Attendance Allowance

[Carnival567]

I have been reading the posts about Attendance Allowance, and there seems to be some confusion. You get PIP if you are under 65, but over that age you can apply for Attendance Allowance unless you already have been awarded PIP. If you had DLA before you were 65 and before the changes came in you keep DLA and don't have to apply for PIP or Attendance Allowance. I have had DLA for 20 years and my annual letter reassures me that I keep DLA. I get the middle care amount. If you get the mobility bit before 65 then you can keep it unless it is part of PIP and you have a review. You can't claim it after 65. I am reasonably sure this is correct having just looked up Attendance Allowance, but no guarantees are given!

[stone-UK]

Hi

I am receiving DLA, mobility and care indefinitely. No need to change to PIP now aged 70.

[Carnival567 in reply to stone-UK]

I am 75 and in same position, although I could kick myself for not applying for Mobility Allowance when I could.

[skischool]

having done some online research i agree with your interpretation of the rules regarding both PIP and AA,perhaps BLF's Biddy would like to clarify the main points for everybody's benefit(excuse the pun)...........Ski's and Scruff's x

[Carnival567 in reply to skischool]

I'm glad you agree, but I also agree that it is very complicated and Biddy would be very helpful if she clarified it. I am confused for my son, who is autistic and has been on DLA for about 15 years and has not yet been called for PIP. At 42 I would have expected him to, but I vaguely recall a report a while back that they were more interested in trying to call people with treatable or curable ailments than people officially diagnosed with definite untreatable and incurable conditions. Seems to me they sometimes have a funny idea of which is which! Scruffy would be able to sort it out I have no doubt!

[Magpuss in reply to Carnival567]

A funny idea indeed! My son will be 57 tomorrow, he has cerebral palsy and last month he was awarded PIP. As far I'm aware the medical profession haven't found a treatment or cure for CP but it would seem that the DWP have great hopes for future in that respect as he hasn't been given a lifetime award so at some point, the same boxes will have to be ticked and the same hoops jumped through🙄. I have no complaints whatsoever with them checking and double checking to stop the conmen/women from pillaging from the taxpayers - but surely, a little common sense should be applied when a disability has existed from birth? It could save 'them' an awful lot of paperwork, 'us' an awful lot of stress and probably quite a bit of cash for the taxpayer. Incidentally my son is now getting an enhanced rate for both mobility and care, so for him it's been a good outcome, and thanks to his social worker we had a welfare rights officer to help with all the form filling, I don't think I could have coped with it.

[Carnival567 in reply to Magpuss]

I'm glad all went well for your son, but I agree that I sometimes wonder how the minds of the people who draft the rules actually work!

[sassy59]

Very confusing Carnival. Xxx

[Biddy_ALUK Partner British Lung Foundation]

Good afternoon All,

This is a complicated scenario!

If you are receiving DLA and reached age 65 before 8 April 2013, you will stay on DLA.

Otherwise you will be contacted and 'invited' to put in a claim for PIP.

PIP is similar to DLA in that it has two components, 'mobility' and 'daily living' (daily living replaces DLA care component). The criteria is slightly different, hence the problems people are having with the phase over process.

AA is for new claimants age 65 and over. This doesn't have a mobility component and addresses personal care issues only. However, you can spend your award on anything you like - a mobility scooter/taxies, for example. You cannot spend an AA award to fund the Motability scheme.

If you are on DLA or PIP and you reach 65, you will stay on DLA or PIP, and won't have to apply for AA. If you then develop mobility needs, you cannot apply for the mobility component of PIP or DLA.

See the AgeUK factsheet below, section 8 'Change of Circumstances'

ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/a...

Please give me a call if you want to chat, - 03000 030 555

Thanks, Biddy

[skischool in reply to Biddy_ALUK]

well done Biddy,clarity at last.........ski's and scruff's x

[newlands]

Hi I’m 76 had DLA full amount for 15 years my last letter says you may have review somtime think it depends who wrote the letter lol

[hypercat54 in reply to newlands]

Hi Dorothy if you had DLA before you became a pensioner then you keep it and don't have to be changed over to PIP. x

[stone-UK]

Hi

Extract from disability rights handbook.

Re-claiming PIP from age 65

If a PIP award ends after you reach 65, you can re-claim the benefit within one year of your previous award ending, as long as your new claim relates to substantially the same physical or mental condition(s) ( or a new condition which developed as result of the one for which the previous award was made). You do not have to meet the 3-month qualifying period condition. If you leave it longer than a year or your claim relates to a different condition, you need to claim attendance allowance instead.

The mobility component

In the case of the mobility component, there is a additional restriction. You can only receive an award of the enhanced rate in the new if you where receiving that rate in the previous award. If you were receiving the standard rate in the previous award, you can only be awarded that rate in the new claim, even if your mobility needs have increased.

That should confuse more.😹

Reference your sons claim, if the award is indefinite then he will ask later, the fixed period claims come first, unless you report a change in circumstances. It would a good idea to keep any future correspondence etc, so as make the change over as seamlessly as possible.

[Carnival567 in reply to stone-UK]

Fortunately my son is now married and his wife helps sort it out!

[katieoxo60]

Your right it is very confusing , i find it difficult to explain to older people how it works for them, but advise to claim anyway as every little helps. I have DLA myself since before 65 . But don't get high rate care so could apply for a rise if my care needs get more. I receive high rate mobility though which is for life at present however rules do change unexpectedly on occassions. Enjoy the rest of your day.

[micox]

Over 65 when I became disabled so Attendance Allowance was my only choice. I soon found out the problem: you are NOT entitled to mobility help with AA. So my mobility needs are ignored because I'm over 65. EQUALITY - pffffft!