Attendance Allowance

[FiveFoxes]

My Mum is newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She lives alone. I do her shopping, arrange her medical appointments and look after her finances. She cooks (microwave ready meals), washes up, looks after herself, does her cleaning etc.

The dementia advisor person who called me gave me all the advice about applying for Attendance allowance. But I don't think I should - my Mum doesn't need that much help at the moment and she has enough money.

Apart from money and access to Council tax disregard and blue badge, are there any other reasons I should apply at the moment? Or should I wait until she is worse and needs much more assistance?

Attendance allowance is based on what you need rather than what you have, if that makes sense? So, were you not to be available to shop, sort appointments and so on, would she be able to manage? Or would she have to pay someone to do those things?

She wouldn't be able to manage. Nor would she be able to sort someone to help with those things! But realistically yes she would probably need to pay someone if the family wasn't able to step in and help.

But she is also able to pay for someone to help her if she needed them to. Although she'd hate spending the money too!

It’s money she’s entitled to, so I would put a claim in for it.

its not means tested, its regardless of how much money she has already.

I’m in a very high earning household, but I’ve put in a claim for DLA for one of my children as he’s entitled to it.

Carers allowance is paid for helping with shopping, housework etc. attendance allowance is for help with washing/dressing/ personal care x

Hi OP I work as a disability benefits advisor. To get AA your mum would have to have needed help with personal care for at least 6 months - that's defined as things that can only be done when she's there, so things like shopping and cleaning don't count (though she could spend it on help with those things). It's things like getting into the bath/shower, remembering to take medication, choosing appropriate clothes, knowing what time to get up/go to bed, needing someone to check on her regularly to make sure she is safe.

If she is managing independently with all those sorts of things at the moment it's probably a bit early to apply. But it's worth keeping an eye on and hanging onto any medical reports/letters for a future application.

We found it easier for pil to accept paid care when we pointed out that that was what the aa was for - to pay for things that would keep them safe and well and independent. I also told them it was for everyone and the queen probably got it too.

As @DigitalGoat said, it is for things that have been happening for 6 months and are unlikely to get better. I’d complete the application anyway, if her needs are new they will just hold back payment until the 6 months have passed.

My experience of it is a bit different. My Dad was carer to my Mum. No dementia; my Mum was blind having been partially sighted for all her life. That was Attendance Allowance at the higher level.

Don't get mixed up with carers allowance and attendance allowance, they are separate things as explained by PP

A bit more information about her with an example of getting dressed. She gets dressed independently. I think it takes her a long time to do. Her clothes are inevitably back to front and inside out and are not ideal. So for example she'll wear a jumper with a t-shirt over it and a cardigan on top and a coat in the house. But they're fine- she is dressed and warm.

She has been like this for at least a couple of years (has been unable to tell the time since then) and is gradually getting worse.

I wouldn't qualify for carers allowance as I work part time and earn too much.

Does Attendance Allowance open any others doors apart from money?

DWP here ..

Attendance Allowance is about the NEED for care regardless of whether that care is received..

If I give you an example.. (from my job as a visiting officer to pensioners before I moved into my current job )

Lady with severe arthritis could not put on trousers /tights/ skirts.. sometimes her neighbour can come over and help her get dressed. On the days the neighbour is not available she went without and put a blanket over her lower half ..

Just like you are doing.. without you your mum would go without . This is not a benefit .. it's an ENTITLEMENT..

The form is tricky .. focus on CARE needs .. not domicillory care such as cleaning/ gardening/shopping .. focus on bathing , feeding , medical management such as taking the right pills at the right time .. PM me if she gets refused .. I will help you complete it x