get up so has to be helped.

Filled in the form for attendance allowance as we found out there isn't any disability allowance over 65. Form went off 10 days ago. Got a reply yesterday with a big fat no chance. They haven't even contacted the GP. The letter says he doesn't need help indoors. I presume it's the fairies that get him dressed when he can't move then is it? No mention of outdoors. Obviously he's not allowed out or is it that he lives outside?

What do we have to do to even get some sort of consideration? Be under 65 for a start I suppose, but how can you get these jobsworths to read what's put in front of them? How can you insist that they contact the GP? In short how the hell do you get any help. We're both pensioners, not that well off but thought that by trying not to burden the NHS we were helping more chronically ill patients to get faster treatment and appointments. Now it seems that all we have done is prevent my OH from getting any help at all.

How do the scroungers like the guy down the road with 2 cars and a Harley Davidson get disability allowances when my OH can't even get the jobsworths the read the forms? What does it take? How incapacitated do you have to be - dead?

saving_pennies

In the letter you received with the decision, there should be details of what to do if you disagree with the decision, e.g. appeal. You usually have a month to appeal against benefit decisions.

You can send in extra information, e.g. medical letters, diary detailing care needs over a week and what physical help your husband needed either from yourself or another person. I know you say that GP said there is nothing other than pain killers to help your husband, but it is still worth visiting your GP who may be able to write a letter to support your application.

Re: outdoors - I assume you are talking about mobility. Disability Living Allowance has a mobility and a care component, but Attendence Allowance only has the care component.

I am wondering if your husband has had an adult social services assessment, as you may be able to get some practical help (carers), and part of the assessment includes looking at your finances and deciding if you can pay towards the care - they only take what you can afford and they will pay the rest of the cost. If you already have carers via social services there will be written evidence of his care needs, which could be used as evidence.

Morglin

rock-on wrote: »

My OH has had back problems for years. He's been in constant pain, often unable to move but because the GP tells him there's not a lot can be done other than pain killers, not much point going to the GP.

He's had to go a few times this year as he's been in mega pain, not even able to dress himself at times, can't sit for long, can't walk for long and has to lie flat on his back to get some relief. Then he can't get up so has to be helped.

Filled in the form for attendance allowance as we found out there isn't any disability allowance over 65. Form went off 10 days ago. Got a reply yesterday with a big fat no chance. They haven't even contacted the GP. The letter says he doesn't need help indoors. I presume it's the fairies that get him dressed when he can't move then is it? No mention of outdoors. Obviously he's not allowed out or is it that he lives outside?

What do we have to do to even get some sort of consideration? Be under 65 for a start I suppose, but how can you get these jobsworths to read what's put in front of them? How can you insist that they contact the GP? In short how the hell do you get any help. We're both pensioners, not that well off but thought that by trying not to burden the NHS we were helping more chronically ill patients to get faster treatment and appointments. Now it seems that all we have done is prevent my OH from getting any help at all.

How do the scroungers like the guy down the road with 2 cars and a Harley Davidson get disability allowances when my OH can't even get the jobsworths the read the forms? What does it take? How incapacitated do you have to be - dead?

You cannot insist that they contact the GP - that is their decision. They do contact GP's and consultants if they need more information, but if they feel a 'rejection of claim' decision can be made without, then they don't contact them.

I don't know what you put on the form, but all I can suggest you do is to appeal the decision, and possibly get some help with it (the CAB should be able to advise).

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm

If you choose to appeal, then there is nothing to stop you asking your GP for a report you can send back with the appeal form. Some GP's charge for this and some won't.

AA is about care needed at home. Unless you claim DLA before pension age, there is no mobility component applied to the over pension aged, probably because most, if not all, elderly folk get aches and pain, and have more trouble getting about than younger people.

This gives the criteria for eligibility:

http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/decisions/aadecision.asp

With AA for pensioners, as with DLA for children, it has to be shown that the care and help needed is far above what would be considered 'normal, so it does usually involve listing everything a claimant needs help with, (use a seperate piece of paper, and write it in full).

Lin

MrsManda

It sounds like there was not enough detail in the form which you filled out. As the previous two posters said, you can request a statement of reasons for the decision and appeal. You'll need to provide much more information about your OH's care needs and the frequency of these needs.

