Applying for attendance allowance, advice?

Newly_retired

Have you looked at the form? The questions are very specific, lots of boxes to tick, space to write more relevant detail, give examples.
if Dad does certain things, is that habit, choice or necessity? Can you explain why mum needs that help?

ceewash

Yes thanks I've read the forms. Because we are not there all the time not sure how much is necessity. Just gathering my own information before I take the forms to them. Mum does not have much to do with doctors so the 'poor memory and confusion' has not been officially diagnosed as anything. It has taken me some time to persuade her to let me apply for AA for her.
Just interested in other people's experiences.

elsien

Have you read the link provided earlier?
It's not enough to say that she has memory loss and confusion, you need to be very specific about the impact that this has. Would she remember to take medication without being prompted; would she take the right ones at the rights times or would she forget and either take it twice or not take it at all.
If dad wasn't there to help with cooking, in ways would she have difficulty? Would she remember to eat, would she be able to peel and cut stuff up, would she know what temperature to use, how long things take to cook, check food safety? The devil is in the detail. 
My grandmother had all her marbles but needed support due to physical ill health. She could hardly walk and her eyesight was very poor so she had to have carers 3x a day (lived on her own.) Think about how mum would manage without dad, because that's where the support needs are. 

ceewash

Thanks. Those examples are really helpful. I suppose I'm really wondering if her situation would be considered bad enough to warrant the AA. But as you say - without Dad it would be a different story.

calcotti

ceewash said:

Thanks. Those examples are really helpful. I suppose I'm really wondering if her situation would be considered bad enough to warrant the AA. But as you say - without Dad it would be a different story.

The test is whether or not she needs frequent assistance with or supervision managing her personal needs. Anecdotal detail is helpful to illustrate the issues.

justworriedabit

ceewash said:

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?

Hi OP
I helped a few people complete them and gave tips on how to complete. for the record I was not an expert but been on DLA/AA training, a 3 day thing this was well over 10 years ago and you forget what you don't use.

Tell them if you needs -   exact help she needs, EG
Needs help with bathing - dad fills the bath as mum can't be trusted, she is physically helped in and out and helped with washing down especially the hair and feet as she can't reach and needs prompting.
Unable to carry her food from the kitchen due to falls and risk of falls, unsteady on her feet so has to be helped/supervised all hot meals and snacks/drinks prepared put by her chair/table
Unable to reach the front door on time to answer it.
Needs help at times getting off the bed.
Needs help with dressing as unable to put on her tights/scoks, etc.
Unable to go out unsupervised due to lack of mobility
Has blue badge unable to drive.
Last couple of months forgetful, forgets to flush loo, and has left cooker on things boiled over so supervised all hot meals. Leves fridge open, etc.
Unable to get into garden without phyiscal support.
Supervised re eating as can forget to eta

Mum is not able to wash, dress, prepare meals, shopping, manage bills, repairs, etc, etc without phyiscal and or supervison, etc etc

etc - etc - thee is a lot more its coming back as i type but bottom lines - write down what she did wants to do be can't and why not

Certain areas used to have people in the council i think were called welfare rights, etc to help with the completion of these forms

Thanks

Skibunny40

I got help from a local charity who focused on helping people filling out benefit forms, worth checking if you have similar in your area. One thing that surprised me was being told not to list all the gadgets I'd bought to make life easier (dementia clock, grab rail for bed etc) the idea is to list the problems, not the solutions!

Spoonie_Turtle

Skibunny40 said:

I got help from a local charity who focused on helping people filling out benefit forms, worth checking if you have similar in your area. One thing that surprised me was being told not to list all the gadgets I'd bought to make life easier (dementia clock, grab rail for bed etc) the idea is to list the problems, not the solutions!

If it's anything like PIP they'd have to justify why aids* alone aren't sufficient, and why human assistance or supervision is needed. 
*for PIP, specifically 'aids that the person would be reasonably expected to use'

I don't know if that is the case for DLA/AA or not, but mentioning it just in case.