Attendance Allowance

My parents didn't want to claim and kept resisting my encouragement for months, because they didn't want to take money that they 'didn't need.'

I finally persuaded them to let me claim AA for my Mum and she was awarded the higher rate. Shortly after she went into care and they are now paying £1000 / week in fees. My dad then swiftly changed his mind about me also claiming for him!

If your DM is eligible then she will receive it, and she should receive it.

florentina1 Yes, good advice

Sorry, what I meant was, there is no point putting that sort of thing on the claim form. They get so many forms and it is better to concentrate on the right disabilities.

It is not for things like housework or gardening so concentrate on her personal needs. The assessment is based on personal needs but attendance allowance can be spent as you wish. One of the effects of disability is that you need to pay for things that other people might well do for themselves, and that includes gardening, housework, having to take taxis, pay for someone to do your shopping.

I would claim as you can put the money aside for the time she will need more care in the home. This is not cheap, even the care provided by LA has to be paid for.

It is not for things like housework or gardening so concentrate on her personal needs.

Help getting dressed, cooking a meal,Taking Medication,Washing herself, using the toilet are the main ones. I enclosed the repeat prescription details as well as writing her meds on the form. She will, most likely, get the lower rate as the higher one is for those who need night time care as well.

If your mum has any prescriptions photo copy then and out them in with the application
Any help your brother gives her make sure it’s mentioned in the form so if she needs help getting dressed, taking her tablets, preparing food personal care put it all down
It’s often better to type it out on a piece of paper and refer to each section on the form on when you type it .
If she needs to help at night to go to the toilet ( such as a commode ) put that in as well
If she needs care for both night and day even if she doesn’t receive from another person it it should mean she gets the higher rate of care

We did for our Mum before she was really bad with Alzheimer's, it paid for a lady to come in twice a day to make sure she'd had her tablets and eaten. She was still going out every day at that stage but she's deteriorated and we get the higher rate now and we pay for weekend care and a cleaner.

Please claim and get the help from Age UK. They didn’t think she would be entitled but got the higher rate. It helps paying for the little extras. My Mum really objected to claiming and still doesn’t want to know anything about it. She has also asked me to promise never to put her in a home. I’ve always said that I would do my utmost to keep her at home but that is why she has to accept claiming AA and any other help to keep her safe because I might not be able to it otherwise.

But the point is that would be fine. What would not be fine is saying that you have a bad day every day if you don't.

I think most people are inclined to understate problems - certainly the person claiming AA is - hence the advice to think about a bad day. As you decline, you adapt, and forget what is normal, so your response "I don't need help washing" may mean "I need a seat by the washbasin, it takes me two hours every morning, and I don't wash my hair, shoulders, back of my neck, feet, because I can't reach. And I can't manage a bath or shower any more. And its so much bother that I don't wash after I've wet myself, and some days I'm too tired to bother at all".

Indeed. And if the condition varies you should give information about how it varies, how many bad days v good etc.

Everyone has good days and bad days but when you are filling in the application answer the questions based on their worst day. That's the advice I got from Age UK and it worked.
I hope that would just a rogue staff member as Age Uk as a charity should not be encouraging people to commit fraud.
You fill the form in based on how the claimant is the majority of the time.

Everyone has good days and bad days but when you are filling in the application answer the questions based on their worst day. That's the advice I got from Age UK and it worked.

I filled in the AA form with the help of a friend who retired from elderly care about 20 years ago, and got the full 24hour rate. Yes, you need help to speak the language and to prompt you on so many of the adaptations made over the years aren't normal but are reflections of a need - but Age UK offer this help, and are very good at it. Save your money for paying for help for CHC which is far more difficult to obtain.

Op you would t need to use fightback! You are really thinking this, AA is not difficult to claim in the way pip and dla can be.
Just fill in the form don’t minimise needs and it will be awarded if criteria is met.

He got the letter yesterday - got it and it’s backdated to December when he got the form 🙌

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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