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Elderly parents

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Original poster

Are attendance allowance forms as tricky as DLA and PIP?

57 replies

HatFamster · 10/08/2023 13:42

I’m helping my mother to fill in her form.
I’ve completed DLA and PIP forms for my children, and just wondered if this needs the same excruciating attention to detail?

She had a stroke a few months ago - is it important to get her dr’s notes copied to include, or will they contact her GP?

OP posts:

scaredsick · 10/08/2023 13:57

They look similar, but the boundary for evidence is much lower following submission of the forms with AA.

The DWP expect elderly people to have disabilities in a way they are more suspicious of with younger demographics (which is a whole other level of ableism, but I digress). The main distinction you need to make is clarifying the difference between need for daytime and nighttime care. If the claimant has only daytime needs, you're looking at standard rate claim, whereas nighttime needs usually attract the higher award.

Original poster

HatFamster · 10/08/2023 14:16

Her night time needs are minimal (just help to get comfortable), and the form seems fairly straightforward here, luckily!

Is it worth getting a copy of relevant notes from her GP do you think?

OP posts:

bizzey · 10/08/2023 14:17

We got help from a charity to help fill out DM'S form .
She was fantastic!

DM wanted to play down how much help she really needed , but this lady was so good at explaining it all

I can't remember the charity sorry....but I am sure AGE UK would give some help and. guide you where to go for help..
I don't think we sent off any medical notes ,just doctors details.

bizzey · 10/08/2023 14:19

DM just gets the basic rate .she does not need help at night so maybe different for you .

Wibbleswombat · 10/08/2023 14:19

We watched a really decent YouTube video, it really helped. It was a while ago, so don't remember what it was called but about 45 mins long.

Fill the forms in on the evidence from the worst day not a good day.

IthinkIsawahairbrushbackthere · 10/08/2023 14:27

A friend offered to go through the Attendance Allowance form with me because I kept putting it off. In the end I decided to do what I could and meet up with her to finish it off but I whizzed through it. I wasn't sure whether I was filling it in as my mum or if I was doing it for her. In the end, as she was still able to write at that point I filled it in from her viewpoint and she signed it.

One thing I would stress is that you should write about her worst days, not her better days. When I was discussing it with my mum she would say "but when I have a good day I can do x/y/z" but there were far more bad days than good days and those were days I described.

bizzey · 10/08/2023 14:57

So agree with pp's about filling it in for the worst days .
That is what my DM struggled with .
But her "worst" days then ....are everyday now .

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/08/2023 15:22

Is it worth getting a copy of relevant notes from her GP do you think? I didnt. I can’t remember if I included a list of medications.

Main thing is to think of all the little modifications they’ve already made and remember to include the needs behind those. “A need met is still a need”

Fill in according to bad days, but don’t stray into “worst day ever” territory. You still have to tell the truth.

Original poster

HatFamster · 10/08/2023 15:31

She definitely plays it down!

She gets a little bit of help at night, if she’s been up, which I’ll write down, but I think it quickly becomes normal, so easily forgotten about.

I’ve done plenty of DLA and PIP forms so I’m ok doing it. My main problem is still being in recovery mode from finishing my son’s DLA form last week.

OP posts:

Wibbleswombat · 10/08/2023 15:37

MereDintofPandiculation · 10/08/2023 15:22

Is it worth getting a copy of relevant notes from her GP do you think? I didnt. I can’t remember if I included a list of medications.

Main thing is to think of all the little modifications they’ve already made and remember to include the needs behind those. “A need met is still a need”

Fill in according to bad days, but don’t stray into “worst day ever” territory. You still have to tell the truth.

Yep, that was poor wording on my part. Bad days, not worst ever day. I would always be honest. I hated doing forms for DLA at CAB, it's a real skill to get it spot on.

