Attendance Allowances

Macgran43

A friend who volunteered at CAB told me to apply for Attendance Allowance for my husband. He got the lower amount and then the higher amount later. We used this to pay a gardener and odd job men .Previously my husband had done all these jobs himself. Latterly he could not be left alone and I paid a carer to let me have some time to myself. I also found out via Martin Lewis that We were entitled to a 25% reduction in Council Tax as my husband had dementia. Our GP had to sign a form stating this. A few hidden benefits out there!

Macgran, as you say there is a 25% reduction in council tax if one of the persons in the home has dementia but worth knowing that If a sole occupant of a property has dementia then they don't pay Council Tax at all.

A friend who volunteered at CAB told me to apply for Attendance Allowance for my husband. He got the lower amount and then the higher amount later. We used this to pay a gardener and odd job men .Previously my husband had done all these jobs himself. Latterly he could not be left alone and I paid a carer to let me have some time to myself. I also found out via Martin Lewis that We were entitled to a 25% reduction in Council Tax as my husband had dementia. Our GP had to sign a form stating this. A few hidden benefits out there!

My elderly neighbour gets AA at lower rate. However in the last few years, she has lost her mobility, through arthritis and spinal degeneration, and simply cannot walk more than a few steps without pain and having to stop and sit down. She screams out in pain - even while sitting with her legs up, and is awaiting a knee replacement. She has various other ailments… diabetes, thyroid, high blood pressure, cellulitis, bullus Penphagoid, low immune system, high blood pressure, pressure sores… it goes on.
She has a nurse three times a week to change dressings.

Also we found out last week she has lost the sight in her eye and she didn’t realise. There’s nothing great can be done. She’s 82.

I’ve suggested she should let the DWP know she has got much worse but she won’t. Says she’s been told she may lose her AA if she has to reapply. I was thinking if she got the higher rate she could afford to hire in extra help.

She’s on her own, no-one else in the world and only has a carer for 30 mins twice a day to empty her commode and make her a sandwich. She gets a quick wash a couple of times a week. Hadn’t had a shower in years.
She’s incontinent and has to take water tablets and I’ll be honest the smell is horrendous at times. She has IBS and won’t wear pants as they take too long to get down, so sits on pads in her chair. So you can guess what happens when she doesn’t get to the commode on time. And guess who has to clean that up too when it’s down her legs, up her back and all over the carpet? ?

She needs the extra help, but won’t admit it.

I’m disabled myself and it’s absolutely killing me trying to care for her outside of carer times. I do her shopping, washing, cook meals, do her admin, gardening, take her to hospital appts etc. She had two appts last week and getting her in and out of the car, and pushing her in a wheelchair is causing more damage to me and my own damaged spine, and is impacting on my life. I spent three days in bed after, in absolute agony. It’s so draining on me and my life seems to revolve around her, which upsets my own daughter when I’m ill myself.

But… she doesn’t have anyone else in the world, and I can’t just leave her to it.

Apologies - this probably isn’t the place to spill this, but I’m truly stuck here and am at my wits end with her. She doesn’t have any friends nearby to help, and the young male neighbour who is her ‘next of kin’ (no idea why) truly couldn’t give a monkeys about her. He lives 20 steps away and she’s seen him and his wife twice since last Christmas. Surprisingly, they’ve had Covid four times since last December.. erm.. yeah. If Covid is the new excuse to not speak to her or visit they’ve got it spot on.

Please, any suggestions? No idea who to speak to next. ?

Franbern, I am sure you could have got a few of your aids through Social Services who would have sent someone to assess your. needs. As you are on Pension Credit you would not have had to pay for them. As I understand it attendance allowance is paid to you so you can have the extra care you need in washing, cooking a meal etc.

I successfully applied for AA when my (now late) husband got much worse with Parkinsons, vascular dementia and cancer ...It was such a help, even though I seem to recall there were about 50 pages to fill in ......it was worth it as it helped to get a place in respite care for a few days, and to buy waterproof sheets etc for the hospital bed he was loaned. DO apply ....take a long time to fill in the forms, but it is an entitlement you need

kittylester

And, you should always cite the worst case scenario, not the best. That's why getting help is a good idea.

Most definitely Kitty. I applied (with help from.Age UK) for my mum who had at that time been newly diagnosed with Dementia. As a progressive disease I had to fill out the form as a 'worst case scenario' which it eventually became. It is also worth knowing that if a person receives the Higher Rate Attendance Allowance (not standard rate) then they are eligible for a Blue Badge, no questions asked.

I would certainly also advise getting help from Age UK to complete the paperwork.
If you fill in the form yourself, you tend to "downsize" the problem whereas someone with experience will put the information that is needed with the correct wording so you at least stand a better chance!
Age UK were brilliant when my father was alive and actually came to the house (not sure they are currently doing it, you would need to check with your local office) .
One thing you do need to be aware of is that once the claim has gone through, they do like to be informed of the result and it is nice if you could send them a donation to help with their costs.

They will usual put the date of posting out the form on the top of it.

Elless

I think I'm right in saying you can't get AA if you get PIP though.

This is from Citizen's Advice Elless

You won't be able to get Attendance Allowance if you already get Personal Independent Payment (PIP) or if you get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) to pay for your care (the 'care component' of DLA). ... If your renewal is unsuccessful you can apply for Attendance Allowance instead.

