Attendance Allowance

Stoodles

My elderly mother is claiming Attendance Allowance. I'm keeping notes of her difficulties as they arise, so there will be plenty of examples of her needs.



She is intermittently confused, so doesn't always remember she has had a problem, and is also quite resistant to admitting when she needs help. Should that sort of thing go in her claim, saying "I have been told that ..." or in the Statement from someone who knows you?


Should we submit any medical evidence with the form, and if so, what?



Is there a points system like PIP? Can anyone point me to details of how the decisions are made?


Thanks in anticipation for your help.

xylophone

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/

calcotti

There isn’t a points system. An award an be made if the claimant needs frequent help day and/or night. It is down to a Decision Maker to decide the claim based on the information provided.

I don’t think it matters whether the claimant says “I have been told ...” or information is provided in a supporting statement by those who know and/or help the claimant. You can do both. Although, as with PIP, the decision is about the impact of illness not diagnosis it is helpful to provide copies of any medical letters confirming health conditions.

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

Skibunny40

It's worth getting help filling in the form from a local charity - try Age UK, or contact your local CAB. My aunt was initially rejected when she filled in the form with the help of a family member, but when she re-applied with the help of Age UK, she was successful. Some of it is counter-intuitive, you need someone who knows the system. Shouldn't be the way, but it is.

Stoodles

Thanks for your helpful responses. I contacted AgeUK last week, but have had no response, so I thought I'd better start trying to understand it myself.



I'm more comfortable with a points system. It seems easier to write to set requirements. However, I'm in no doubt that mum needs supervision throughout the day and struggles in many areas now.



Medically, things are more complicated to evidence. She has a couple of long term conditions, but they should only require medication. It's not clear if they have deteriorated, or if she is forgetting the meds, or if she is simply older and more infirm. She is having various tests - would the appointment letters for them form part of the medical evidence?
She is also having various aids provided by the NHS. Do I just list them, or do I need a letter from the nurse who recently assessed her.

calcotti

Appointment letters are not useful as evidence.

Listing the aids is sufficient but if you have any letters that explain why they are being provided those would be helpful.

Giving examples of help needed, as mentioned in your opening post, is very helpful. Also examples of what has happened when help is not available.

getting-sorted-sarah

Listing aids should also include the difficulties she has using them (e.g. if someone needs help to get onto a stairlift) - otherwise the aid may be seen as solving the problem.
You are looking to show that she needs frequent attention (more than once or twice a day) from another person, in relation to bodily functions. Bodily functions includes moving about, sleeping, seeing, remembering - as well as personal care. If she does not have help fro another person she could still qualify if she NEEDS help - so you can say that she would benefit from help, and without help things are very difficult.

Definitely suggest contacting Age UK again, call the national helpline for advice if your local one can't help. The lack of points system makes the form quite vague, and it is easy to answer the questions without giving the necessary information. (I'm an adviser.)