What evidence is needed for Attendance Allowance-advice welcome!

The form has been really simplified and you no longer have to write narrative accounts of the person's needs.
I did my mums in, i think November of last year and it was approved in 2 weeks!

I help people to claim AA. If for example I am doing it for someone with dementia and the carer has POA and are giving the answers then I usually send a copy of the POA or the code so they can access online. I have only had problems with one where they wanted to see the original POA and it took a lot longer to sort.

Can I ask if the AA form needs to be written in first person if completed and signed by someone else. DH has a POA stamped by OPG, would he need to send the original?

I've just done this online for my mum and dad using my knowledge and access to their medical records online. Chat GPT also helped me phrase things as there's a word count online.

It took 3 weeks for my mum to get a decision and 2 weeks for my dad. They both got the higher limit.

They both "deserve" it as their problems are real but I was expecting to have to put up more of a fight

My dad really balked at receiving benefits for the first time ever. I sold it to him as the replacement for meals on wheels and home helps (which is sort of true) and that was enough for him to change his mind.

You don't need much I don't think. My mum didn't. She just sent some recent hospital letters etc. but she didn't ask anyone to supply any extra info.

Just listed her illnesses, her meds, gave details of all doctors and GP she was under. If they're on PIP already then mention that.

They don't really make you evidence abilities to do daily tasks but if there are carers involved then statements from them would be good. Though I guess they could potentially do a home visit?

I don't think they even made her do an interview. Just filled the forms.

Same for my friend. It seemed pretty straightforward.

But everyone is different obviously. Definitely go for it though.

I submitted an official prescription list rather than one I'd just copied.

I was also advised to describe what the person is like on one of their worst days.

I claimed it for DM and, in my opinion, just filling in the form honestly is all you need to do. We asked the GP for a summary of her medical conditions and medications to make it easier for us to remember it all. Dm gets the lower rate as she does not need assistance overnight

I recently helped my mum make a successful application. I recommend phoning and asking for a hard copy to be sent as the payment is then back dated to the date of the phone call.

A useful piece of advice I read on MN was to consider what adaptations the applicant has had to make to the way they do things. If they can manage to do something but have to do it differently to how they did it when they were well and able bodied, don’t just say they can do it, explain how they have had to adapt. For example, my mum can still put her own shoes on but has to use a shoe horn and can’t wear shoes with zips or laces because her hands are too arthritic to do them up. Also, a lot of the questions ask what help the applicant needs with various tasks. This includes help from equipment as well as from people. My mum washes herself, but has to use a perching stool at the sink as she is too unsteady to stand safely. That counts as ‘help’. Finally, don’t worry about repeating information; put down everything that is relevant to the question you are answering.

They can ask for medication lists and any letters to prove sight or mobility. Its best to add this evidence if you have it to hand.

citizens advice came to mums house and did the form and also a blue badge one. brilliant help.

The form is long and detailed but not complicated.
You need all relevant medical info; meds/surgeries/diagnoses etc.
You need to paint the picture of the applicant on their worst day whilst staying strictly truthful because you give permission for the GP to be contacted for verification.
I applied for - and got - higher level payments for both my parents. They both knew what was written as they had to sign the forms, tho I had to explain to mum about the worst case scenario situation as above.

Good luck with that! When my DF had stage 4/terminal cancer and evidence from the oncologist my DM couldn't get it. As they didn't expect anything and it would be a bonus and advised to apply for they just accepted the decision. The typical older generation who worked hard and wouldn't want to feel as taking but thought well ok, only because I as DC filled in the form and only asked for signatures so as not to burden them with the process.

See if you can get an appointment with the frailty team. Here they will come out and do the form with the patient.

Mum filled the form in online in great detail and had it refused. We contacted Citizens Advice and a very helpful guy completed the form whilst we were speaking to him on the phone. We then got it accepted and backdated. Might be worth you contacting them.

I've just applied for DH who is now receiving the higher rate. I phoned and requested the form in December, so the first backdated payment was nearly £700 that we would have missed out on if we had applied online.

I keep all DH's paperwork in a file, so I pulled out his prescription list, the letter from the consultant confirming his cancer diagnosis and treatment plan, diagnosis letter from his neurologist and the letter ftom the council confirming the adaptions they were coming to fit in the house. Basically what we had to confirm what we were saying.

