Reclaiming Attendance Allowance

seven-day-weekend

I must admit it seems clear-cut to me. The OP and his wife have made adaptations to their house precisely so that she can look after herself and needs no help. AA is for people who DO need help. Therefore , to me, she no longer needs it.

I agree they should discuss it with the DWP.

cbrown372

tinkledom wrote: »

I can certainly see where you are coming from. But to me it seems a bit unfair.


We spent a fortune in trying to make things easier for her and in doing so spent our way out of nearly £80 a week in income.
So the moral of the matter is that you shouldn't spend money on helping yourself to improve your life in order to continue to receive an income. What would happen if medication relieved some care needs, does everyone notify an improvement based entirely on better medication?


We are now asset rich, with very little left in the bank, £3500 and a reduction in income of £80 a week. Not bad for trying to do the right thing.

You are forgetting that by your own admission it has made life easier for her and presumably yourself by default, is that not worth £80 a week?

tinkledom

cbrown372 wrote: »

You are forgetting that by your own admission it has made life easier for her and presumably yourself by default, is that not worth £80 a week?

I would not disagree that life is far far easier now for both of us. However that doesn't pay the bills. We still have to live and with the Attendance Allowance we just about scrape through each month. Without it will mean a considerable reduction in living standards. Our weekly income will go down from £310 to £230.

Indie_Kid

tinkledom wrote: »

I would not disagree that life is far far easier now for both of us. However that doesn't pay the bills. We still have to live and with the Attendance Allowance we just about scrape through each month. Without it will mean a considerable reduction in living standards. Our weekly income will go down from £310 to £230.

But surely if her life has improved to an extent that she no long requires that level of care, she no longer needs that money?

SandraScarlett

tinkledom wrote: »

I would not disagree that life is far far easier now for both of us. However that doesn't pay the bills. We still have to live and with the Attendance Allowance we just about scrape through each month. Without it will mean a considerable reduction in living standards. Our weekly income will go down from £310 to £230.

Well full marks to you for using your money to adapt your bungalow to suit your wife's needs. You don't mention your ages, or if you have, I apologise, but is one of you receiving SRP? If so, you could apply for Pension Credit.


I know a previous poster had a vast amount of income, yet, apparently, still qualified for Pension Credit. HTH


xx

cbrown372

tinkledom wrote: »

I would not disagree that life is far far easier now for both of us. However that doesn't pay the bills. We still have to live and with the Attendance Allowance we just about scrape through each month. Without it will mean a considerable reduction in living standards. Our weekly income will go down from £310 to £230.

You know what Andy, I have no sympathy :beer:

tinkledom

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

I must admit it seems clear-cut to me. The OP and his wife have made adaptations to their house precisely so that she can look after herself and needs no help. AA is for people who DO need help. Therefore , to me, she no longer needs it.

I agree they should discuss it with the DWP.

I understand your opinion. But surely if that argument is used across the board with medication as well as aids & adaptions, most people will see an improvement in their needs. It's like saying that being on the right pain medication removes the pain that was making it difficult to care for yourself. Should that be reported too? I thought that the care needs were assessed on the basis that irrespective if help is provided that removes those needs you are still entitled to the income. My wife still has the same needs, it's just that the equipment and adaptions have removed the need for me to give her that help, hence why she is now independent.


Anyhow those are my thoughts but I will report the situation advising that her needs are now met completely because of the adaptions to the home.

seven-day-weekend

I don't know. You may be right. I hope she gets whatever she is entitled to.

tinkledom

sh1305 wrote: »

But surely if her life has improved to an extent that she no long requires that level of care, she no longer needs that money?

The care I was giving her was becoming impossible to continue. There were no costs associated with her disabilities. If I wasn't around then she would have had to pay for people to come in.

tinkledom

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Well full marks to you for using your money to adapt your bungalow to suit your wife's needs. You don't mention your ages, or if you have, I apologise, but is one of you receiving SRP? If so, you could apply for Pension Credit.


I know a previous poster had a vast amount of income, yet, apparently, still qualified for Pension Credit. HTH


xx

We both get the State Pension only. We had AgeUK look at the Pension Credit thing, but according to them we had too much capital and income.