On line attendance allowance

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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!!!

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.

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

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

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

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/

Hello Cherrytree59, hope you can see this message. I completed the AA application for my elderly Dad online and if memory serves you can save your progress while applying (the gov.uk forms do give you that option). However you can also get a paper form from the appropriate department of DWP I think, which you may find easier. Of note which is imperative is that you have dates of any hospital departments and appointments and doctors and past medical history (available from your GP to help with the application- the more the better. If you need help filling out the form you may find Citizen’s Advice or Age UK can help out. Best of luck

I requested the paper form. I found it pretty straighforward to complete. I didn't need to provide information from dad's GP, as he gave permission for them to contact the GP direct.

Just make sure you have a cup of tea and a biscuit with you to keep you focused while you fill it in.

We have a Care Shop in Selsey and they did it for me. Wondered if Citizens Advice could help you.

Netherbyg84

I too used a paper copy. What I think helps a lot is if you have a letter from a medical practitioner of some kind who will confirm you are being honest in the information you provide.
Somebody like an O.T, Physio, GP, hospital doctor, would be ideal. Then you can paper clip the letter onto the appliction.
It's a lifetime award - there's no checking up process once you get it.

Not according to the DWP Netherby………..Attendance Allowance is NOT a lifetime award.

My Oncologist nurses made the original application on my behalf, (also submitted Blue Badge application) but hearing nothing for a few weeks when I phoned to check any progress I was told I had to submit the claim myself, but they had filled in all the medical details and all I needed was to quote SR1 on the form. I did it on line and a few weeks later found money had been credited in my bank account. The letter confirming the amount etc. followed a week or so later.
Yes it is quite long but I can’t remember a time limit.

I too used a paper copy. What I think helps a lot is if you have a letter from a medical practitioner of some kind who will confirm you are being honest in the information you provide.
Somebody like an O.T, Physio, GP, hospital doctor, would be ideal. Then you can paper clip the letter onto the appliction.
It's a lifetime award - there's no checking up process once you get it.

My GP arranged for a Social Services person to come to my house and help me fill the AA Form in - what a nightmare - it took over 2 hours and then (even though the Form was supplied "on line") there was NO PLACE on the form to send it to them ON LINE - so it was fortunate that I did have a Printer, and between us, the Social Services worker and myself managed to print it all out - THERE WERE 33 (thirty three) long pages, which all had to be posted to them. I did not have a big A4 envelope, so the Social worker took it with her and said she would post it for me. I can only hope that she did this - I have no way of finding out if this was all done correctly. I now wait in trepidation to see if it has gone through correctly. It is now well over a month ago ..... no word yet if I have been accepted for Attendance Allowance.

Well done for giving up the demon drink. I wish you well in your recovery.

My GP arranged for a Social Services person to come to my house and help me fill the AA Form in - what a nightmare - it took over 2 hours and then (even though the Form was supplied "on line") there was NO PLACE on the form to send it to them ON LINE - so it was fortunate that I did have a Printer, and between us, the Social Services worker and myself managed to print it all out - THERE WERE 33 (thirty three) long pages, which all had to be posted to them. I did not have a big A4 envelope, so the Social worker took it with her and said she would post it for me. I can only hope that she did this - I have no way of finding out if this was all done correctly. I now wait in trepidation to see if it has gone through correctly. It is now well over a month ago ..... no word yet if I have been accepted for Attendance Allowance.