Query re attendance allowance

I don’t ‘wish bad and irretrievable life events on other people’, never have and never will. Is that what you wish for me? Why?

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t ‘wish bad and irretrievable life events on other people’, never have and never will. Is that what you wish for me? Why?

She most likely doesn't...you probably just pissed PP off with your attitude .....like saying 'no such word as can't ' .... I mean what bollocks is that ?.... lots of people 'can't ' do things....they shouldn't be made to feel bad about it....which is how your posts have come across

Germanshepherdsmum

I don’t ‘wish bad and irretrievable life events on other people’, never have and never will. Is that what you wish for me? Why?

No, I work very hard at never doing so with anyone; I would rather try and understand why they are the way they are. However, it is very difficult being tolerent of the intolerant.

I dont think anyone is trying to make people feel bad, it's a difference of opinion and lifestyle, every one of us is different.
I have a couple of health conditions including osteoarthritis, I would not claim AA as I do not need personel care, yes it is painful, but only at certain times, especially when it is cold, I have to manage. I am aware that others cannot though.

Please be kind to each other! I am saddened at some of the comments. We are discussing a benefit for people who require assistance in daily living. As has been said everyone is different. Some people like germanshepherdsmum are proud to be independent and are not feeling they are at a stage where they need this allowance yet. Others may not agree but everyone has a choice. It doesn't mean one is right and the other wrong.
Please remember it is not a means tested benefit and anyone can apply for it even if they have a million pounds in the bank, so that should not put anyone off. The only criteria is if they require care as described in the form.

Thank you MOnica and Cabbie for such thoughtful posts, I will remember them.

Like others I have completed many claims to AA whilst working for DWP. There is an art to getting the correct information from the client. Many conditions are gradual and people have all kinds of strategies for “managing”. They have to if they live alone. One strategy is not to think too much about their difficulties, just to get on with it, but for the purpose of answering the questions they are forced to focus on it. This can be quite depressing for them. One client said “I didn’t realise how bad I am”. I used to have a chatty conversation while we shared a cup of tea. I would be able to observe how they move around, perhaps holding on to furniture or door frames, how they reached for tea things, and carried them in. I would be very surprised if a CAB professional would invent things. She will have elicited the answers from the client.

I have been considering applying for AA but having applied on behalf of my Mum, I am put off by the incredibly detailed and repetitive questions on the form!

But this thread has got me thinking about how I have adapted my life to cope with arthritis. I use a walking stick to get around in the house or hold on to doors and furniture to ease the pain. I have stools in the kitchen and bathroom to sit on to cook, wash up, clean my teeth etc and also one in the shower. I have my food delivered and then take a couple of hours putting it away with plenty of rests in between. I rarely go to the shops as I cannot walk far.

I have a cleaner and someone to cut the lawn as I cannot to these things anymore and I use a handyman to do small jobs around the house that I used to be able to do. I used a mobility scooter for the first time last weekend to visit some NT gardens with my sister, I’ve not been able to walk around parks or gardens for years. I have a blue badge so can go out to meet friends as long as I check out the parking first on Google maps.

I sometimes do not manage to get to the toilet on time, it takes me a while to ease myself out of bed or out of a chair and I can wet myself while getting to the bathroom. To prevent too many accidents, I have to wear incontinence pads which are expensive and I still have extra washing with daily “leaks”

Now I have thought about it, I realise that I spend a lot of money to enable me to cope living alone and I can see that my needs are probably sufficient to get the lower amount of AA. But I have made adequate provision for my retirement ( I am 65) so can afford these aids but on the other hand I have worked all my life bar six years when my children were very young. I’ve paid tax and NI for over 40 years and not had to claim any benefits other than family allowance so maybe I should accept some help with my health needs.

I need to think about it.

It is indeed depressing to have to focus on what one can’t do rather than can and the good advice I was given was 1) do it for DH because he would always put the most n positive slant on anything, but 2) also to bear in mind the worst days, when walking the length of his shadow was well nigh impossible. Being him, he found that hard to admit to and even harder to be reminded of.
M0nica speaks wise words and GSM you should know that AA is not means tested and can be spent on anything which eases your life. Being ill, frail or debilitated gets expensive when you have to take taxis to medical appointments (it used to cost us around £100 for each Royal Free visit and some times there might be several within a month) pay cleaners and gardeners for the most straightforward things, need extra laundry because of continence issues or ready made meals because you are not strong enough to stand or sit and cook.

I'm sure you should consider it Teacheranne. Thank you for such a descriptive post. Over time I have seen posts from those who have helped with the forms; I have felt I have got something from each one. This idea of unravelling the "coping" strategies seems really helpful although I can see that we all want to feel we are being independent. Hopefully, those applying for AA will find it gives them more personal control of their lives for longer.

I have to admit that I feel the best thing I can give my children is my independence. Many of the posts on here do help me see it in a wider and more continuous way.

