Attendance allowance

[Nodancingshoes]

I am trying to apply for attendance allowance for my very elderly nan (98). She has been relatively healthy and mobile until now but now we need to arrange morning carers for her. She is partially blind, has osteoarthritis and cellulitis in her legs. Is she likely to be eligable? Her mobility is now quite limited although she can walk a short way with a walking frame. The form is quite daunting and she isn't giving me much assistance in completing it!

If you contact Age u.k they can actually send someone round to help you complete the form with your Nan. If she needs help with shopping, cooking, sorting her medication etc then she is likely to get it.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/information-guides/ageukig49_attendance_allowance_inf.pdf

Yes, she is likely to be eligible. There are two levels, depending on severity of need. The social worker told me to fill it in based on a bad day i.e. don’t minimise her difficulties because she doesn’t experience all of them every day.

There is quite a lot of information on the Age UK website as well.

It is a long form and I found it sobering having to write about all the things my dm couldn't do but she gets it now so it is with applying for sure x

Don't apply online as you will get the money paid from when the allowance is granted and not back dated. If you ring up and request a paper form, the allowance is dated from when you requested the form. Frustrating and old fashioned I know but that's the way it works.

Don’t fill it in as on a bad day if the bad day is something that happens once a year. It has to be a realistic description.

Do remember “a need that is satisfied is still a need”, so fill it in as if she isn’t getting any help. Think all of the little adaptations that she does for herself - eg sliding a plate of food along the work surface rather than simply carrying it.

Can she do things like wash her own hair, or get in and out of the bath? Does she need reminding to take medicines or have meals?

Don’t be afraid of repeating yourself. Treat it as if every section is being read by a different person, so repeat her sight problems and arthritis in every section that they’re relevant to. Don’t rely on the assessor doing a read over from one section to the next

Thank you. To be honest her needs are getting greater every day. She can manage her personal care needs but not much else. She won't eat unless we prepare and serve it. I will make a start on the form...