Coming off DLA

margaretclare

So Flo relies on Andy to fill in all her forms for her. 'Her hands make writing impossible'. She doesn't even open her letters. And Andy thinks she doesn't deserve her AA because of all the home improvements/adaptations he's had made to make her independent? There's summat not quite right here.

tinkledom

margaretclare wrote: »

So Flo relies on Andy to fill in all her forms for her. 'Her hands make writing impossible'. She doesn't even open her letters. And Andy thinks she doesn't deserve her AA because of all the home improvements/adaptations he's had made to make her independent? There's summat not quite right here.

Filing a from out, writing a letter or not having fingers nimble enough to open an envelope do not constitute a need that is acceptable to the DWP for AA purposes. She is still able to wash herself etc, use adapted cutlery and such, but just cant keep her hands still because of tremors.


You can only claim for the needs that relate to personal care.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/271750/aa1a.pdf


You may not be familiar with the AA claim form - I have given you a link to one.
If you can find somewhere that says that not being able to write a letter or fill out a form is a reason for awarding AA then I will apologise. I've been through the whole form and it definitely refers only to personal care.

Morglin

tinkledom wrote: »

Filing a from out, writing a letter or not having fingers nimble enough to open an envelope do not constitute a need that is acceptable to the DWP for AA purposes. She is still able to wash herself etc, use adapted cutlery and such, but just cant keep her hands still because of tremors.


You can only claim for the needs that relate to personal care.


https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/271750/aa1a.pdf


You may not be familiar with the AA claim form - I have given you a link to one.
If you can find somewhere that says that not being able to write a letter or fill out a form is a reason for awarding AA then I will apologise. I've been through the whole form and it definitely refers only to personal care.

I have regular TIA's and also gave a joint problem, similar to arthritis, and I wonder how it is that 'your wife's' arthritis, in her hands only affects her writing?

When my hands and arms are bad, not only can't I write, I cannot open a medicine container, I cannot grip a cup, glass or pan, and i cannot turn a tap on or off, or fasten buttons and zips on clothing...:doh:

I also cannot use a manual wheelchair.

I could go on and on, but limited use of hands and arms affects every part of life, not just writing, and that is why I get DLA, and that is why 'your wife' should qualify for AA.

If you are saying that she is unaffected, other than in writing, then she must be some sort of medical miracle! :wall:

But I have answered this knowing that your posts are a wind up anyway.

Lin

tinkledom

Morglin wrote: »

I have regular TIA's and also gave a joint problem, similar to arthritis, and I wonder how it is that 'your wife's' arthritis, in her hands only affects her writing?

When my hands and arms are bad, not only can't I write, I cannot open a medicine container, I cannot grip a cup, glass or pan, and i cannot turn a tap on or off, or fasten buttons and zips on clothing...:doh:

I also cannot use a manual wheelchair.

I could go on and on, but limited use of hands and arms affects every part of life, not just writing, and that is why I get DLA, and that is why 'your wife' should qualify for AA.

If you are saying that she is unaffected, other than in writing, then she must be some sort of medical miracle! :wall:

But I have answered this knowing that your posts are a wind up anyway.

Lin

Wind up - you wish!


Besides her many other medical problems, she suffers from Arthritis, starting at the top, in her neck, wrists and fingers. Then the lower back/hips, then to her knees.


She has adapted cups, cutlery etc. Her pain is kept under control with medication. As for everything else, the adaptions and other aids make her life much easier to live.


As for your comments 'When my hands and arms are bad, not only can't I write, I cannot open a medicine container, I cannot grip a cup, glass or pan, and i cannot turn a tap on or off, or fasten buttons and zips on clothing' why don't you have a weekly/monthly pill box that someone can fill for you. Using one of those is child's play and are designed for the very reason you quote. You can buy adapted cups and glasses (double handed). Taps, fit the single bar type tap that you can operate with your arm. Buttons/zips - my wife has her clothes adapted so that everything uses Velcro instead, much easier.


There are always ways to get round a problem.


However the major problem that she has always faced with the DWP is actually proving to them with written evidence that these needs actually exist (of course blood tests and scans can show that the disease is there) to the extent that she says they do and proving that she is incapable of looking after herself if she didn't have the aids and adaptions. She can prove the diagnosis but not the extent of the help she would need - the DWP seem not to want to believe anybody unless there is evidence there - hence why it took 4 attempts (one a year) to even get AA at the high rate for just one year.


She simply cannot prove that the needs actually exist, never mind the extent to which they are present.


As another example of how they view AA claimants. My deceased father who died in December aged 88 was in receipt of AA at the low rate. He lived on his own. He had carers coming in every day, 3 times a day via Social Services. Regularly at night he would mess himself in bed because he couldn't get to the toilet in time. Sometimes he would leave a trail of 'it' on the floor that I had to get his cleaners to sort out. He died of malnutrition and dehydration because he couldn't cope at home.


The DWP when this was explained to them by me, still refused to increase his AA to the day and night rate. I was still arguing with them when he eventually died.


I get really annoyed when people say that those who need the award and financial help will always get it. It's a load of rubbish - they want to try being 88 and unable to cope with most things AND on top of that have to fight the DWP.


Sorry to have gone on, it's a very sore subject and sometimes just not worth the fight or argument.

cbrown372

tinkledom wrote: »

Wind up - you wish!

