Attendance allowance

Jmoo

Hi,

My mum is 66 and suffers from fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis. Since my dad died she has become more isolated, and with lockdown her symptoms seem to be worsening. We now have to visit on a daily basis to help her with basic tasks - from sorting her clothes out to ensuring she's having a proper meal and to helping with lifting or even undoing jars.

I applied for her to receive attendance allowance but DWP have rejected it as she doesn't need help with things like going to the toilet or having a shower. In their eyes she doesn't need round-the-clock care so does not qualify.

I'm not entirely satisified with that outcome given the nature of the amount of evidence I'd supplied, but can understand the point about round-the-clock care. But without us giving up time to visit daily I feel she'd be in a bad place.

Is it worth disputing the outcome or is it a lost cause?

KxMx

Definitely appeal, you have nothing to lose.

An organisation such as AgeUK or Citizens Advice may be able to help, they generally know the best language to use etc. 

Alice_Holt

Worth appealing if you detailed her personal care needs on the AA form, and not just the household tasks she requires help with.

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/953-other-benefits/2748-attendance-allowance
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs34_attendance_allowance_fcs.pdf

If she has personal care needs, but you didn't explain this fully on the form I would suggest reapplying with help from Age UK or Citizens Advice:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/

poppy12345

It depends what sort of help is needed (even if no help is given)and how often she needs this help. Mobility isn't considered with AA. Housework, shopping etc is not considered for AA. When you say lifting what exactly do you mean by this? Sorting out clothes? do you mean she needs help with getting dressed? How often does she need this help?

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

MalMonroe

I would definitely dispute this.

Some years ago my Mum applied and was turned down but she really needed the help. My brother and I then prepared an appeal and put as much detail as we possibly could, things my Mum thought were trivial but actually weren't. Like she could not get upstairs to bed without stopping several times and hanging on the bannister. She couldn't prepare and cook a meal on her own, even though we supplied the groceries. Every single thing she wasn't able to do, and she sometimes needed help going to the loo. (Some things she thought were embarrassing but which needed to be listed.) She did get the AA on appeal because she couldn't manage alone, even though she didn't need 24 hour care, she did need some or she wouldn't have been able to eat regular meals or sometimes go to the loo or look after herself in the basic way that all people need.

That's the kind of thing you need to emphasise. When you say, "sorting her clothes out to ensuring she's having a proper meal and to helping with lifting or even undoing jars." these things need to be explained. Such as you need to sort her clothes and help her to get dressed or she'd be in her nightclothes all the time. And you having to sort out ingredients and make her a meal to ensure that she eats properly three times every day. And the fact that if she is unable to open jars, she might not be able to have certain foods or even have a cup of coffee. What things need lifting? These all need to be thoroughly explained. The things you put on the original form, but with clearer and far more precise explanations.  It takes time but it's well worth it. 

As others have said, Citizens Advice can also help with submitting an appeal.

I also helped an elderly neighbour (sadly now deceased) with her AA appeal because she was partially sighted - as well as other disabilities - but was still declined until all was explained in full detail on her appeal form. 

We did learn that many Attendance Allowance applications are refused simply because not enough detail is given. And that many applications are refused and people don't appeal because they just give up and feel there's no point, or they're disheartened and can't bear another failure. Many people are deserving of help and all it takes is a lot of detail and information. 

Sorry to rattle on so but I have read in newspapers more than once that there are so many millions in benefits that are unclaimed by those who need them in the UK. From what you say, I think your Mum is one of them. Good luck! 

Suffolksue

It’s sad ,but particularly with the AA form you have to Accentuate the Negative .
second getting Age UK /CAB involved ,they know the language to use 

teddysmum

The mention of no payment, if 24 hour care is not needed, is nonsense , as I get daytime only, because any help at night is rarely needed.