Teacheranne, certainly you should apply for AA, and at the higher rate i'd say.
have you tried to get some pads from the local continence service, accessed via GP.
that might save a little.
all the best.

Anyone who thinks they might be entitled to AA should seriously consider getting help with filling in the form. AgeUk and CAB are good places to start.

Teacher Anne do not spend too long thinking about it. Your age is critical. AA is for people of State Pension age, and would be awarded on difficulties with personal care only. Not the mobility issues you have clearly outlined. The good news is that people under State Pension age can claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). There is a component for personal care, which is the same criteria and rates for AA. But in addition there is a mobility component which attracts an extra payment. From what you’ve written you have significant difficulties in mobility and personal care. Please do not miss out.

Good advice pp. My advice about getting help filling in the form is also relevant especially as time is short.

If you think you qualify for AA, apply for it, but get Age Uk to help you complete it.

The worst that can happen is that they can turn you down. If you do get turned down, get the appeal form and appeal, make sure you request an appeal in person, not just a paper review.

The review in person, means attending a meeting with a doctor, disability expert and a solicitor. It is not at all court like, you sit round a table and you can take someone with you. It is not accusatory or cross questioning. You will just be asked about what you wrote on the form.

The vast majority of appeals are granted, the Appeal Panel usually know and understand far more about disability than the clerks who make the original decision. I did quite a number when I worked for Age Concern (Now Age UK) and never had an AA appeal rejected.

pensionpat

Teacher Anne do not spend too long thinking about it. Your age is critical. AA is for people of State Pension age, and would be awarded on difficulties with personal care only. Not the mobility issues you have clearly outlined. The good news is that people under State Pension age can claim Personal Independence Payment (PIP). There is a component for personal care, which is the same criteria and rates for AA. But in addition there is a mobility component which attracts an extra payment. From what you’ve written you have significant difficulties in mobility and personal care. Please do not miss out.

Thanks for this advice, I had forgotten that AA was for people of State Pension Age. I’ll contact Age UK to see if they can help me.

M0nica (& others) you have written insightful & helpful outlines, which really make things clear. I have nothing to add except to say that Age UK were enormously helpful for my relative (age in mid-90s) when completing an AA form.

I have read many of the posts here mentioning AA is awarded because help is needed with personal care however AA does not need to be spent on personal care. Sorry l am confused?
If an AA claim is awarded as someone needs help getting to toilet at night unless the AA monies are spent on getting that help l cannot see the point of the claim as it does not address the need or help safety. Genuine query and would be grateful for thoughts or advice.

The point is that AA can be used for anything that might make the Carer's job easier.

It might indeed be used to provide that care rrequired or provide a cleaner, for instance so, that the carers other responsibilities are reduced

Hi kitty Lester thank you for replying. Sorry but you mentioned to make carers life easier which makes sense as the carer would be doing the care.
The scenario l was asking about to try to understand was where there is no carer / person present to help with personal care. With AA awarded based on personal care needs if those needs are not being addressed with the allowance it seems to me the care need is still there which is what l do not understand. An example given earlier mentioned if someone got up in the night they may be in danger of falls etc. How would paying AA which is spent on someone to do housework help with personal care?

Always get help when filling out these forms. My dad was diddled out of over a £1000 because the lady from DWP led me with various dates and consequently his allowance was not back dated as it should have been.

Dontknow, I get what you are saying, but look at it from another point of view.
Having complete freedom how the money is spent gives the claimant and their carer the independence to make their own arrangements for whatever helps them best. It could be buying a commode to help with night time loo needs, or more comfortable mattress to help them sleep better and maybe not wake so often.
Apply that principle to other problems.
There are very few carers available these days and getting someone to stay every night to help with toilet needs, or any other specific need, would cost far more than the AA.

Or from another angle: how could DWP possibly control how that money is spent without huge amounts of bureaucracy which costs more to administer than the actual benefit?
Hope this helps.

It can be used to pay for personal care or to free up the carer to do more care and less other stuff.

Davida1968

M0nica (& others) you have written insightful & helpful outlines, which really make things clear. I have nothing to add except to say that Age UK were enormously helpful for my relative (age in mid-90s) when completing an AA form.

A few years ago I helped someone fill out the AA application. Obviously didn't use the right words as she was turned down. She didn't appeal I just wish I'd known Age Concern would help with form filling. On the other hand I wonder what others put on the form to claim. I know someone who receives it he broke bones in his foot 15 years ago when a flag fell over. He couldn't walk for a while however he wasn't pension age and worked full time. Once he reached pension age he claimed AA for his foot and got it. Doesn't stop him walking and going on holiday and is of the opinion 'claim what you can' although they (he's married) have plenty of money and a place abroad. I would advise anyone with any sort of disability, mobility or health issue or who needs help in and around the home to apply for it. Just find the trigger words to ensure your claim is successful.

As this thread dates back four months, wouldn't it be useful to know whether ex-dancer has solved the conundrum of her eligibility (or not) for AA?