As another example of how they view AA claimants. My deceased father who died in December aged 88 was in receipt of AA at the low rate. He lived on his own. He had carers coming in every day, 3 times a day via Social Services. Regularly at night he would mess himself in bed because he couldn't get to the toilet in time. Sometimes he would leave a trail of 'it' on the floor that I had to get his cleaners to sort out. He died of malnutrition and dehydration because he couldn't cope at home.


The DWP when this was explained to them by me, still refused to increase his AA to the day and night rate. I was still arguing with them when he eventually died.


I get really annoyed when people say that those who need the award and financial help will always get it. It's a load of rubbish - they want to try being 88 and unable to cope with most things AND on top of that have to fight the DWP.


Sorry to have gone on, it's a very sore subject and sometimes just not worth the fight or argument.

Shame you didn't look after your father when he was alive but hey you wouldn't have the inheritance to spend now.

tinkledom wrote: »

Presumably you will have to declare it as capital? Much the same as someone that manages to save most of their benefit payments instead of spending it.
I only know about the latter as a guy who died at 88, never spent a penny of his state retirement pension - 23 years worth and amassed it in cash in his house, over £105,000 was found in drawers rolled up with an elastic bands. I should know, I found it as an executor for my late father's estate.

SandraScarlett

Morglin wrote: »

I have regular TIA's and also gave a joint problem, similar to arthritis, and I wonder how it is that 'your wife's' arthritis, in her hands only affects her writing?

When my hands and arms are bad, not only can't I write, I cannot open a medicine container, I cannot grip a cup, glass or pan, and i cannot turn a tap on or off, or fasten buttons and zips on clothing...:doh:

I also cannot use a manual wheelchair.

I could go on and on, but limited use of hands and arms affects every part of life, not just writing, and that is why I get DLA, and that is why 'your wife' should qualify for AA.

If you are saying that she is unaffected, other than in writing, then she must be some sort of medical miracle! :wall:

But I have answered this knowing that your posts are a wind up anyway.

Lin

Unfortunately we all know it's a wind up, but the temptation to answer is sometimes just tooooooooo much!! One of Andy's AEs last year, was that he claimed CA for this father, as he travelled hundreds of miles a week to care for him.


I'm always amused that some AEs boast that he and Flo claim thousands of pounds a month, whereas others piously claim that they do not continue to claim when expensive remodelling of their modest home, plus aids, have solved the problem - voila!!


xx

cattermole

What has AA got to do with the whole thing of your father dying?

If he couldn't cope at home regardless of what rate he was on, then if the circumstances are as you describe, i.e. the truth then negligence has occurred not only by yourself but by the other carers who were coming in and the SW.

Having an extra rate of AA would not have made any difference to the level of care he needed or should have been getting or being admitted to Residential care or even hospital! SW assess on what they see, not what benefits people are on and if they were to do otherwise it would be gross negligence.

My father wasn't getting AA at all as we didn't get chance to even make a claim, we were too concerned about getting his needs met firstly at home, then in hospital. It didn't stop him getting the care he needed.

margaretclare

Morglin wrote: »

I have regular TIA's and also gave a joint problem, similar to arthritis, and I wonder how it is that 'your wife's' arthritis, in her hands only affects her writing?

When my hands and arms are bad, not only can't I write, I cannot open a medicine container, I cannot grip a cup, glass or pan, and i cannot turn a tap on or off, or fasten buttons and zips on clothing...:doh:

I also cannot use a manual wheelchair.

I could go on and on, but limited use of hands and arms affects every part of life, not just writing, and that is why I get DLA, and that is why 'your wife' should qualify for AA.

If you are saying that she is unaffected, other than in writing, then she must be some sort of medical miracle! :wall:

But I have answered this knowing that your posts are a wind up anyway.

Lin

Yes, this was really what I was getting at.

A person who cannot do something as simple as open, read or answer a letter is likely to have a lot of other problems and difficulties, and you have illustrated this admirably.

tinkledom

cbrown372 wrote: »

Shame you didn't look after your father when he was alive but hey you wouldn't have the inheritance to spend now.

I did!!!! I live over 300 miles away and travelled every week to spend at least 2 if not 3 days with him over the last 4 months that he was alive.
Before that he used to tell me on the phone (rang him 2/3 times a week) that he was OK!!!!


As regards the inheritance, I have now, through my solicitors, made a variation to the will, substituting my children to receive it instead of me. OK!

Poppie68

tinkledom wrote: »

I did!!!! I live over 300 miles away and travelled every week to spend at least 2 if not 3 days with him over the last 4 months that he was alive.
Before that he used to tell me on the phone (rang him 2/3 times a week) that he was OK!!!!


As regards the inheritance, I have now, through my solicitors, made a variation to the will, substituting my children to receive it instead of me. OK!

:rotfl:Oops there he goes again, forgetting it was'nt him that lived over 300miles away from his father.....
Please if someone can find the culprit for that particular post then we can also add that name to Andy's ever growing AE list.

Where you neglected as a child, do you not have any friends? The behaviour you display is not normal behaviour for a sane, well balanced person.
The affects of the above are manifesting themselves into the personna of a deeply disturbed individual who does'nt seem to be able to seperate reality from fantasy...Please Andy get some help for Flo's sake!
Anyway :grouphug: for Andy he needs our help and pity so he can try and improve himself and maybe try and become a productive part of society instead of a joke!