Another refusal

teabag29

Applied for attendance allowance for my 70 yr old mum who has copd, vertigo, lung disease, early stages of dementia and heart problems. She cant walk upstairs without gasping for breath and having to sit down for ages, she has had a few falls tring to get in and out of bath, her memory is awful (shes left the shopping in trolley after paying for it and come home without it, left the key in the door etc). Apparently it got turned down on basis of dr report

Be_Happy

Remember that for attendance allowance, there is no recognition given for mobility issues (they seem to think mobility problems come to everyone as they get older). Only problems considered are with personal care.

Make sure you emphasise the personal care issues when applying.

Miss_Havisham

Exactly as Be Happy states.

When we filled out Mum's application we focused on how long it takes her to get up,washed, dressed and about in the mornings, difficulties in remembering to take her meds, problems with getting her own meals, not realising when she needs to put on the heating on etc etc.

You have to be quite "assertive" in your descriptions - honest of course but don't try to minimise the probs. Mum was very annoyed at the way we described her situation, her natural instinct (as with many older people) was to minimise the problems she had.

The allowance has greatly improved Mum's quality of life.

Good luck with your form-filling !

teabag29

Thanks ladies. I did put all the problems she has, how she falls and cant get up, how she cant dress herself, how she cant remember to take her medication properly, forgets that she has put food on to cook etc but came back as a refusal. I now intend to ask for a reconsideration and appeal if neccessary