Attendance Allowance Criteria

[irenec]

I have received the Attendance Allowance forms, and DIAL are going to help me fill them in.Iget out of breath a lot.I am 66.Last year i was on a life support machine with respitory failure and pneumonia.Whats the best way to get this across on the forms? Ihave 33% lung function.

[Hidden]

We have just completed this for my husband who has severe copd with 27% lung function. I actually asked for a little help just to have it checked over before I sent it - the respiratory team put me in touch with a welfare rights person but as it happened there was very little he could add.

The form has very little room on it to answer as fully as you need to. So for each question my husband wrote what he could and then he typed an answer - headed the page in bold with the question number and question - and then went on to answer it as fully as possible. You may feel that it is very repetitive but for each question you need to answer fully what difficulties you have - even if you seem to have written the same details for the previous questions. Try to focus on the question - eg . (I cant remember the questions exactly) if it asks do you have problems cooking a meal - you need to think about cooking a meal and write down every part that you have problems with eg. I cannot stand over the cooker because the heat causes me problems breathing, I cannot bend down to get food from the main over because I get breathless when I bend down etc. It is not exaggerating but you need to make sure that the person who is reading your form and doesn't know you at all gets a full picture of what difficulties you face in every aspect of your life most of which you just accept now. You also need to state clearly what you need help with even if it is from a partner eg. getting dressed, taking medications etc.

Also you need to attach as much medication information as you can. We had a recent spirometry test which we included which showed the lung function and the report from the respiratory team at the end of the pulmonary rehab course. It might be a good idea to ask the doctor to write a letter confirming your medical health - it may cost but will act as evidence. You will also need a list of uptodate medications from the gp.

In conclusion it did take some time to fill in the form and quite a lot of thought but it was worth it he did get the higher rate of attendance allowance. The very best of luck, lots of love TAD xx ps more information is better than less!

[Louisiana]

I am on attendance allowance - I had not actually been diagnosed with emphysema when I applied, but I have osteoporosis, arthritis, wedge fractures in the spine, etc. so had great difficulties "doing" things. I was turned down twice for the allowance, but a friend of mine said I had been stressing about the wrong things...e.g., I couldnt to the laundry, clean the house, etc....the last time I applied I didn't even mentione those things, but just fully explained what I could not do for myself so needed personal help, such as get out of bed some mornings, shower, and so on...I was finallly given the allowance fpr which I am grateful as it helps to pay for extra help.I hope you get yours OK

[caroleoctober]

I filled out the form by myself and got refused twice. A friend told me her mother had Age UK help her so I got in touch with them. They came to my home and filled out the form for me and I got the higher rate allowance. I think it is because they know how to word the answers to the questions to the best effect. Hope you get it as it is such a help! Keep smiling.

Carole x

[pergola1]

Both husband Brian and myself have the attendance allowance. Brian's was whizzed through because he was so poorly. There is a special form to enable this to happen (Sort of queue jumping) Dont like the latter but necessary for B. Me, I took my turn and to my surprise I got it!

[doublecee]

I had help from a member of the Local Councils Benefits team.

You can but ask for their help. They're very unlikely to refuse. Good Luck,

[irenec]

Just to let you all know i was awarded Attendance Allowance the full amount.