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Elderly parents
Original poster

Attendance Allowance

31 replies

FlatOutAgain · 24/09/2022 13:52

Hi, I am completing the AA form for my mum who has been diagnosed with Alzheimers.

Should I fill it out as if she is answering it, as in 'I feel like' or 'I need help with'

Or do I put it as 'My mum has...'

I am completing the form as I have PoA for Finance so it is my name/signature on the form

thank you very much

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Borntobeamum · 20/10/2022 12:49

I submitted the form a couple of weeks ago for my DM. I received a text saying they’d got it and I was phoned last week by a really lovely lady who asked for the code so she could access the LPA.
She said she’d looked at the form and I’d receive a letter saying they were looking into the request for Disable Living Allowance, and not to panic as because DM already get DLA, it’s sort of reassessed and looking into tiger with the Attendance Allowance.
I certainly got the impression this lady knew what she was doing, unlike other departments/companies I’m also dealing with.

CockroachCluster · 26/09/2022 17:38

EdnaMole · 24/09/2022 14:07

I have recently completed one for my dad and as advised did it based on his worst days. Does anyone know how long the response times are at the moment for finding out if they’ve been granted it or not?

I filled in a form for my mum (used "I have difficulty...." etc, I talked about the questions with her and DF. She agreed with me that it might be distressing for her to read it through so she just signed it, luckily she trusts me!).
DWP received it on September 14. My mum received an award letter today (25th) and money has appeared in their account, it was much faster than I expected.

They called me last week about something, the man I spoke to was sensitive, understanding and had loads of common sense. I was very impressed with the process, though it was quite hard work getting all the information together.

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 16:46

Thank you

Regarding the LPoA the Office of the Public Guardian OPG have a service whereby you can register you LPoA. After you do this you receive an activation code that you can use to link to your LPoA. Once done then you just send a link to the organisation/person requesting the LPoA. For example with AA the form asks if you have an online LPoA. I set them up after seeing this and the form goes onto say they will be intouch for a link. I spoke to the OPG and they said that for each request a new link is provided and you can track to see if the requestor has viewed the LPoA. This saves so much time as in the past I have had to send it all but now its all electronic.

www.gov.uk/use-lasting-power-of-attorney

Thanks

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Honeysuckle16 · 25/09/2022 16:30

I had to fill out this form and received very good advice from Help the Aged. They recommended including a typical daily routine which included the help needed. Any medical professionals that you list are likely to be contacted to confirm the information given.

Seventygoingunder · 25/09/2022 16:09

And definitely request a form for your Dad

Seventygoingunder · 25/09/2022 16:08

If you are signing it on her behalf make sure to enclose a copy of POA docs for property and financial affairs so as not to delay processing it

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 16:03

Initially AA for mum but as I have been completing it (now done just for Dh to check later) it seems as if Dad would also qualify as he has a lot of falls. He has seen all the appropriate organisations and had the house assessed for his needs with rails, toilet, chairs etc. fitted/adapted plus a new walker (not that he uses it). We have a button for him to call a warden (Council service) but he never wears it even though he has been stranded several times with calls to us.

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TwiggletLover · 25/09/2022 15:54

We've just been through this for my Dad. I strongly recommend getting help with filling out. We are lucky as their is a charity in the area where he lives who provide this service

ivykaty44 · 25/09/2022 15:52

So are you applying for AA for both parents?

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 15:45

Thank you again for the replies

The form says:

  1. Which allowance does the first person named above receive? (Please tick)

Then a range of options. Hopefully she will have AA in the next few weeks or so with the application I will send tomorrow.

Sorry for any confusion. Mum and Dad live together. Mum has Alzheimers and Dad has a wide range of physical disabilites, mostly linked to his type 2 diabetes but cognitively he is ok (ish).

