Attendance allowance

Rubyroobs

Robbie64 said:

Do AA not check with GPs? Two weeks from submitting a claim to first payment seems incredibly quick. 

I've heard a few people saying they have completed the new online form and received decisions within a couple of weeks. Unsure if it gives the option to upload medical evidence so they surely must check with GP ? 

whizzywoo

Rubyroobs said:

Robbie64 said:

Do AA not check with GPs? Two weeks from submitting a claim to first payment seems incredibly quick. 

I've heard a few people saying they have completed the new online form and received decisions within a couple of weeks. Unsure if it gives the option to upload medical evidence so they surely must check with GP ? 

I completed the very long application form a few years ago.  It took less than a month and to my knowledge they never contacted my GP, nor did they ask for medical evidence.  I know the processing times became very long shortly after my application was decided but it looks as if they've streamlined the process recently.  

andygb

dnpark38 said:

If you need help during the night you can claim the higher rate.
You can possibly have a blue badge for car parking. Also you might be able to get a reduction in Council tax, called "Disregard"

I have tried to apply for a blue badge from our local council, but the system/software is very bad. I have to upload endless documents and letters and even if I keep them on the desktop ready to upload, their system times out. If I was a very cynical person, I would think it was deliberate.

Rubyroobs

andygb said:

dnpark38 said:

If you need help during the night you can claim the higher rate.
You can possibly have a blue badge for car parking. Also you might be able to get a reduction in Council tax, called "Disregard"

I have tried to apply for a blue badge from our local council, but the system/software is very bad. I have to upload endless documents and letters and even if I keep them on the desktop ready to upload, their system times out. If I was a very cynical person, I would think it was deliberate.

I do a lot of Blue badge applications for others and ours is a nightmare too. once correctly submitted though they are very efficient but the application process is off putting.

Lorian

andygb said:

dnpark38 said:

If you need help during the night you can claim the higher rate.
You can possibly have a blue badge for car parking. Also you might be able to get a reduction in Council tax, called "Disregard"

I have tried to apply for a blue badge from our local council, but the system/software is very bad. I have to upload endless documents and letters and even if I keep them on the desktop ready to upload, their system times out. If I was a very cynical person, I would think it was deliberate.

I have this anytime I submit forms or photos to my local council. Especially with blue badge or other permit applications the fix has always been to reduce the size (resolution) of the documents sending to them.

Grey_Critic

Problem with applying for a Blue Badge is you cannot download a copy. It is done live. You start and it asks a question for which you have to searc and of course it times out. I did mine via Carers Trust (they support me with my wife) and they gave me a list they have compiled for what indo/docs needed.

Really is badly thought out and once submitted it can take upto 6 months with some local authorities whilst others manage it in a few weeks.

andygb

Grey_Critic said:

Problem with applying for a Blue Badge is you cannot download a copy. It is done live. You start and it asks a question for which you have to searc and of course it times out. I did mine via Carers Trust (they support me with my wife) and they gave me a list they have compiled for what indo/docs needed.

Really is badly thought out and once submitted it can take upto 6 months with some local authorities whilst others manage it in a few weeks.

I just get so frustrated with all this stuff now, I experienced exactly what you said.

Murphybear

Robbie64 said:

Do AA not check with GPs? Two weeks from submitting a claim to first payment seems incredibly quick. 

I’ve helped a lot of people get Attendance Allowance and so far from what they have said their GPs haven’t been contacted.  I think this is because AA is not awarded because people have a specific medical issue but whether they need help or care as a result of it.  It is possible that GPs wouldn’t be aware of this.  I have never discussed my care needs with my GP.  

Ive noticed the online application form is much more streamlined that the paper form and most questions are answered by tick boxes instead of having to write a few paragraphs.  I’m guessing that the forms can be easily scanned now which would account for the much faster throughput.