Attendance Allowance refused

Scottish_Dorset

Hi,

My mother-in-law applied for AA last year, or at least her son did in her behalf, it was turned down.  She is 89, lives on her own and has several minor medical conditions: long term asthma, arthritis in her hands, very poor hearing and a permanent undiagnosed shake.  She lives alone and manages to cope but her health is slowly diminishing, with everything taking her longer to do.  She can no longer have a bath as she can't get in and out.  She can't walk very far because of her asthma.  She struggles using her right hand to do things. 

When her application from was filled in, she was adamant that her health and abilities were limited to the bare facts.  Because she has lived like this this for so long, it is difficult for her to see how much of struggle some things are.   She has a small amount of saving and owns her house, which is slowly falling down around her ears.  

I would like to re-apply for the AA and also for a Blue Badge for her.  She is a proud, stubborn and mainly independent woman, but I would like to try and make life easier for her.  Any suggestion or advice for about re-applying?

Many thanks.

HillStreetBlues

When was it turned down?

Scottish_Dorset

HillStreetBlues said:

When was it turned down?

Last year, after she applied.

Snot

Maybe the question was meant to be WHY was it turned down.

Has she had any referrals to the falls clinic or regular visits from the District nurses etc;  I found this 3rd party evidence was the key to getting AA approved.

HillStreetBlues

Scottish_Dorset said:

HillStreetBlues said:

When was it turned down?

Last year, after she applied.

Was it in the last 13 months? as if so you should be able to appeal that decision rather than make another claim.

ButterCheese

As above, but it is also important to try to get your mother to own up to whatever ailments she has.  My Gran was the same, she'd always say she was fine when she went to the Doctors.  It wasn't until we explained the consequences (e.g us as carers losing out, making life more difficult etc etc) that she admitted that she was struggling.  They think they are robbing the system but in fact they are robbing themselves and their loved ones/carers

Brie

Get Citizens Advice or Age UK to help with the application.  They will know the right language to use.

In my experience it will be a case of "can you do.....?" questions and if mom answers "yes" then this won't go anywhere.  So it has to be a case of "can you get on the bus?"  and the answer has to be more of "yes I can but only if I can be sure I'm given time to sit before the bus moves off as otherwise I'll fall over."  and "can you walk to the end of your drive?" and again "yes but only if supported by my zimmer and only once every couple of weeks as I need to recover from this much activity as it's too wearing on me".