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Original poster

Attendance Allowance, any recommendations?

44 replies

TrickyD · 27/10/2025 17:18

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.

OP posts:

Lionfisher · 27/10/2025 18:26

if you can post on here you can fill in the form, just spread it out over a few days and do a section at a time properly

good luck,

Btp · 27/10/2025 18:41

I paid £400+ vat to johnathan Owen which was taken out of the first two payments so nothing before I got my attendance allowance

Puskiesauce · 27/10/2025 19:01

Op have you actually looked at the form?

I think you might be worrying unnecessarily.

Please don't pay £400 or £600 to anyone, that is completely ridiculous. If it was hard I would understand but it really is not!

CactusPat · 27/10/2025 19:06

Sometimes your local council can help - google benefits maximisation officers + council name. If the department exists at your particular council you can book a visit with them to assist you with forms and an overview of what you may be entitled to.

MrsMacYorkie · 27/10/2025 19:15

Please don’t pay. I see someone else suggested the council. My mum got the full allowance, she was helped by a lady at the council who went through the form with her over the phone. She asked the questions on the form and my mum answered and the council lady phrased the information provided in the correct terms to support her claim. Not sure if all councils do this, but might be worth looking into? It was in Scotland.

PrincessC0nsuelaBananaHammock · 27/10/2025 19:21

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2025 17:21

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.

Same! She got her first payment around 4 or 5 weeks after I applied.

ClaudiaNaughton · 27/10/2025 19:31

This is rubbish. Don’t let anyone charge you. I did this with my daughter and it went through to the higher rate. If you are worried about filling in the form CAB or AGE UK will help. The useful thing about it is it isn’t means tested.

JellyTotsAreYum · 27/10/2025 19:38

Slightly off topic, but speak to your GP about a referral to occupational therapy. They can provide aids eg a bath lift, shower chair, extra grab rails, rollator etc. Basically, they review you and if they think you need a certain piece of equipment and it costs less than £1000 you get it for free.

MikeRafone · 27/10/2025 19:41

Telephone and request the DWP send a form

this way it’ll be dated and you get back pay to when you requested the forms ( you need to fill the form in by a certain date)

fill out the form without pride, put down if you need help putting your socks on etc

Wolfiefan · 27/10/2025 19:46

If you phone they will send you a form. You need to think about the impact your conditions have on you. So not whether you have arthritis or a spinal issue. But whether you need to walk with a stick. Need help to get in and out of the bath. Can’t get upstairs without a handrail etc etc. If you get the money it’s backdated to when you asked for the form so you don’t have to rush. Mum and I chatted about each question. I made notes and then drafted an answer before writing on the form. Good luck.

TalulahJP · 27/10/2025 19:52

Citizens advice brought forms with them to mums house and filled them all in for her. Also took her photo and applied for a blue badge for her.

they were great. I would recommend. just give them a ring and ask about the service they offer in your area.

with regard to showering in her bath, the council assessed my mum and gave her a swivel chair to help her in and out of the bath and carers to help her.

it’s a bit strange having people you don’t know in the house but they are all lovely here and more like friends.

Harriet9955 · 27/10/2025 19:58

I fill these forms out all the time as part of my job for a charity. You do not need to pay. Age Uk will likely do it for free or if you need help the DWP will even send a visiting officer to your home to complete it for you !
The most important key to success( I have done hundreds of these forms) is to send medical evidence, so a GP summary ( GP will print off for free), prescription list, hospital letters, OT report etc. If your main problem is something that is likely to improve for example you are waiting for a hip replacement, then they may just award it for a couple of years and then will re-assess again.
You don't complete it just based on a worst day as that could be once a year. The form asks how many days are affected. If your conditions are variable there is plenty of pages at the back to explain things in more detail. I'll probably get flamed for saying this but of all the benefits I help people to apply for this is by far the easiest to be successful with. There is no assessment, and as long as medical evidence is sent no checks made beyond that.
I'm trying to pursuade my own 88 year old dad to apply but he won't as he says he doesn't need the money so fair enough I guess.

guestusername · 27/10/2025 20:01

Absolutely do not pay anyone to do it for you! As per previous comments, Age UK or Citizens Advice will help you, for free

I have filled in various DWP forms on behalf of my family. Attendance Allowance was by far the easiest. You need to complete it from your worst day point of view - anything where you require even the slightest assistance… getting in and out of the car, up and down stairs, around the house, cooking, shopping, dressing, washing, and anything else you can think of. I copied the form so had a draft copy before completing the proper one

Mumoftwo388 · 27/10/2025 20:01

Recently done this for my Grandad and it really wasn't all that bad to fill in. Also got a decision fairly quickly to say he was eligible. In fact money was in his account within 3 weeks before having a letter to say it had been successful.
Please don't feel you need to pay a company a ridiculous amount to help with it.
Good Luck with you application.

ListOfQuestions · 27/10/2025 20:08

I’m thinking of applying for my dad, but not sure he’d qualify.

He is 90
Just had a knee op cancelled/ put on hold as he’s having cancer treatment
lives alone (widowed)
Can hardly walk. Can’t walk more than a street and uses a stick
Got high blood pressure/ heart arrhythmia

Actually writing that down the poor bloke should!

Harriet9955 · 27/10/2025 20:12

ListOfQuestions · 27/10/2025 20:08

I’m thinking of applying for my dad, but not sure he’d qualify.

Actually writing that down the poor bloke should!

He absolutely would qualify.
Firstly they rarely decline anyone over 90 ( in my experience).
They rarely deny anyone with a cancer diagnosis - just make sure you send diagnosis letters and explain side effects - fatigue etc. Also just to point out I really hope this doesn't apply to your dad but if prognosis is less than 12 months then AA can be fast tracked.
The knee problem alone would likely qualify him. Whilst AA doesn't specifically have a mobility component, poor mobility leaves someone at risk of falls and likely affects all personal care which is what they look at. the form looks at whether they struggle around the house, climbing stairs etc which with knee problems he likely will.

HDready · 27/10/2025 20:17

Just to echo everyone else, you can absolutely do it yourself. You can’t do it over the phone though, it has to be the form. They do also backdate the payment, I think by three months.

Be really honest with yourself and on the form, I know the temptation can be to be stoic and underplay your difficulties. But think about yourself and your needs on your worst days and write that down.

When we did it for my Gran, we included a list of her medications and diagnoses from the GP. Can you ask them for a print out?

Harriet9955 · 27/10/2025 20:18

HDready · 27/10/2025 20:17

Just to echo everyone else, you can absolutely do it yourself. You can’t do it over the phone though, it has to be the form. They do also backdate the payment, I think by three months.

When we did it for my Gran, we included a list of her medications and diagnoses from the GP. Can you ask them for a print out?

There is also an online option but I'm not sure it gives you options to expand on answers. I think ordering the form is best. You get a pre-paid envelope so can send in as much medical evidence as you wish.

Daughtersandbristolian · 27/10/2025 20:24

I am a welfare benefits adviser for a council if you need help with the AA form there are some options -the DWP offer a service which supports form application, AGE uk or CAB ( although all will have a waiting list ) there is an online version which is shorter and easier and goes straight to them so if you are tech savvy give it a go yourself with a family member or friend. Or call your local council and ask if they offer this service. Good luck !

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