Attendance allowance??

[Links123]

My husband has just been refused AA. He has non-alcohol related cirrhosis, has had mini stroke, has type 2 diabetes and has has trans ischemic amnesia. Should he be receiving AA

[Garyvh]

It all depends on his care needs really.

You can have a list of disease and conditions as long as your arm, but if you are still able to do most of your day to day routines then you won't get it.

You have to show how his conditions impact on things like toilet, dressing, preparing food, getting around etc etc.

Gary

[Links123 in reply to Garyvh]

Thanks for that but surely there is some benefit he is entitled to

[itsmylife123 in reply to Links123]

Does your husband receive PIP? It is broken down down to a living & mobility allowance. This might be more appropriate. Please claim if not already receiving as your husband seems to need help. All the best.

[AyrshireK]

As Gary has said the qualifying criteria is all about needing help or supervision and I guess you have to prove the need for this help/supervision. Just the same as with Personal Independence Payment you have to complete a 'How your disability affects you form'

What is Attendance Allowance and can I get it?

Attendance Allowance is to help with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. You may get Attendance Allowance if you are State Pension age or over when you make your claim you cannot get Disability Living Allowance, you cannot get Personal Independence Payment & your disability means that you need help with your personal care(see page 5) or you need someone to supervise you for your own or someone else’s safety (see page 5), and you have needed that help for at least 6 months.

What do ‘help with personal care’ and ‘supervise’ mean?

Help with personal care means day-to-day help with things like: washing (or getting into or out of a bath or shower), dressing, eating, going to or using the toilet or telling people what you need or making yourself understood (if you have a problem, such as learning difficulties, that makes this hard).

‘Supervise’ means that you need someone to watch over you to help you avoid substantial danger to yourself or other people. This could mean: when you take medicines or have treatmentt, keeping you away from danger that you may not know is there, avoiding danger you could face because you cannot control the way you behave, and stopping you from hurting yourself or other people. You may need help with personal care or supervision because you: find it hard to move your arms or legs or have no control over them get breathless easily or are in pain, or have behaviour difficulties, mental-health problems, or you get confused.

How is Attendance Allowance worked out?

There are 2 rates of Attendance Allowance: lower rate, and higher rate.

The rate you get is based on how much help you need.

Lower rate of Attendance Allowance You may get the lower rate of Attendance Allowance if you need: help with personal care frequently throughout the day help with personal care during the night someone to supervise you continually throughout the day to help you avoid substantial danger, someone to watch over you at night to help you avoid substantial danger, or someone with you when you are on dialysis.

Higher rate of Attendance Allowance You may get the higher rate if you need: help with personal care or someone to supervise you throughout the day and also during the night.

I guess just the same as PIP you need to provide sufficient information proving the help you need and medical information to support your claim.

If you feel hubby does require the support as covered by AA then there is probably a means of appeal via Mandatory Reconsideration or Appeal Tribunal. Get advice from Citizens Advice Bureau or your local council's Welfare Rights Officer to help progress an appeal.

Regardless of diagnosis it depends on the affects it has on the day to day tasks covered.

Katie

[Links123 in reply to AyrshireK]

Thanks

[Garyvh]

Definitely appeal it. I know it's a bit late now but always get advice on filling the forms in. It's all to easy to underplay our needs, as none of us like to admit we need help, through pride or whatever.

Really you need to give very specific instances of the day to day help he needs doing the simple things that most people tale for granted.

[pamey1]

if you are his carer look into you claiming carers allowance.

[Hidden]

Hi Links123

You may want to discuss this with the Citizens Advice Bureau or contact Carers Uk who can offer support with carers allowance and benefits

carersuk.org/

Best of luck,

Trust1