Attendance Allowance

[Guardsman18]

I am looking for some advice on the above. I am not sure how I feel about it so thought I would ask for opinions.

My DM is 83 now and whilst she doesn't need constant care, my DB is at her house a lot of the time. I do whatever she asks me to do which isn't a lot as my DB seems to be taking on more and more and is happy to do this. I work part time, he's retired.

Should she claim attendance allowance just because she can? I understand it's not means tested? She isn't wealthy but is definitely not short of money as she no longer goes out much or has holidays.

I'm a bit on the fence over this. On the one hand I feel well why not - she pays for a cleaner, someone to cut the lawn and everything else around the house. She can't go out alone (I or DB take her).

She eats well (meals delivered and DB) but has a heart condition as well as walking very slowly with a stick or a wheeler thingy.

She hasn't had a bath in years but showers with the use of a perching stool and just being very careful. She has had a few falls in the past few years but nothing since we took up the rugs! She sleeps downstairs since the last fall.

I would really appreciate any comments. Thank you.

[Knittedfairies]

Have a look here to see if she is eligible to claim. If she is, then why wouldn't she claim it?

[Piglet208]

I think you should claim. Her circumstances are only going deteriorate with age and the money can be used to put in more care if required. My mum is now in a care home, self funding. She gets no other help from the state.

[starfishmummy]

Attendance allowance is all about the help she needs for certain daily tasks whether kr not she gets thst help. She has help - cleaner, meals cooked, sounds as if she needs help bathing so yes, put a claim in . We found Age UK were realy helpful for filling in the form - they know the sort if things that she needs to include

[Guardsman18]

Thanks for your replies.

Knitted - because she doesn't actually need it (yet). I know it's not up to me to police the way the DWP work but it just seems odd that if you can afford to pay, then maybe you should. Although she could live to be over 100 and I might feel differently then!

Thanks Piglet. Yes I will get her to claim it. You're right. A few months ago, she asked me to promise her that I wouldn't put her in a home and that she could stay in her own house. The lady who cleans for her is also a carer and has offered to help in that way if needed.
It would pay for that for sure.

[ThePittts]

I think you should claim, as pp said, it helps with the cost of extra help, gardener cleaner etc.

[Guardsman18]

Thanks starfish. I'll contact them. We did try to fill out a form last year but she was a bit proud of how accomplished she was at getting on on her own! (My DF died less than 2 years ago). I was advised by Adult Social Services to claim for him as he was terminally ill but he died before the forms were completed.

[Bargebill19]

Claim it. It is a gateway claim in that once this is claimed and awarded you can claim other allowances as she needs them. It is there to make her life easier. Please claim as if it was the worst day ever for her - it is points based. See the talking point forum on the Alzheimer’s uk website as that gives lots of good advice if you can’t see the local cab office. The allowance is not just for dementia - it’s just that I know they give clear easy to follow advice.
The government is considering moving attendance allowance to either a fixed pot dished out by local council or making it means tested benefit. If this happens, those already on it should not be affected, but it could make it very difficult to claim in the future.

[Alsohuman]

Please claim it. My mum should have had it for years but Dad refused to allow me to claim it for her. I’m still angry about it, it would have paid for their cleaner, chiropodist and all sorts of bits and pieces that made life easier.

[thesandwich]

Do claim. And as mentioned on other threads ,order a form by post so it will be date stamped and payment backdated. Dm got an extra £300
Seek help from carers uk or age uk to complete the form- they know the right language

[MereDintofPandiculation]

it just seems odd that if you can afford to pay, then maybe you should. As she gets older she will be paying through the nose. And if she gets as far as a care home or nursing home, she'll be looking at about £4000 a month, and she'll be paying about 40% more than council funded people in the same home. In other words, public funds will be more than reimbursed for anything paid out in attendance allowance.

As to it being a gateway benefit, the only think I've found where it helps is Blue Badge scheme - is there anything else that it helps with?

[AnotherEmma]

I think she should claim attendance allowance for the following reasons:

• she is entitled to it
  
• it should make it easier for her to get a blue badge
  
• if your brother is not working and is looking after her for 35+ hours a week, he could claim Carers allowance and get National Insurance credits which count towards his state pension - but only if she's on attendance allowance

[defnotadomesticgoddess]

I have just filled the form with my dad. There were lots of things he needs help with daily that he hadn’t thought of/realised as my mum or I just do them for him. Also I’ve heard it’s common to get turned down and have to appeal. We’re still waiting for his to be decided on. They’re refusing to get a cleaner (which they need) until they get his attendance allowance.

[defnotadomesticgoddess]

What I meant to say is I would claim it and fill the form in together

[AnotherEmma]

To answer Mere's question
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/attendance-allowance/claiming-attendance-allowance/extra-benefits-and-help-you-can-get/

[Bargebill19]

It’s a gateway benefit to council tax reduction should she suffer from dementia, local authority grants, carers allowance should someone who is NOT retired and earns less than £110 per week start to care for her. There are others .. but at the moment I can’t think what they are.

[Bargebill19]

The local authority grants can include awards to those who care and/or live with her. They are usually towards something such as a holiday for that person. Local authorities don’t advertise them and they need to be contacted directly.
As someone else said - blue badge scheme and tax credits for someone who cars full time for her towards their pension.

[tegucigalpa13]

I suggest you contact Age UK and get them to help you fill in the form.

[MyDcAreMarvel]

Also I’ve heard it’s common to get turned down and have to appeal.
With pip or dla yes, but not with AA it’s rarely refused.

[bigbluebus]

My DM claimed it after DF died (he had been her carer). I looked at the forms and thought she wouldn't qualify but someone from the Local Authority came to her house and filled the forms in for her and shd got the higher rate. She lived in Wales and her care costs were capped at £50pw at the time - AA was £80ish. She could have afforded to pay the £50 herself but as the LA filled the forms in I felt she was entitled to it.

[Purplewithred]

Echo the above: definitely worth getting Age UK, Independent Age or Citizens Advice to help with the application.

Please don't promise 'never to put her in a home' - depending on what happens it could possibly be the only way she can stay safe and properly cared for (especially if she develops dementia). You could end up wracked with guilt for putting her in one or with your life wrecked trying to keep her safe and well in her home. If she really feels that way have a sensible conversation with her - if she can make the decision for herself then it will be her choice; if she can't make the decision for herself then she will need to trust you (or someone else) to do what's best for her.

[thesandwich]

Have you or dB set up lasting power of attourney? V important.
And certainly don’t promise never to put her in a home.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

It’s a gateway benefit... From Emma's link it supports your application for a number of means-tested benefits02

[LizTaylorsFabulousTurban]

I applied for and was successful in getting attendance allowance for my mum and dad. They didn't need it at the time but it meant that they then had more money to pay for care at the end of their lives. It's not means tested for a reason.

[Guardsman18]

This has been so helpful so thank you for all your replies.

Can I use the Fightback people mentioned up thread? I am not sure if that's for PIP and ESA.

[AnotherEmma]

Why would you need to use them?
Age UK and Citizens Advice offer help with Attendance Allowance forms.