Backdating Attendance Allowance - DS1500

david_now

Hi,
My mother was diagnosed with terminal illness (less than six moths life expectancy)  in January and advised at the time she was entitled to AA.

We were led to believe that the application was in place but nothing has happened. We only have now received an application form which we need to return with a DS1500.

We hven't got the DS1500 but have been advised we can have one.

When the form is submitted with the DS1500 will the allowance be paid from date of diagnosis, date of application or date of award ?

Is there anything that can be done to backdate claim till date of diagnosis ?

Thanks

calcotti

It will start from the AA claim start date which will be the date stamped on the front of the form posted to you (provided you send it back by the return date stamped on the form). You can't backdate it.

Rubyroobs

I previously worked as a macmillan benefits adviser and this was a common occurrence. Sometimes the health care professionals led patients to believe that an application had been made when what had actually happened was that the health care professional had sent off a Ds1500 off to the DWP via their electronic system but an application had not actually been made. On some occasions, we managed to successfully request that the award be backdated to when the Ds1500 was dated and had been sent. However most of the time the award was made from the date of the application. Do you know if a Ds1500 has been forwarded to the DWP already or are you waiting for it to still be issued. It may be worth speaking to your local Macmillan Benefits team o r the national helpline if the illness is cancer.

Rubyroobs

Just to add also, you do not need to complete the whole AA form if you have a Ds1500 report. There is a box to tick to claim under special rules. You can then skip all of the questions and just sign and date at the end.

calcotti

Rubyroobs said:

I previously worked as a macmillan benefits adviser and this was a common occurrence. Sometimes the health care professionals led patients to believe that an application had been made when what had actually happened was that the health care professional had sent off a Ds1500 off ..

Despite the fact that the DS1500 clearly states that it is not a benefits application!

Rubyroobs

calcotti said:

Rubyroobs said:

I previously worked as a macmillan benefits adviser and this was a common occurrence. Sometimes the health care professionals led patients to believe that an application had been made when what had actually happened was that the health care professional had sent off a Ds1500 off ..

Despite the fact that the DS1500 clearly states that it is not a benefits application!

Yes you would be amazed how often it happens unfortunately.

calcotti

Rubyroobs said:

Yes you would be amazed how often it happens unfortunately.

Sadly, no I wouldn’t.