Attendance Allowance Through Kinly

I filled in an AA form for myself and also added a page of A4 for extra explanations. There were around 31 pages which I worked through. Going to the loo at night, I sat on side of bed for a minute to gain balance, switched on lights, didn't use sticks as banister was easier and same performance to return. Ditto with cooking, a handy chair to sit on, plenty to hold on to and used a small trolley supplied by SS to get food from kitchen to sitting room.

PM me if you need help. I received the higher allowance in double quick time. Asmittedly I am partially sighted as I have dry Macular which helped but you het the drift. I mentioned paying somebody to cut the grass and I had a cleaner and explained what I couldn;t do in the house. Good luck for your neighbour.

Kraykat - your post was useful really. Not everyone for whatever reason can access free help. I think for many of us we just react negatively to these companies making money from disabled people. But it does get them a very useful benefit. And it may be the only option - that’s not fair but it’s real life.

I saw this and thought I’d just say about my own experience incase it helps anyone. I did actually use Kinly in the end. I tried Citizens Advice first but honestly I just couldn’t get through to speak to anyone it was such a long wait. I was geting quite fed up with it all.
My neighbor had used Kinly and she’d been successful, she said they helped her fill in the whole form which sounded like a relief to me because I was finding it all very confusing. I was a bit sceptical at first about paying someone I won’t lie but I rang them anyway and spoke to a very nice young lady who explained everything.
They were very kind and patient with me and made it feel much simpler than I thought it would be. I was worried about the fee but they did explain it’s no win no fee and they don’t take anything until you’ve actually got the money. made me feel better about it.
I know it’s not for everyone, but for me it was worth it just to have the stress taken off my shoulders. I can’t fault them really. it’s not easy applying for these things and it can all feel a bit overwhelming. Just thought I’d share incase it helps someone else.

That obviously doesn't work with on line applications.

The postal applications have to be returned within 6 weeks of the stamped date.

Also a claim can take some time but AA will be back dated to the date on the form.

If they have sent one it will be date stamped to the date you requested it so that's good news.

Thanks so much all for taking the time to comment/advise, much appreciated. The form should be arriving soon but I can have a look at the on line one

I used to work full time for the citizens advice and filled i numerous forms, always used to say " take your time , write on a notepad what you want to say, give clear explanations of illness's and how they personally affect you.
Like other GNs have said write down your worst day also have you adapted how you do things? ie. do you lift the hot kettle differently from how you did years ago.give as much info as possible and evidence if possible.
There are .many places to get free advice you dont need to pay, it makes me angry to hear of people being ripped off---usually the .most vunerable.

Monica MollyNew the online form has a section for listing aids and adaptations.

I'm wondering if the online form has been designed to make the application process easier.

I applied through Age UK last year. The form was very lengthy, but the chap who dealt with filling in the form was obviously used to doing it. It took almost 2 hours sitting in a room with him while the firm was completed. I waited around 7 weeks for the outcome. But happy to say I was awarded the higher amount and indefinitely. I made a donation to Age UK and sent the chap a thank you card.

M0nica my mother-in-law rejected a bungalow in favour of a house aged 95. She said she didn't want to develop "bungalow knees".

I think she was cut from the same cloth as your lady.

MollyNew

My dad said he could get to the bathroom perfectly well on his own. However, he used a walking frame to get there!

The best one I had was a lady just returned from hospital after having one leg amputated and in a wheelchair. She had applied for AA and be turned down.

he answer to every uestion was, No she had no problem. Fullstop. When I spoke to her she told she had no problems because she had a wheelchair and carers coming in three times a day.

I sorted that out and got her her AA. She was one of lifes fighters. She was in her mid 80s. By the time I ticked her off my list of clients she was out of her wheelchair, had a prosthetic leg and was walking almost everywhere. She was just about to learn to climb stairs, when I asked why as she lived in a bungalow, she said, well she never knew when she might be somewhere where being able to climb stairs would be useful.

My dad said he could get to the bathroom perfectly well on his own. However, he used a walking frame to get there!

Remember the form asks if you NEED help, so you don’t necessarily have to get that help, just need it.

My mum was very good at finding ways of managing and belittling her difficulties. She had to be made to think about and say how she managed certain actions without that help.

