Lower rate attendance allowance

w06

agreed

Op, it's a risk that you have to decide whether to take.

If you think that your husband should qualify for the higher rate and you can be sure that he'd still qualify for hte lower rate then consider applying.

Conversely if you think that perhaps he doesn't qualify for the lower rate anymore, then you also need to tell them.

SandraScarlett

Like others, I can only say that with the amount of care you are currently giving, it is unlikely that your Lower Rate would be take away, and very likely that you would get the Higher Rate.


The key to all this is filling in the forms, which are very lengthy, and some of the questions seem similar. But it is vital to give as much information as you can. Even if things seem trivial, it is still important to write every single thing down.


The person who makes the decision, doesn't know the claimant, and can only make an assumption, based on the information in the form. For example, somebody may be unable to make themselves a meal, or even a drink, because they have severe arthritis, and cannot cut, peel, slice, lift or unscrew things.


Rather than write "I need help", it is important to give the reasons as to why that help is needed, and if the person claiming is unable to complete the form themselves, it is quite acceptable to write both on the form, and on a covering letter, that you are writing this on their behalf, because they are unable to do so.


Hope this helps.

Mojisola

marjrie wrote: »

he needs help in the night, to get in and out of bed several times. He has severe arthritis

Much of day to day life is a struggle, getting dressed takes an age, I have to help with everything.

Remind him to have a drink often enough, he could just about make some toast, but not prepare a meal. He can't fasten buttons or tie laces, his fingers are so bad.

It's easy to feel overwhelmed as your husband's needs increase and sometimes it feels easier to keep struggling on rather than take chances on making things worse. With you being up several times in the night with him, you must be exhausted.

You may well be entitled to some help from carers as well as the higher rate of AA.

Please follow up the advice and get help filling in the forms and ask for assessments for you both.

If you don't make time for yourself to rest well, you will become ill.

poppy12345

marjrie wrote: »

I hope when you are elderly and looking for some help or reassurance you find someone polite and patient to advise you.

I'm not entirely sure what part of Penitent's post you found impolite but i thought it was good advice. Penitent always gives great advice like many others here.

If you had great advice from many people, maybe you should take some of that on board.

Alice_Holt

NeilCr wrote: »

It is not you Penitent. Please do not worry about it.

I read it and saw nothing impolite there -and I am pretty sure others will think the same.

Totally agree.
A very surprising comment from the OP.

From the OP's posts it would seem the Higher Rate (needing help with personal care needs both day and night) would be appropriate, and a withdraw of the current award very unlikely.
But no-one can tell her what the DWP decision maker will decide. She has to make her own judgement.

If she does decide to apply for a supersession:
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/benefits-introduction/problems-with-benefits-and-tax-credits/challenging-a-benefit-decision/challenging-a-dwp-benefit-decision-on-or-after-28-october-2013/changing-a-benefit-decision-by-revision-and-supersession/changing-a-dwp-benefit-decision-by-supersession/
then as others have suggested she should get advice / help to complete the form:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/disability-living-allowance/
A letter from her husbands GP or other health care professional summarising his care needs would be helpful.

poppy12345

Penitent wrote: »

I wouldn't go that far. I have my lucid moments.

We all do but i didn't see anything wrong in the comment you made for the OP to say what they said.

marjrie_2

Penitent wrote: »

I'm honestly not sure what just happened. I've reread my post and I can't see the part that was impolite. I was trying to help you reach a solution to your problem.

I have OCD, so I tend to obsess and repeat myself and sometimes struggle to move forward. I thought I was helping you recognise that you were caught in a similar loop that was preventing you moving forward.

Reading back, I need to say sorry, at the time I felt you were being a little impatient, I see now that wasn't intended.
I need an early night

teddysmum

I can understand the OP's worry as AA seems to have more stringent requirements than disability help for younger people.


The latter get consideration for not being able to prepare more than a snack, but an older person gets no consideration for this;only if they have difficulty eating the food. This gives the impression that, if an older person can eat a meal, but cannot safely prepare it, then hard luck, they have to live on snacks if they have no one to help. (This seems much more unfair than refusing AA receivers help with mobility; done because of cost, but with the excuse that most old people eventually have mobility problems).

xylophone

An acquaintance of mine was in receipt of AA at the lower rate when living at home and also later when her infirmity led to the sale of the family property and her admission to a care home.

Her mobility decreased and she needed help with getting out of bed at night (there was a bed rail to negotiate and she was in danger of falling) and then incontinence (requiring night time changing) developed.

This was reported to DWP and once the deterioration in her condition had been established as of over six months' duration she was awarded the higher rate of AA.