At 32 pages the form is daunting, but a lot of it is just information; name, address, DOB, GP details, and yes or no questions like "Are you in a care home?" I completed all that and then sat down with DH and went through the "Can you do this?" sections. The decision was made two weeks later, despite the acknowledgement saying it would be 12 weeks.

We had to return the form by a specific date, but that date was about a month after receipt, so there was no rush.

Apply OP. It's definitely worth it.

JellicleCat make a very important point that mobility or lack of it outside the home doesn’t count. But emphasise the need to steady oneself inside by holding on to furniture etc.

I had a phone call from the DWP or whoever deals with the applications, and she was very kind and supportive. I assume my ‘permanent’ health problems had been checked with my GP, I had been asked the address of my practice.

One of the first questions she asked was did I go to bed during the day. I was actually in bed having a nap when she rang, which amused her.

At the end of our conversation I asked if she thought I would qualify, and she said definitely but couldn’t specify which level. About a week later I had a letter saying I head been granted the higher award. All very painless and a very helpful tax free boost.

With my parents we completed the hard copy forms - if you ask for the hard copies when you submit the claim is backdated to the date the forms were requested which gained a few weeks. We had a lot of help from Citizens Advice to ensure the forms were filled in effectively, and they do this regularly, so are worth asking - I was happy to complete the form, but they definitely improved the application. Having CAB help also focused my parents on what they should/n't declare and to be honest, not overconfident in what they could do. We did send prescription lists, consultant letters, etc., as we had them. I'm not clear on your timings, you cannot apply until 6 months after the condition started which can be frustrating when things change e.g. my father has the lower level but would now be eligible for the higher level but we can't apply until the summer. That and blue badges definitely help them a lot. The person applying has to sign the application and once successful you have to notify if admitted to hospital again (hopefully not) as the payments are paused.

Do you have POA for him? You should get this now if you don't to help him should he lose capacity or just to help with financial things. The DWP send everything to me as attorney now even though dad still has capacity as he can't remember how to use online banking anymore

Yes he definitely sounds eligible. Just a heads up about mobility. Mobility out of the house is not covered in Attendance Allowance, so it is (sadly) irrelevant if he cannot walk a distance. However mobility within the house IS relevant. So, if appropriate, make sure to reference things like struggling to get out of an armchair, even using the arms, or flopping into a chair when sitting down rather than sitting down carefully, using furniture to steady himself while walking around inside, using thinks like radiators, towel rails or basins to steady himself when getting onto or off the toilet and any issues about safety accessing and using a shower or bath.

Yes he will need to agree to the application and sign it. Try framing it as money to keep him independent and for use to pay for things he might struggle with like gardening. But totally agree with the poster above who says you can't include things like gardening or housework in the application. You can however use the money for anything at all, useful or totally frivolous, once its been awarded.

He does have to sign it (as he has mental capacity), so good idea from PP to phrase it as money to help with daily living costs and for your mum to use. The vast majority of people who claim it use it for taxis, cleaners, etc etc not carers (at least not initially). A useful document which you can get from his GP is his patient summary, it includes all his medical conditions and issues in one place, along with his medication. Although this may not include eyes/ears etc.
Remember to keep all answers relevant to the question and about personal care needs. Do not say anything about cleaning/gardening/tidying as although that is what lots of people use the money for it is not an eligibility criteria.

When I completed the form for my nan, I didn't have to send anything. I answered the questions, and I believe they may have records online.

His hospital discharge letter would do as evidence.

Otherwise just make sure you answer the question being asked on the application- I've seen lots of people waffle in their answers rather than clearly answering what the question is asking. Also don't let your parents exaggerate his abilities- no 'on a good day i can walk to the shops 'if there hasn't been a good day for weeks.

There are some very good guides online with example answers.

I applied for my mum (with her permission). We detailed all the things she found hard and all the adaptations she had to make things easier. Eg walking. Getting in and out the bath or bed. Taking medication. Form filling.
Could you phrase it with dad as help to take any pressure off mum or money to put towards things as and when needed. (Mobility devices etc.)

The other thing to apply for is a blue badge. Even if he doesn't have his own car. It makes life so much easier for anyone who is taking him places or to appointments. There is a small charge - I think we paid about £20 for mum's - but it is so helpful.