FranP

kittylester

Is there a particular condition requiring AA. if so, the charity for that condition may help too.

It is important to talk about the very worst day sge has experienced. It is very easy to say 'oh but I can manage that'.

You are so right, worst case always. The language you use is instrumental:
"Can you walk 100yds without help?
Yes, but I am flat on my back for hours afterward. But you said YES. Answer, not without the help of an ambulance if I try"

Can you cook a simple meal unaided? Yes, if I can stand long enough to microwave. You said YES. No, I am unable to stand long enough to prepare a meal, and can rely on pre-prepared ready meals, but only when I am able to stand

FranP You are absolutely right in everything you say, but I would tighten up the the cooking one

No, I cannot prepare a meal as I can not stand long enough. I cannot stand long enough to heat a ready meal. (remember we are talking worst day)

Like everyone says, always talk about your worst day/ Always answer uestions in the negative. negativity should always be the preferred optiom No, I need help to get to the loo, No, I cannot cook. But also have a really good look around the house for anything you have moved or adapted to make getting around easier ^Don't move that chair, I lean on it when I open the door

One client had a row of chairs running fom her chair to the bathroom. She moved from one to the other, having a sit on eacch. She said she had no difficulty going to the toilet - because she had the chairs!

Regarding night times... My mother-in-law slept through nearly every night. but still got the higher rate.
She needed help into and out of bed though (evening/morning).

I'm sure it isn't just the night time thing so don't be put off.

We did one for my mother-in-law.
The age uk (or maybe CAB) website had a blow by blow account question by question with examples.

It was a successful application.

Sometimes we needed to put similar things in different sections and we did use the extra space at the end for any clarifications - we numbered our comments (say) Q8 page 30 so it was easy to see what was what.

It did take quite a long time but I did it in pencil first and got better at it as I did it I think.

Don't be put off by the length - not every section will apply.
All the best.
🤞

kittylester

Is there a particular condition requiring AA. if so, the charity for that condition may help too.

It is important to talk about the very worst day sge has experienced. It is very easy to say 'oh but I can manage that'.

You are so right, worst case always. The language you use is instrumental:
"Can you walk 100yds without help?
Yes, but I am flat on my back for hours afterward. But you said YES. Answer, not without the help of an ambulance if I try"

Can you cook a simple meal unaided? Yes, if I can stand long enough to microwave. You said YES. No, I am unable to stand long enough to prepare a meal, and can rely on pre-prepared ready meals, but only when I am able to stand

I was advised not to do the online form because there isn’t enough room to put everything you want to say.

The AA forms are not difficult to complete - just time consuming.
Print one off the gov.uk website as I don’t think the online version has the save and return function.
Complete in all honesty, but give the worst day possible scenario; you do authorise them to check with the GP.

Some Local Councils have Benefit advisers and there are some Outreach Support services that can help. Age concern and some churches have advisers on hand. You should never have to pay someone to help complete a form. Make some phone calls. Good luck

OP you might find it easier to apply online.

I'd read many comments about how hard it was to fill in a paper form and was dreading it but applied for myself online and found it very easy to the extent that I was convinced I'd missed something.

I have lymphoedema in both legs and wear compression wraps which I can't manage to put on myself. My daughter does it for me.

I expected to have to state this on the form but there was just a tick box that asked if I needed help with dressing and footwear which I ticked.

Several days after I submitted it I got 2 letters in the post. The first confirmed they'd got my application and they'd be in touch if they needed more information and that it could take up to 12 weeks for a decision. The 2nd dated 6 days later said I'd been awarded AA at the lower rate.

I think a general rule of thumb is that if you have difficulty during the day but not at night you will get the lower rate. So is worth thinking seriously about any problems this person has at night, getting into bed, getting out of bed, going to the toilet, and has as has been said this includes having to lean on furniture for support, having to sit on the bed for several minutes to get her breath back or wait till the pain eases off.
Wish you well with this.

Who are Kinly? Neverheard of them. I filled mine in myself. Took me a few weeks as it's a huge form,deliberately I think to put you off! It's fairly straightforward just very lengthy. Include everything even if it seems irrelevant. I included jar opener,ring pull can opener etc. Good luck

Would get any documents/letters about the person’s condition/disabilities, photocopy them and send with the form. Supporting evidence is always good.