Attendance Allowance moving to the Higher Rate of AA

[mbonfield]

My partner has been receiving AA for the past 5 years and now my partner has more needs.

Has anyone got experience of how the Higher rate is obtained? Gov. UK is not clear other than speaking to the DWP.

I will be contracting the DWP but I would like to hear from anyone in a similar position.

I've had support from Macmillan for PiP which will turn into AA for my other half if he lasts that long, they were brilliant at guiding us through the process.
As Attendance Allowance usually applies over state pension age I'd suggest you reach out to AgeUK who are very up to date on supporting you with the process. DWP are gatekeepers for the process but not sympathetic to your needs which can be tough to field if you're already struggling.
Good Luck, I feel for you.

If they have had increased needs for at least 6 months (usually night time if they are already on the lower rate), you call the DWP to report a change in circumstances. You can do it on their behalf if you have their National Insurance number.

They ask briefly what has changed, and will send a review form to your partner. It’s a short form, and they will need info including medical professionals, conditions, prescriptions etc. and you have to write what difficulties they now have. They will caveat that the whole award will be looked at again, and could go up, down or be stopped, but I don’t think that would happen very often due to the reason AA was awarded, and that it’s for people over state pension age.

I complete them as part of my professional role, but as the previous poster mentioned, you could see if your local Age UK can support you with it.

Thank you Pantsagogo NotSoFlatStanley

My understanding is the higher rate is for those who need some level of support over night.

Mostly the difference is whether you need help at night. There's a box to tick on the form.

Don't forget that you are supposed to talk about help that you need but don't necessarily get.

Help at night would include if you need to be assisted to the toilet or if you have dementia and you could "wander" if there is nobody with you etc.

As others have said the higher rate of AA is due to needing additional support overnight.

My MIL gets the higher rate. She doesn’t get support overnight. She uses her frame and toddles to the bathroom. In fact, although frail, she washes and dresses herself etc, potters around the house etc. No carers, FIL does the online shopping, preps food, mows the lawn. They have over £1million in assets yet claim nearly £450 a month which is simply banked. That’s another argument I suppose.

Just to say - PIP shouldn't change to AA if someone is already on it at pension age. It should be converted to an indefinite award. It will be reviewed less often.

It's very important if he qualifies for the mobility component to be aware that after pension age you cannot go from standard to enhanced (or have it added if you don't qualify). If it's removed at review it's important to ask for reconsideration, then appeal if necessary, as it's the only way to have mobility added back on. You can't re-claim later.

Understood, I phrased that poorly. PiP awarded prior to reaching state pension age continues as PiP for 3 years before ceasing, at that stage attendance allowance can be applied for if in the interim state pension age is reached. We have not focussed on that detail as he is terminally ill and has barely made it to pensionable age and certainly won't last the full 3 years on PiP before review is required for AA. I'm not complaining, just being factual.

We never had PIP as too old been on AA for 5 years but partners conditions have changed greatly hence the question about the Higher Allowance aspect.