Age Macular Degeneration and Attendance Allowance

NeilCr

The answer is yes it can but it's not automatic

AA is about the effect on the sufferer not the fact that they have a certain illness/disability

I'd strongly suggest seeing your local CAB/advice centre for help and advice on the completion of a new AA application

Some good guidance here

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/claiming-attendance-allowance/help-with-attendance-allowance-form/

Lorian

teddysmum wrote: »

I suspect that she will have to wait to have the other done, as she has good vision in one eye now and some authorities are fobbing cataract patients off until they are really advanced.

I know someone who recently thought the same about opportunities for the second cataract op, and had the second done only about 4-5 weeks after the first, I'm not sure, it could be she stepped into a cancellation slot. She too was very pleased with the result.

She also has MD (being managed)

The thought of Attendance Allowance hasn't arisen as I don't think she'd qualify.

teddysmum

Lorian wrote: »

I know someone who recently thought the same about opportunities for the second cataract op, and had the second done only about 4-5 weeks after the first, I'm not sure, it could be she stepped into a cancellation slot. She too was very pleased with the result.

She also has MD (being managed)

The thought of Attendance Allowance hasn't arisen as I don't think she'd qualify.

It does seem to have stricter criteria than the benefits for younger people. For instance being unable to prepare meals counts for DLA and PIP , but for AA you have to have difficulty actually eating the meal (and it doesn't appear to matter if you can't prepare the meal).

kpwll

My Step-mother had this and was registered partially sighted by the consultant. Someone came out from either from RNIB or Age UK and helped fill in the forms to claim AA. She was successful.
Good luck to you.

Profligate

Hi

It sounds like your mum has care and supervision needs, (during the daytime if not nighttime as well?), and that is what AA is awarded for.

As other PPs have advised - get advice from Citizens Advice - they can do a full benefits check to see if your mum's getting all she's entitled to, and can help regarding appealing against AA decisions.

The fact that your mum got refused AA initially does not mean that it was the right decision. I would have a look at AA guidance from the CA or AgeUK etc to ensure the form is being filled out with as strong a case as possible.

I'm going to repost the link that Neil posted above as it's useful: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/claiming-attendance-allowance/help-with-attendance-allowance-form/

Good luck