Although you are encouraged to claim online the start of the claim is when you send the claim in - which can take some time.
If you ring for a claim form the start of the claim is from the day you ring - so always ring for your form!

travelsafar, being disabled, or less able, means many extra costs.
the attendance allowance does not have to be spent on personal care. it does not have to be spent on anything at all.
it's up to the recipient. if someone meets the criteria, then they need it, and they get it, and use it as they choose.
your neighbour/s should certainly apply, and with help filling in forms, ought to get it.

I have to say that the form to claim AA is horrendous and I think is designed to put people off! It took me several goes to complete it for my mum as I lost the will to carry on each time I picked it up, the a amount of repetition of information is ridiculous!

You can complete it on line, saving your work each time, but need to print it off as only postal applications are accepted. I have to say though that even during lockdown, the claim was processed quickly.

I found a lot of help online, there are examples of what to say and explanations of the various categories. I referred to these tips constantly, using all the current buzz words.

Clearly it's mis-named as 'Attendance' gives the impression that there must be help from another person.
Franbern you've made it very clear why the things you spend your assistance on are much more helpful to you than having someone to help.
I think it's wonderful that this is possible for you and just wish that the name and the application process weren't so off-putting to people who need assistance.

I’ve heard Age Uk recommended many times for help with filling in the form. Equally so, that you must state how things are on the worst day/night, and not gloss over anything.

I think I'm right in saying you can't get AA if you get PIP though.

A lot of people don’t apply for attendance allowance, as they may not know it exists, or think it doesn’t apply to them, or it’s too difficult, so we’ll done PippaZ for posting this helpful thread.

In my understanding, AA is available for someone to make their life easier not just for Attendance.

Kali2

I've never understood attendance allowance, in the sense that it does not have to be used for 'attendance'. It is really great for those who need it- but if someone does not need 'attendance', why do they get it?

I don't know the actual answer to this and I think it is this point that makes the form difficult to fill in. So to a bit of research (google )

The first answer I have found is not much help. It seems to be a standard reply:
You can get the benefit even if you live alone with no help. As long as any help or supervision is reasonably required you could still qualify for Attendance Allowance.

This is a bit more detailed:
You don't need to have had a formal diagnosis to claim Attendance Allowance. For example, you might still be having tests or appointments to find out what's wrong with you. As long as you've needed help or supervision, or you've had difficulties for 6 months because of your condition you can claim Attendance Allowance.

This was from an Age UK article. I think sums it up better.
You don’t have to spend Attendance Allowance on a carer. Many older people spend it on other types of help in the home, or equipment to help them stay independent.

My mother had many points of help - including an alarm she could press. This was later changed to a fall alarm. She had to pay for the service so that is where some of the Attendance Allowance went.

I have to say it's still a bit mystifying but I hope this helps.

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/six-myths-about-claiming-attendance-allowance/

Franbern so glad that receiving this enables you to lead a more independant life and gives you the chance to purchase the things needed to do so. However i thought it was for paying for personnel care not to buy aids or do they come under the guise of personnel care do you know. I would be interested to know as i am constantly saying to my dear neighbour to put in for this allowance as without her DH she would be lost. She has really bad knees and doesnt go out anywhere alone, her eye sight is dreadful too she has to have injections in both of them. She has a slight heart condition as well. She had to give up driving and cant even walk to the end of her garden alone due to the pain in her knees and her bad sight. She can complete her personel care but if anything happened to her husband she would need help in the home and garden and also shopping and collecting of medication too. How would she get to the GP and hospital . Do you think she would get this AA? thank you.

kali2 - in response to your question. I receive Attendance Allowance - but do not have attendance. However, this money has meant that I have been able to purchase many items which gives me the opportunities of being able to live my life without actually having people into help me.

My wonderful mobility scooter means I can get around my town and participate in many groups. Without it, I would be confined to my home nearly all of the time. No person attending would be able to assist me the way this little scooter does.

Lots of otheraids around my home also means that I doi not need a 'person' around. Electric bed, riser/recliner chair all give me independence and freedon to live pretty normal life. Without them, would need carers to assist in so many things.

When I was living in my house I did use some of this money to have a gardener. But, for me, this extra money has meant I can have all sorts of aids and can continue to lead an independent life. Without it, the topped up with Pension Credit, money I recieve would mean I could not afford these items. I would be costing 'the system' a great deal more with carer requirements, and would not be able to lead the active life I am leading.

I've never understood attendance allowance, in the sense that it does not have to be used for 'attendance'. It is really great for those who need it- but if someone does not need 'attendance', why do they get it?

My experience is a few years old but if refused it’s always worth appealing because they are often agreed.

Another point that may not be known is that both people in a couple can have AA.

My eldest daughter persuaded me toapply for Attendance Allowance a few years back. Completed the form totally by myself without much hope that it would be granted. My daughter did tell me to answer the questions giving the really bad days, not e better ones -which I did.
Much to my astonishment I was granted the Highter Rate, this has made such an enoumous difference to my life. Gave me the money to purchase Mobility Scooter to get around, and several mobility aids in my home. Means I can use the occasional taxi to go to places.
To my extra surprise as I was on Pension Credit,Guaranteed, the Higher Rate Attendance Allowance also gave me extra on that.
So pleasee I did make this claim,.

And, you should always cite the worst case scenario, not the best. That's why getting help is a good idea.