Attendance allowance...declined!

[nmintueo]

There is a time limit on reapplying once you have a decision, and it's one calendar month after the date of the decision letter received.

Good point. See also:

How to appeal against a benefits decision
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...ts/DG_10013949

Deadlines
You have one month:

• after getting a decision to ask for it to be explained, reconsidered or to appeal
• after getting a reconsidered decision to start an appeal

A late appeal may be accepted if you have special circumstances that prevented you appealing in time. You cannot appeal if more than 13 months have passed.

Benefits
http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/sc...?documentID=51

Challenging a decision
Most people receive the benefits they are entitled to without a problem. However, if you believe your claim has been incorrectly turned down, or that you have not been awarded the right amount of benefit, you have the right to challenge the decision. Write to the office that made the decision and ask them to revise it. If they do not alter their decision, you may be able to apply to an independent appeal tribunal.

Challenging a decision can be complex, and seeking advice as soon as possible can really help. Ask your local CAB or advice centre, your local authority's welfare rights unit, the Benefit Enquiry Line or the Alzheimer's Society National Dementia Helpline (details at the end of this factsheet).

[WirelessPaul]

I got the allowance wrong and the comment was about Disability LA.

[Nebiroth]

Please note that the criteria for Attendance Allowance, the subject of this thread, are different from those of Disability Living Allowance.

For example, there is no Mobility component at all, and there is no "main meal" test

[WirelessPaul]

Sorry about my mistake there

[jaymor]

My husband has had Alzheimers for nearly seven years and a couple of years ago I applied for attendance allowance and was turned down. I got it on second application because I gave more details. At the time my husband could put his clothes on but I had to give them to him in order or he would have been walking around like superman but on my original application I had not mentioned that I had to get his clothes for him, hand him each garment etc. so in reality he could not dress himself. Same with medication, he had reached the point of not knowing what tablets he needed but had no trouble taking them if they were put in his hand. I had put in the original that he could take his medication. So it really is important to put it down as it is even if there has only been on incident of it happening. Once it does happen it is going to soon become the normal.I have since applied and got the higher rate as he now needs night time help and certainly a lot more help during the day and requires constant watching. I had no problem getting the higher rate as I knew to give full details.

[shepped]

Hi all

I have been reading this thread with some interest.
Sorry for the long thread but just to put you in the picture.....
Albeit my mother does not have Altzeimers she did qualify for AA due to falls/unable to bath herself etc. At this point my father was alive and was considered to be the main carer. He passed away in september and now my Mum lives alone.I do (as her son ) visit her regulary but by no means do i give her constant supervision.She does rely a lot on her neighbours who do the odd shopping trip or trip to the doctors. She still struggles to bath herself and we have had to bring her bed downstairs as she just can not manage the stairs.(all to to with a recent knee operation). She does have diabetis but is not on dialysis.She manages to to go to the local shops with a walking stick or framed shopping trolly.She wants to mantain her independance as much as possible.She also employs a gardener as she misses doing this herself.
Now when my father passed away i was struggling to see if my mum reached criteria for the lower rate of AA as she did not get supervision ever hour she lives alone and apart from bath time i am not constantly there(i do not help to wash just there in case she falls).I then asked for DWP representative to come around and help us assess my Mum. She did and insisted that she most definatly qualifies even though her position had improved following her operation.
From the above i believe AA is hit and miss and can be very difficult as it relys on self assessment and like a lot of the posts already if you play down your circumstances it will not be in your best interests be truthful but honest to yourself.