Attendance Allowance for mobility issues/arthritis

Fantastic,so pleased !

That’s amazing. I must do my mums. What were the main points you changed that altered the decision ?

I am really pleased for you x

Neither does mine, it just takes her ages and she uses furniture to get herself there.It’s not the help you get, it’s the help you need.

She also uses stairs, it just takes her a long time, one step at a time, has to pause, she also ties a makeshift rope around the top bannister to pull herself up. It can take her 30 mins in total. You have to really think about each question and what it involves. She refuses to sleep downstairs or have a downstairs loo despite having a ton of rooms. She likes her home as it is.
Feel free to PM me, I’ll try to help. You’ll need to ask for a mandatory reconsideration.

Just apply for it.... Make sure you put her bad days on it as she may need further help shortly...

Really appreciate your help. We are rejected as my mum doesn’t need help in the night with the toilet.

That’s not quite right. If you’re on PIP before state pension age, it can continue. If you start claiming after you reach state pension age, it has to be Attendance Allowance.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/personal-independence-payment-fact-sheets/pip-handbook#:~:text=PIP%20cannot%20be%20claimed%20from,satisfy%20the%20conditions%20of%20entitlement.

Pip is for people with disabilities who are between 16 and state pension age, attendance allowance is for those over state pension age

@orangetree1999 I hope your mum’s application is successful.

For anyone thinking of applying, Age UK can help. https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/information-guides/ageukig49_attendance_allowance_inf.pdf

Your DM would be entitled if you fill the form correctly.

There’s a lot of inaccurate advice on this thread.

You describe the worst day.
You should go in to detail and repeat yourself.
I’ve worked in benefits, assessed them and helped people claim for them.
My own DM receives AA for arthritis and mobility issues only.

You specify the task, how long it takes, the pain involved etc.
Does she use aids to dress herself or only buy certain clothing, without buttons/zips, slip on shoes, perhaps she can’t wear socks because she can’t reach. Does she fall? Has she been injured? Does she takes meds?

@Pearl97 You ask for a mandatory reconsideration in the first instance.

In case it’s useful to anyone else - fill in describing her needs, even if her needs have been fulfilled. If she can’t get upstairs, say that. Don’t think “well, she’s got a stairlift so stairs aren’t a problem”.

I did only say "seems" excessive, not "was" excessive...they certainly want details.

I'm used to filling out forms, I found it difficult and it took me hours like I said. I don't think it was excessive,I know people who don't even bother and give up as it's too hard. I have taken copies of every page so in 3 years it should be slightly easier unless of course they change to form.

Unfortunately she has lots of them so it isn't benefit fraud.

I don't remember it being an "appeal" as such, more that there were instructions telling us we (anyone) could apply again, with no time barrier.

Mum mum was denied it as she doesn’t need personal care. Did people appeal?

I would agree this seems excessive, however, as I described in my PP, my situation was an example of how not saying enough got my MIL refused. There is a balance I guess.

Completely unnecessary and bad advice. No wonder it took you 10 hours! You do not need a lot of detail at all.

@MereDintofPandiculation don't do it on the basis of that day last February when she was going down with a cold, and hadn't slept all night and was finding everything particularly difficult.

Nobody was suggesting that at all. Only you.

The forms advise you to describe the current situation, and PP's were saying to describe the "worst" of the days in the present time, not one specific day in the past when they were particularly off.

Ex SW reminded me that "a need that is met is still a need". So if she gets Meals on Wheels and never has to cook, still put down that she is unable to prepare meals (and why). I also put in that he couldn't carry a plate from work surface to table. just slid it along the worksurface to where he wanted to eat.

Put everything in where it is relevant, even if you repeat yourself. For example, if she can't stand unaided, then put this in when you're talking about washing and showering, preparing meals. getting undressed for bed.

Go through every bit of the day in detail. She may be able to wash, but can she hold her arms above her head to wash her hair?

And remember what you do for her - do you have to get her medicines for her? Organise them into a daily pill box? Remeing her to have her lunch?

Don't take the "worst day" too literally. Describe the needs on the bad days, even when there are days when she can manage (remember the only way now is down). But don't do it on the basis of that day last February when she was going down with a cold, and hadn't slept all night and was finding everything particularly difficult.

Because most 89 year olds have some difficulties and they don't want to give it to everyone.

That would be benefit fraud.

It has to be a reasonably regular "bad day", not the one day last year when for some reason she was finding things really difficult which she usually does without difficulty.