Applying for attendance allowance, advice?

ceewash

Just starting this process for my mother. Has anyone got advice on how to apply successfully and on what grounds people are refused. i think she should qualify for something as my father got it due to his medical history. How much detail is required ? Etc. Any help welcome.

JGB1955

The form is quite long but not too difficult to fill in.  It's a case of making statements along the lines of 'I need to be reminded to take my medication', 'I need help with dressing myself'.  If you have a look at Attendance Allowance interactive claim form (publishing.service.gov.uk) you can see the questions asked.

calcotti

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/
The only bit of guidance I don't agree with is the bit that says it's best to get someone to fill in Q49 the statement by someone who knows you. Great if you can but don't worry if you can't, I never have.
As with all disability benefits it isn't about diagnosis, it's about the impact of ill health on the ability to do things.

Newly_retired

Good advice from Calcotti above.
When my mother applied, she was far too keen to talk about how well she coped with her difficulties. It was a matter of pride to her not to complain. She had to be persuaded to admit to and explain her difficulties eg with bathing, dressing, preparing meals, to succeed in her claim. Also it is a matter of what help is needed, not whether that help is provided.

xxxxxxxx

Thread Hijack
Does anyone know what they define as night and day? and activities that qualify? 
Two or more activities in the night are required  
Things we have are:
Help with undressing before bed and getting dressed in the morning 
Help into and out of bed & pulling up duvet to cover them
Walking assist to and from bathroom during night.   
Assistance required for washing and brushing teeth and again in morning. 
Occasional pooing themselves in bed or on the way to the toilet which then requires cleaning.  

I am wondering if the going to bed and getting up activities are night time related or daytime related washing/dressing/brushing teeth  and how often the pooing would need to be to be relevant. 

elsien

I would say the getting ready for bed, teeth etc is a daytime activity.
How frequent is the support to the bathroom during the night, and the accidents? 

According to the Age Uk fact sheet for Night time

You need to show either you (1) require prolonged or repeated attention in connection with your bodily functions, or (2) require another person to be awake for a prolonged period or at frequent intervals to watch over you, to avoid substantial danger to yourself or others.

Robbie64

For AA purposes nightime means when the household has closed down and gone to bed. There is no fixed time which sets when this will be.

Activities such as getting ready for bed and getting someone into bed and the opposite, getting someone out of bed in the morning are daytime activities. Any activities which take place between the two are therefore by definition night time activities. From the list posted above:

Help with undressing before bed and getting dressed in the morning 
Help into and out of bed & pulling up duvet to cover them
Walking assist to and from bathroom during night.   
Assistance required for washing and brushing teeth and again in morning. 
Occasional pooing themselves in bed or on the way to the toilet which then requires cleaning. 

the ones in bold are nighttime activities though help into and out of bed can also be a night time activity. The others are day time activities.

Between the time the household has closed down and when it opens up again in the morning any care and attention required by the the person who needs assistance is night time care. It can be anything from sitting with the person if required, to watching over them, to helping them out of bed, to the toilet, with any toilet needs, then helping the person from the toilet, back to bed and helping them into bed and to settle. The person may soil themselves or the bed, so changing clothing, bedding etc will be necessary. They may need help with medication or having a glass of water.

The test requires either two or more activities of care, with no time requirements, or a single episode which lasts at least 20 minutes.

calcotti

xxxxxxxx said:

Thread Hijack
Does anyone know what they define as night and day? and activities that qualify? 
Two or more activities in the night are required  
Things we have are:
Help with undressing before bed and getting dressed in the morning 
Help into and out of bed & pulling up duvet to cover them
Walking assist to and from bathroom during night.   
Assistance required for washing and brushing teeth and again in morning. 
Occasional pooing themselves in bed or on the way to the toilet which then requires cleaning.  

I am wondering if the going to bed and getting up activities are night time related or daytime related washing/dressing/brushing teeth  and how often the pooing would need to be to be relevant. 

The best way to understand this is to look at the claim form.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form.
Dressing/undressing are listed in the daytime activities as are washing bathing and getting in and out of bed.
I always consider night time activities to be what happens between being first settled in bed and then being awake ready to get up in the morning - so help going to wc, changing sheets due to incontinence, being guiding back to bed if confused etc. See pages 23 and 24.

[Deleted User]

Both my dad and mil did it with help from Age UK

chrichi

Provide enough evidence on the form so that the person making the decision can justify to their boss why they are awarding the money.

Here is a link to the official guidance that those decision makers use:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/658374/dmgch61.pdf

ceewash

OK in the process of filling it in for mother. People who have experience of this benefit, will it be enough to say she has hearing problems, answering phone, no confidence with walking unaided after a couple of falls, beginnings of memory loss and confusion with dates and appointments. Dad is around to help with things around house, lifting, cooking and driving. Does any of that sound relevant?