Keeping a diary of your OH's health for a few weeks can be useful when it comes to filling out the form and don't worry about running out of space as you can add extra sheets of paper, just clearly mark which question you are answering.

You mentioned in your post that your OH had to go to the doctor a couple of times a year because he was in so much pain he couldn't dress himself. What is he like the rest of the time? If he only needs help with his care a few times a year he is unlikely to be able to claim Attendance Allowance as the eligibility criteria is that the claimant needs help with personal care frequently.

As well as trying to claim AA it may be worth harrassing the GP more and seeing if your OH can get a referral to a specialist as it may be that with some proper help your OH will not have to suffer so much. At very least it sounds like he should be seeing a pain management team.

rock-on_2

Thank you all for your replies and yes I will harass the GP. This has been going on for years and nothing other than pain killers and the odd bit of physio has been given so far but it is getting worse. We are not old enough to be housebound, we're not even in our 70's yet so to for the powers that be to think we should vegetate is just not on so we'll go for the appeal and the GP letter to start with and see what happens.

[Deleted User]

you could appeal,or you could let this application go and apply again this time getting help probably from AGE UK if avaliable

clemmatis

rock-on wrote: »

We are not old enough to be housebound, we're not even in our 70's yet so to for the powers that be to think we should vegetate is just not on so we'll go for the appeal and the GP letter to start with and see what happens.

You won't get a mobility element. The Powers That Be decree we (I'm 65) don't need one. But do carry on trying to get Attendance Allowance. (Again, there's, in my view, a discriminatory element here, as Attendance Allowance has no equivalent of DLA Lower Rate Care.)

Asking Age UK is a good idea.

merlin68

It's probably because you can't claim DLA over 65. You have to claim attendance allowance instead.

dark_lady

rock-on wrote: »

My OH has had back problems for years. He's been in constant pain, often unable to move but because the GP tells him there's not a lot can be done other than pain killers, not much point going to the GP.

He's had to go a few times this year as he's been in mega pain, not even able to dress himself at times, can't sit for long, can't walk for long and has to lie flat on his back to get some relief. Then he can't get up so has to be helped.

Filled in the form for attendance allowance as we found out there isn't any disability allowance over 65. Form went off 10 days ago. Got a reply yesterday with a big fat no chance. They haven't even contacted the GP. The letter says he doesn't need help indoors. I presume it's the fairies that get him dressed when he can't move then is it? No mention of outdoors. Obviously he's not allowed out or is it that he lives outside?

What do we have to do to even get some sort of consideration? Be under 65 for a start I suppose, but how can you get these jobsworths to read what's put in front of them? How can you insist that they contact the GP? In short how the hell do you get any help. We're both pensioners, not that well off but thought that by trying not to burden the NHS we were helping more chronically ill patients to get faster treatment and appointments. Now it seems that all we have done is prevent my OH from getting any help at all.

How do the scroungers like the guy down the road with 2 cars and a Harley Davidson get disability allowances when my OH can't even get the jobsworths the read the forms? What does it take? How incapacitated do you have to be - dead?

I dont think you are helping yourself with the attitude in your last paragraph. The over 60s dont have a monopoly on being ill you know.
The over 60s also get winter fuel allowance. People under 60 dont even those who have diseases like cancer and feel the cold more so have to use the heating more. Ill people under 65 have it just as hard.

Oldernotwiser

dark_lady wrote: »

People under 60 dont even those who have diseases like cancer and feel the cold more so have to use the heating more. Ill people under 65 have it just as hard.

If you mean that people with cancer feel the cold more (difficult to tell what you mean actually) then you're wrong.

cheap_charlie

Earlier this year I helped my mother claim Attendance Allowance and before she even got the forms she asked if her GP would support her claim. The GP was happy to help - which was perhaps the key to the application succeeding because my mother's condition is quite rare.

The DWP phoned me to ask questions about my mother's general state of health and what help she needed and they then sent a letter to my mother informing her they would need to investigate further with her GP, which is fair enough as you are warned of this when you apply.

Within a week of receiving that letter she got another letter to say she had met the requirements for Attendance Allowance and I am convinced it was forewarning the GP and having her "on side" so to speak which got the claim approved.

I would suggest your OH speaks to his GP before appealing or claiming again and it might be an idea to get help from Citizens' Advice in filling the form out to ensure you don't miss out something crucial.

Good luck!