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Elderly parents
Original poster

What evidence is needed for Attendance Allowance-advice welcome!

35 replies

Redlocks30 · 11/02/2026 10:40

I am wondering if this might be something we can apply for, for my dad. He is mid 80s, had a spell in hospital last year with emergency complications from a hiatus hernia. He then got pneumonia, Covid and a urine infection and after several weeks in hospital was released but has remained weak, wobbly and quite confused. He has glaucoma and related medication for that, has had both eyes operated on with cataracts but still struggles with vision and is no longer able to drive. He can’t walk far and walks mainly with a stick (though wants to walk without!). Struggles to do simple tasks, eg make a sandwich, struggles to put clothes on the right way round and struggles with depth perception/word retrieval-it sounds like cognitive decline but nothing is particularly in writing. I did write to the GP saying all this who sent round. A practice nurse to take blood and as him who the prime minister was (!), but nothing really happened and I don’t know what’s written in his notes?

He’s got lots of medication for the hiatus hernia (they decided not to operate as it would be such a risk at his age) and also for the glaucoma. At the moment, my mum is doing pretty much everything for him but she is also mid 80s and struggling. If they could get a cleaner I think this would take the pressure off her a bit.

Is attendance allowance appropriate/likely? What evidence would we need?

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 11/02/2026 12:26

Put what he has difficulty with. So cataracts and glaucoma = poor vision= risk of falls, can't cook safely. It's more what the disability prevents him from doing that is the important bit rather than the disability itself...
If he gets up at night yo the loo, risk of falls with poor vision,
Mobility problems...can't stand to cook, at risk of falls, struggles to get up at night. Really focus on how the disability affects their ability to live safely as this is what it is based on. Does he have hearing difficulties...can't hear doorbell, can't hear fire alarms/smoke detectors. Age UK has some great advice on it's website...I've applied for 4 people over the last few years and succeeded each time.

purplepie1 · 11/02/2026 12:24

As PP I used the age uk information to complete the attendance allowance form.

when answering questions state how he is at his worst. Think about overnight, could he stay in his own or does your mum need to be there to make sure he is ok?

it’s a long form but when complete it really helps.

after he starts to receive the benefit he can apply for others. Again, I think this is mentioned in the age uk link further up this thread.

Fifthtimelucky · 11/02/2026 12:20

I applied for it online for an elderly relative last year, when, following a fall, we needed to get in two live in carers - one for the day and one for the night. She was awarded the higher rate.

I didn’t provide any proof but I assume that they checked with her GP. The fact that she was 96 probably helped too.

After a couple of months I phoned to let DWP know that she no longer had a night carer and I assume that she has now moved onto the lower rate.

Original poster
Redlocks30 · 11/02/2026 12:19

Thank you for the replies-this is really useful.

I presume the person who we would claim for needs to be fully supportive of the claim? I’m not sure he would be as he is quite proud and would rather do without claiming anything , but it would help my mum who is currently having to do everything around the house and she hasn’t got great mobility herself (broke her arm in a fall so can’t do things she could before!

OP posts:
thedevilinablackdress · 11/02/2026 12:10

I sent hospital discharge docs which listed medications. I also detailed a number of other conditions and issues that I didn't prove proof for. I went into plenty of detail and was given the advice to write about how things are on worst days/nights. Don't downplay anything.

Carthorses · 11/02/2026 11:33

My relative did it on line, just a few months ago and the claim was successful. Didn't have to send medical proof, l expect it was checked out with her GP.
But she did put down absolutely everything. With very great detail. Every little thing that she needs to do to keep safe and how she manages day to day.

Fushia123 · 11/02/2026 11:19

Definitely get the wheels in motion to apply. You could also ask the GP to advise how to apply for a Social Care Assessment.

Soberfutures · 11/02/2026 10:48

We also sent medication list and cross referenced what each medication was for what condition.

Soberfutures · 11/02/2026 10:46

For my mum we sent opticians reports stating her bad eye sight. And glaucoma. Dates of scans for her hands as she has arthritis.

So I would send any reports about his eye sight and also discharge letters from his hernia and if anything says the risk of operating.

The main bit if on the form stating the amount of time it takes him to do normal tasks and the help he requires.

Hope this helps