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ivykaty44 · 25/09/2022 15:18

AA just to be sure as the form seems to say you need it but the website suggests you do not.

most council tax forms seem to suggest you need it - but reality is you don’t need it - a diagnosed from go and form signed should be sufficient with date of diagnosis

ivykaty44 · 25/09/2022 15:17

I am not sure what this means. My mum and dad live together and she has diagnosed alzheimers. Is this saying that she is not eligible?

it means if more than 2 adults live in the property - so as it’s just your mum and dad you would be entitled to 25% discount = single person rate if c/tax

yes your mum is eligible and from the date of diagnosis, so you should get it back paid

it will be charged as if it’s just your dad living in the property

hth

ivykaty44 · 25/09/2022 15:13

@quicklybeendrivenmad

if both parents have dementia then they should get 100% off c/tax

you write parents, so not sure if you mean both or one parent

florentina1 · 25/09/2022 11:04

If your mum has any other conditions, it is a good idea to list these also. Attaching a copy of her repeat prescription form helps too.

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 10:59

Thank you. I will call the council tax office tomorrow re: AA just to be sure as the form seems to say you need it but the website suggests you do not. I have a good relationship with mum's GP so no issue there at all. Unfortunately we speak at least once every two weeks about either mum or dad.

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quicklybeendrivenmad · 25/09/2022 10:39

For the council tax, the doctor just signed the form for my parents and they got the discount, and yes they will qualify for a 25% discount

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 10:36

According to the form it says mum needs to be in receipt of AA which it what I am currently applying for

thank you

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Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 25/09/2022 10:30

Thank you

I did not know about council tax. I just looked at the website which says

If all but one of the residents is severely mentally impaired a 25% disregard discount will apply.
If two or more adults live in the property and are not disregarded, no discount or exemption will apply regardless of how many occupiers are severely mentally impaired.

I am not sure what this means. My mum and dad live together and she has diagnosed alzheimers. Is this saying that she is not eligible?

Not sure what the wording is saying - thank you

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ivykaty44 · 25/09/2022 10:20

Make sure you get a firm from council tax posted to your mother - to stop paying council tax for your mum

if she lives in the house alone then it’s 100% backdated to date if diagnosis, if living with one other adult it’s 25% off as in single adult household

gp may well need to sign form

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/09/2022 10:17

EdnaMole · 24/09/2022 14:07

I have recently completed one for my dad and as advised did it based on his worst days. Does anyone know how long the response times are at the moment for finding out if they’ve been granted it or not?

The other equally important bit of advice is “a need that is met is still a need”. So ignore all the things you have put in place, and the workarounds she has put in place herself (eg sliding her plate of dinner along the work surface because she can no longer pick up that weight) and list all her needs, not just the ones that still remain after all the things that have been put in place.

MereDintofPandiculation · 25/09/2022 10:11

Hmmph · 24/09/2022 14:04

It makes me so cross that there is a form to complete at all. When someone has got Alzheimer's of course they are going to need a lot of help.

Not necessarily. Alzheimers takes a long time to impair living to the extent of needing help, there isn’t enough money in the system to provide help for everyone, so it is based on needs. Just having an Alzheimers diagnosis doesn’t necessarily mean you have a high level of need.

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 24/09/2022 16:31

I have changed the wording to 'she does/has ...' It seems to read much better now.

Thank you

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Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 24/09/2022 14:08

I should have completed it a long time ago but wrongly believed that she needed the diagnosis which she now has.

Anyone following my very long thread on her about mum a while back will know she calls out ambulances. She had another on this week but we have so many safety nets in place now we can deal with it quickly without her going into hospital. She is still making Dad's life a misery. We had the Admiral nurse out yesterday to help him but mum dominated the conversation and refused help on his behalf. I could cry

Thank you

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EdnaMole · 24/09/2022 14:07

I have recently completed one for my dad and as advised did it based on his worst days. Does anyone know how long the response times are at the moment for finding out if they’ve been granted it or not?

Original poster
FlatOutAgain · 24/09/2022 14:05

Thank you very much

I completed it as if it were my mum so ....I this and I that

I think from the answers I will leave it as is because it has taken long enough to complete already as I keep second guessing myself. Mum is not capable of chatting about it and I know everything as I have to deal with it all. It's just that Dh and I have differing opinions. He said fill it out as .....mum/she...

I would hope that leaving as if mum had completed it is fine and should not be a barrier to getting the help

thank you again

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