Attendance Allowance fraud?

It's not fraud Nonogran ! .There is no legal requirement as to how to spend the allowence. My mother claims AA but apart from a gardener doesnt pay anyone for help. I provide all her other care and support for free and have reduced my working hours to do this , at my own financial cost . She has a deteriorating condition and is saving her money for the time she needs full time care .

The age that people can claim PiP from needs to be changed to reflect this.
The age limit for claiming PIP needs changed so that you can still claim it after retirement age. Thats what I've been saying.

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Callistemon

I agree, Blossoming but it was the underlying tone of the post which annoyed me.

I wasn’t taking issue with you, I felt the same.

Monica. You are quite correct. The age that people can claim PiP from needs to be changed to reflect this.

PensionPat
I agree, the home help service was very good. I did home help when my children were very young. I had time to clean, make lunch and have a much needed chat with clients.
It's much preferable to asking people to organise this help themselves. The government just doesn't want the responsibility.

You can't get both PIP and AA. Neither can you get both DLA and AA.
According to the Government website you can only claim DLA if you are under 16. For older
If you become disabled after retirement age you cannot claim PIP.
It's totally unfair that you can't claim PIP after retirement. Many people are disabled but would not qualify for AA. I think people might find it interesting to read the application form for AA.
If you are entitled to AA, someone can claim Carer's Allowance for you if their income is below a certain level.

GrannyGravy13

My darling Mum was told to claim AA when it came apparent that she had only a few months to live. She moved in with us and the money was spent on any treat she fancied.

And the fact that your mother moved in with you could have meant a huge saving for NHS services.

Money well spent IMO

My darling Mum was told to claim AA when it came apparent that she had only a few months to live. She moved in with us and the money was spent on any treat she fancied.

I agree, Blossoming but it was the underlying tone of the post which annoyed me.

Attendance Allowance is extra money you can claim if you’re over State Pension age and need regular help with your personal care. It is non-means tested, so you can claim it whatever your income or savings. It is entirely up to the recipient how they spend it, my DLA goes on physio. If other recipients find that alcohol, manicures and bingo help their mental health than that is their choice.

Therefore,but for the grace of God go I..
And, in fact, any of us, Marydoll

Who knows what the future brings.

Sorry about mis-spelling your name.

Nadaterture. The other things that you mention, cooking, socialising, shopping used to be provided in other times by Local Authorities. There were home helps, meals on wheels, more social clubs, including transport, day centres, taxi tokens. Imagine the cost of providing all these services.

It must be far cheaper to the Government/ taxpayer to give £80 p.w. To older people who can then source and pay for what they need/want. I think older people have lost a lot in the way of public services. But that is another topic.

I'm annoyed with Biba's insensitive comment, but I am biting my tongue. Therefore,but for the grace of God go I..

I feel so sorry for the man , he must trust you Nonogran to
tell you he receives Attendance Allowance, to allow you into his home , to explain he is working towards getting help , yet you question if he is guilty of fraud

GillT57

None of your business.

I was trying to say just that but taking a long time to say it!

My theory was always that once someone retired they did not go to work and contribute to the economy. Therefore mobility was not considered for AA.

Except that this statement is a total fallacy. many retired people keep working. Not many continue without change 5 days a week 9-5, but many move to part time work, working from home doing consultancy.

Many others do voluntaray work, in fact the voluntary sector would probably collapse without all their post-retirement volunteers.

All are still taxpayers, an increasing number pay income tax and all of us pay VAT on our shopping. Then, of course, there are all the jobs we support by our spending, not, just healthcare and specialist services, but supermarkets, the retail industry generally, the travel industry and so many others

so once someone retired they did not go to work and contribute to the economy In fact the economy would collapse without us.

then just give it to everybody then, for tipple, nails, bingo, whatever

I can't believe I read that!

I agree with most (not all) posters on here.
Nonogran you obviously know this person well enough to know about his financial and household affairs and he has obviously qualified for Attendance Allowance as it is not given out without good reason as others point out.

As you describe this person, he has some difficulties with everyday tasks but realises he needs to clear his house and take better care of himself but is unable, whether for physical or mental health reasons, to do so.

It could be used to help him do this but he is possibly embarrassed by the mess he finds himself in but can't find the energy or will to do anything about it.

At present, you must know it is difficult or impossible to find carers or anyone to come in and clean.
I feel sorry for him, he sounds overwhelmed and unable to cope. Would you have offered to help under normal circumstances?

It's up to him how he spends the money to which he is entitled; for all you know he may be saving it for when he is able to get cleaners in and can pay for some personal care too.

My theory was always that once someone retired they did not go to work and contribute to the economy. Therefore mobility was not considered for AA.

So disabled pensioners don't need to get out?
Many would be housebound without their cars. They have contributed to the economy during their working life.

The attacged shows the only criteria for which disabled pensioners can claim help. According to this all they need to do is wash dress and take medication. They don't need to shop cook or have a social life.

I was reading the OP again and think that the recipient of the PIP, sounds like my mother, who lived in a dirty house, but would not allow me or any carers to touch it. In my opinion, the recipient needs support and compassion, more than anything else.

What doesn’t make sense to me is that anyone would begrudge or judge those with disabilities, an allowance which would make their lives easier to bear, no matter what the recipient decides to use the money for. Only the recipient knows what their needs are.

The age limits for PiP and AA are the same as the lowest State Pension age was once upon a time. My theory was always that once someone retired they did not go to work and contribute to the economy. Therefore mobility was not considered for AA.

Before I retired from DWP they introduced something called Direct Payments. It was discretionary, and could be claimed for any reasonable reason. For example I met people who had been given it to buy a greenhouse. I was at a workshop with Age Concern to discuss how things were going and a customer was quoted. He had made an unusual claim. It had gone to the highest level to be decided on. The result was that people are entitled to claim for the kind of things that was their normal lifestyle. So I know that at that time, in that city, you could pay for a prostitute for £15. And pay for her/him for £15. And a Direct Payment would be paid.

It must have changed nadertube, it was 65.

Sorry I've just seen that you can claim PIP until you reach retirement age.

Natatertube, I do agree with you.

My brother in law had heart failure, kidney cancer and was on dyalisis and wouldn't claim, as he felt it wasn't morally the right thing to do.

He couldn't walk, but his car was falling to pieces and he couldn't afford to buy a new one. He would have qualified for full PIP, which would enable him to have a car for hospital appointments.
Eventually we persuaded him to apply just before his 65th birthday. His award letterr arrived, the day after he died!.