Can my father get attendance allowance? 24 January at 10:48AM in Pensions, annuities & retirement planning 23 replies 1K views

Greg89

Thank you all and how much would he get as he gets full government pension?

Flugelhorn

Greg89 said:

Thank you all and how much would he get as he gets full government pension?

there are 2 levels (higher and lower) depending on how much help he needs 

Rate	Level of help you need
Lower rate - £61.85	Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night
Higher rate - £92.40	Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 6 months or less to live

GrannyKate

For AA the rates are as set out by Flugelhorn - his other income is irrelevant for this benefit

elsien

It does depend if he actually wants to claim as well. My grandmother was entitled to it but it took a long time to come round to the idea of applying because it meant that she had to see herself differently as someone needing support, not the independent person that she thought she still was in her head. Plus she’d got a real bee in her bonnet about not claiming benefits because other people needed it more than she did.

Just putting that out there because before anyone dives into a making a claim the person does need to be on board with the idea. 

Flugelhorn

elsien said:

It does depend if he actually wants to claim as well. My grandmother was entitled to it but it took a long time to come round to the idea of applying because it meant that she had to see herself differently as someone needing support, not the independent person that she thought she still was in her head. Plus she’d got a real bee in her bonnet about not claiming benefits because other people needed it more than she did.

Just putting that out there because before anyone dives into a making a claim the person does need to be on board with the idea. 

agree it can be a bit like that - our lot  ended up being OK as it wasn't "means tested" and therefore they were happy to go ahead with the applications. Heaven-forbid they should have to tell anyone what they had in the bank 

trevjl

My mother was the same. Didn't want to know. "I've never claimed anything in my life" was her answer everytime I mentioned it. She lives on just SP and a £1200 from another widows pension.
I eventually convinced her by (and this was in 2020) saying that as the government seemed to have billions to chuck about to all and sundry I am sure they wont miss sixty quid to help you.

GrannyKate

Agree with others that there can be emotional difficulties over applying.  My brother wouldn't - I think he thought it meant he had to acknowledge what he wasn't ready to - if you see what I mean.  Late husband agreed to apply and I must admit the money was useful to cover costs such as extra heating, car parking (sometimes but not always free), bridge tolls (again free for some things but not others), wasted food, petrol etc. 

diystarter7

Greg89 said:

My father is getting government pension and just wish to know if he can get attendance allowance?

If so will he have to fill in an online form 

Thanks 

Hi
Its non means tested when I last worked in the coucil and went on training to learn about everyhting
I met hundreds of clients a year and many were in the older groups and I'd often tell them re AA.
I found that those that appeared clearly entitled were often very proud people that had worked all of their lives, had their own property and at times they could easily do with more money to heat the place, pay a gardenr and help them get a bit more private home hep - but they were too proud to claim.

If dad agrees go for it. Once you have done that come back here and we may may be able to help with tops for compelting the form, ie not lying but ensuring dad does not overstte his abilities as often many older people do 

Thanks

diystarter7

GrannyKate said:

Agree with others that there can be emotional difficulties over applying.  My brother wouldn't - I think he thought it meant he had to acknowledge what he wasn't ready to - if you see what I mean.  Late husband agreed to apply and I must admit the money was useful to cover costs such as extra heating, car parking (sometimes but not always free), bridge tolls (again free for some things but not others), wasted food, petrol etc. 

Hi
What you could do is say to them as I used to clients of mine, 'its your money, something you paid for vai taxes to make life easier for you if you become ill, less able etc and its not a handout/charity'   etc etc. It often worked possible because I was an outsider ie not family and or what I said,

Thanks

calcotti

Apart from the AgeUK link that Alice provided earlier you can also look at
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/