EducatingArti · 10/08/2023 15:40

If a person is on their own at night ( and mostly manages ok) does that mean that they will automatically not be considered for higher rate?

bizzey · 10/08/2023 15:54

I could be wrong but I thought higher rate was for people that needed care/carers at night?
Eg ... actually during the night...not help to put to bed or get up ?

bizzey · 10/08/2023 15:57

Good point about aids already in the house .y dad was disabled and already had grab rails , special bath seat and stair lift installed.

Mum had been using these without really noticing.
It just became normal for her to use the grab rails...but she would have struggled without .

But it did show that she needed help.

endofthelinefinally · 10/08/2023 16:01

I did the forms for my PIL.
This was several years ago and I did find that the online system did not work, so I printed the forms.
As pp have said you have to describe everything as the worst day, not a good day.
I had to include printed proof of all medication, all diagnoses, including hospital and GP letters.
Maybe it is easier online, but I helped my elderly neighbour very recently with written paper forms (she isn't computer literate) and it did take us most of the day to find and copy everything.

bizzey · 10/08/2023 16:03

It is not just home that help is needed.
Medication confusion, doctors appointments...booking and getting there, cleaning,housework, laundry...I could go in ....( Flip ... writing this all down has reminded me of all I do to help her now !!...
It had just become normal to me as well !!!)

The extra money has become invaluable for the extra costs if taxis everywhere (I don't drive anymore ) as she can't manage a bus even with me .

endofthelinefinally · 10/08/2023 16:04

You have to provide all the evidence yourself IME.

bizzey · 10/08/2023 16:04

You will be eligible for carers allowance as well...
Though you might be already getting that for your child ?

purser25 · 10/08/2023 16:28

Gather the evidence and write it down. They might say I can do it but it might not be true.

tsmainsqueeze · 10/08/2023 16:47

I was advised by ss to use the behaviour and abilities shown by my late aunt on her worst days as the examples when filling in the form.
At the end part where there was space to freely write i wrote truthfully about her and the impact it was having on me her only carer including examples of why i considered she needed money to pay for help- i wrote a lot but clearly and concise.
Be truthful and if the situation is bad you really need to spell it out regardless of embarrassment and privacy, my aunts needs were much worse than i 1st thought but she only got the lower amount.

Original poster

HatFamster · 10/08/2023 17:22

bizzey · 10/08/2023 16:04

You will be eligible for carers allowance as well...
Though you might be already getting that for your child ?

I already get it for my older son.
I see my parents a few times a week and do any admin stuff.
My father has to do all the cooking, laundry etc (we tell him it’s character building!) as my mother can’t do any of it any more.

She’s fine in herself, but if she didn’t have my father there doing everything she wouldn’t manage alone at all.

OP posts:

Original poster

HatFamster · 10/08/2023 17:24

purser25 · 10/08/2023 16:28

Gather the evidence and write it down. They might say I can do it but it might not be true.

I’ve been writing it all down without asking her, because she’s dismissing everything as she’s fine!
She is fine, but she also can’t do much any more, and what she can do takes about 4 times as long as it used to.

OP posts:

bizzey · 10/08/2023 17:40

Remember not to focus on what other people do for her

Can your mum cook a meal ..NO.
Don't let her say it doesn't matter because your dad does it ...
That sort of thing.

That was what was hard for my mum as I had been doing loads and so she was not aware of what she couldn't do .

Well she was ....but it all just became normal life ....for her !

bizzey · 10/08/2023 17:44

Have a quiet word with your dad to find out everything he does for her ....because they are the things she can't do herself.

bizzey · 10/08/2023 17:50

Remember...AA will help your dad as well .
?cleaner or something to support him .

The carers need care as well.

Difficult for you doing all the "bad" days as you have been doing it with your DC's forms as well.

I know ...I am in the same situation..with my DC.

Take care .

bizzey · 10/08/2023 17:53

In fact ...as your mum has had a stroke ...I would also word your night care very carefully.

He might be looking after her at night or at least listening out for her .
Could she be left alone at night ?

If your dad has to be there ...surely that would mean the higher care payment ?

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