Attendance Allowance, any recommendations?

[TrickyD]

As I am 81, have various of the chronic ailments specified in connection with qualifying for this, plus I am unable to use a bath and DH insists that I don’t use the shower without his help, plus general wobbliness and other penalties of old age I started looking at Attendance Allowance.
It seems that there are various companies who help you with the form filling, as the application process is very hard to negotiate successfully.
They charge for their work, the only one I have seen clearly stating their fee in their advertisement charges £600, no win no fee. £600 is worth paying for a successful outcome.
I wondered if anyone has used one of these companies and has any advice or recommendations.

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I did the form for my mother. She got atttendance allowance. I would class companies like that as a rip off. CAB or Age UK may be able to help.

What? NO!

Apologies OP. There really is a company doing this. Disgusting exploitation.

www.jonathanoweniep.com/attendance-allowance-display?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21293803432&gclid=Cj0KCQjwsPzHBhDCARIsALlWNG1BW92IT7I-qeck0JQWLW9HzHI-1ExC0-TvkMLY3gBvf-Fizc4bO-AaAg9xEALw_wcB

Why the 🫩 ?

Absolutely don't pay.

Someone like AgeUK can help you, or if you have an adult child.

I filled one out for my Mum and she surprisingly got the higher rate.

Just be honest about the difficulties you have, and remember you don't need to be getting help to have the difficulties.

Age UK can help i think

I wouldn’t say it’s very hard to complete the application, it’s something that takes a little time and concentration. I certainly wouldn’t pay £600 for someone to fill it in.

This is almost a use-case for ChatGPT to do the leg work ...

Also, sign up here and ask

https://www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/forum

Type it in, take your time, go back to it a few times as you remember extra details.
'Aids' can be as simple as sticks, glasses, grab handles as well as walkers, walkin shower, hearing aids, alarms etc.
There is also an 'Elderly Parents' board you may find helpful.

OP please do not under any circumstances use one of these firms, its totally unnecessary and a massive con.
the form is lengthy but its not overly complex- and focusses on help and support needed rather than specific diagnoses.
if you feel you really cannot do it yourself please consider either CAB or AGE UK, they are sometimes able to assist.

OP please do not under any circumstances use one of these firms, its totally unnecessary and a massive con.
the form is lengthy but its not overly complex- and focusses on help and support needed rather than specific diagnoses.
if you feel you really cannot do it yourself please consider either CAB or AGE UK, they are sometimes able to assist.

My mum got help from the local organisation Carers Resource for this. There are lots of organisations like them, CAB and Age UK who will help for free.

Also don’t print the form off ring up for it then it will be backdated to the day you make the call.

Absolutely do not pay. My mum had ages UK to help with the form

Thanks everyone for your encouragement to avoid the commercial firms.
I had read that it was very difficult to include all one’s conditions in a way that was accepted, but it seems that with help from CAB etc it seems straightforward.
ChatGPT - a great idea!

I did it for my Mum not difficult just fill the form in as you are on a bad day.

It's easy to fill in, my mum is also 81 and I did it for her, she was awarded the higher rate and she said it made a big difference financially.

Companies like that should be ashamed of themselves, the money should be going to the people who need it.

Op ask on here if you have any questions, we can help you.

Please do not pay to fill in the form - my mother had help from Age UK they can sort this with you
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/

Please don’t pay anyone to do this Age UK will help, your children or another trusted adult ? The actual form itself while lengthy isn’t actually too difficult - just tell what about your conditions and the help you need. We have recently done 2 , one for DF and one for an aunt and both got approved without any queries or questions.

I came here to share the same link - definitely don't spend money to do this.

Good luck with your application.

I used Johnathan Owen, they only charge if you are successful, nothing if you are not successful, they were very helpful in the form filling

As others have said, it really isn't difficult to do. You just need to gather all your evidence and allow a couple of days. You need all your hospital letters, a list of your medication, and when you fill in the information of what you can and cannot do, make sure you document your worst day. As pp have said, AGE UK will help you without charging you. Incidentally they will help you with Power of Attorney forms as well - something else private firms will absolutely charge you a fortune to do.

Try cab or age uk cor free advice. It is not that complicated, more time-consuming. Copy any diagnosis letters and consultant/therapy documents and think about what support you need to do everyday tasks or attend appointments.

It’s not that hard, it’s just time-consuming and you will find you’re asked the same questions in different ways throughout the form! I did it for my mum and my surprise it was accepted first time. If you have any doctors letters or even copies of your prescription send those as well.

Thistooshallpsss, thanks for suggesting ringing rather than printing off the form, but would it be a good idea to get a printed copy to go over it all in advance?
Btp, yes Jonathon Owen was the firm I liked the look of as they were clear in the advert about the £600. But they say if you apply yourself and are refused, they cannot/are not allowed (?) to help you. This might be just a ploy to get you to sign up.