On line attendance allowance

This explains the role of a Social Prescriber.
As I said earlier, a SP filled in the forms for my husband and we were so grateful.

I hadn’t heard of these until a friend told me.

www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/social-prescribing/

DWP website says Attendance Allowance can be either an indefinite lifetime award or subject to review.
Sorry I was only partially correct.

I successfully applied last year. I found 2 sources of info invaluable, one free and one 1 had to pay £19.95 for an annual membership but it was well worth it.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkpQQlAflAc

benefitsandwork.co.uk/subscribe?filter_plan_ids=1,2,3

If you are unsure, every council has a Welfare Benefits Officer who can help, well they have one here.

I have done an application for myself - on paper, for my husband - online and am in the process of organising an application for a friend. The benefit of doing it on paper, as pp have said, is that your claim dates from when you applied for the forms. And, don’t worry, the answer does take quite a long time to come. For my friend though, I didn’t want the responsibility of filling out the form (it takes about 2 hours) and getting wrong so she’d have to apply again. So I contacted our local Age UK ( ours is still Age Cincern) and they are sending someone who will complete the form for claimants and is very competent at doing so. For this, my friend will have to pay £30, which she is happy to do, and then there is a further charge if the AA is granted.

I recently applied successfully, using the online form. I did not complete the whole form in one sitting, I saved my progress and went back several times. I was surprised it seemed so straightforward. When my husband was awarded AA many years ago, the hospital where he was an in patient, following a stroke, applied on his behalf and I knew nothing about it until the payments started arriving. I remember I could not believe we got state money to help do what I thought was my duty as his wife ie, look after him!!!

Georgie girl , that is a 100% right you must always reply using the worst you are

We too have a Social Prescriber who is attached to some of the local GP surgeries. Her advice was to ring up and ask for the paper form, and contact her as soon as it arrives. That way the claim would be backdated. She then came out, filled it in with copies I provided of the supporting evidence she asked for, she took it away and sent it off and about three weeks later I was told my husband had been granted the higher rate and the money was in the joint bank account. She has been pushing on the Continuing Health Care assessment to get that moved forward and we have that to face on Monday. She is a beacon of light amongst all the red tape and obfuscation that the Government puts in the way of those needing to claim benefits.

My GP provided form with evidence of illness, needs etc for AA application. Only received 6 weeks payment before DH admitted to Hospice when allowance ceases. Submitted paper application as gave more time for thought on questions.

Citizen’s Advicev are very helpful in filling out the forms.

B9exchange

We too have a Social Prescriber who is attached to some of the local GP surgeries. Her advice was to ring up and ask for the paper form, and contact her as soon as it arrives. That way the claim would be backdated. She then came out, filled it in with copies I provided of the supporting evidence she asked for, she took it away and sent it off and about three weeks later I was told my husband had been granted the higher rate and the money was in the joint bank account. She has been pushing on the Continuing Health Care assessment to get that moved forward and we have that to face on Monday. She is a beacon of light amongst all the red tape and obfuscation that the Government puts in the way of those needing to claim benefits.

SPs are great aren’t they? Free service too.

Ours was so helpful and, as carers, we have enough to do so it is marvellous to have someone on your side.

I completed it on paper. It takes ages. If I were you I would ask for a paper version.

My forms were filled in by a person employed by AgeUK to help individuals to completer the forms. I made an appointment, and the forms took around 2 hours of sitting with this person and them filling out the pages on my behalf.
I was awarded the full entitlement, indefinitely. I was expecting to be going back and forth, because you always hear of people not being awarded at the first try, but I was very happy this was not the case. I let the AgeUK person know and made a donation for his help in filling in the forms (which I wasn't pressured into doing).
Get AgeUk on the job, they are there to make our lies a little bit easier, use them !!

I got this for 2 years,top award my health has deteriorated since then,they sent me forms when it expired,said i was not entitled to anything,strange as i had for 2 years,gone to appeal and tribunal,give them all my hospital proof,its took from last April,to 23rd january,gone through every tribunal stage,nowhere else to go,can i reapply,really need help.

Just to say there are people who advertise that they can help fill in AA and PIP forms, for a fee. Please don’t use these. Citizens Advice or Age UK are always happy to help.

When I applied, the form wasn't date stamped. I "know the system" and filled in the form in dribs and drabs. I didn't need any help and received the full allowance 6 weeks early.