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ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE - CHANGE IN CRITERIA?

Jillymac
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Age UK Suffolk

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Joined: 5 June 2013

Has anyone been made aware of changes to criteria for qualifying for AA?

Have just received the latest Attendance Allowance form; AA1 July 2014, which breaks down the questions into two sections, under the familiar heading, ‘Do you usually have difficulty or do you need help…....?’ 

The applicant now has the choice of ticking a box under separate headings; ‘I have difficulty’, or ‘I need help’.  Many applicants may struggle or have difficulty but don’t actually receive any help as there may be none available, or they have found alternative ways of dealing with their disability.  There is still space to write about difficulties or help needed, however I am concerned that if the ‘I need help’ box isn’t completed, then any additional information may be ignored.

The criteria has always been based on the help that an individual needs, not the help they actually get. Having completed AA forms over many years, through various changes, this appears to be making a very specific distinction between ‘difficulty’ and help’ which is worrying.

I would be interested to know if there has been a change which hasn’t been widely publicised or hear from anyone who has submitted this new form and received a result. 

benefitsadviser
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Sunderland West Advice Project

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Hmm. To answer your question : No i havent seen any change in AA rules and regs from July 2014

The cynic in me reckons its a deliberate attempt to reduce the AA bill plus all the addons that go with it.

As advisers we would get round this no problem however clients left to their own devices may struggle with the nature of the questions now.

A client of mine was told by a friend that she was entitled to AA and therefore had to claim it.

She ordered the form and came in with it, and hadnt a clue what AA was.
Never opened the envelope or read the form, just wanted it filled in as her friend was an “expert” and apparently she was “entitled” (we’ve all been there)

I started asking the questions and she got really offended. “Of course I can dress myself, Im not a baby - Why are you asking me about the toilet” etc etc.

Turns out she could self care but it took ages due to discomfort, and as she lives alone she got no help.

I explained it was about her care needs only, not what care she got. I also explained it shouldnt take 1 hour to get dressed.

I got her Low rate AA due to her care needs. Other claimants may simply not return the form if its worded in such a way that makes claimants think they are wasting their time.

I havent seen the new form (my last AA from last week was the january2014 one)

We shall see….....

 

 

 

 

[ Edited: 21 Oct 2014 at 04:27 pm by benefitsadviser ]
Jillymac
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Age UK Suffolk

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Think perhaps we are all a little cynical.  Have just completed two of the January 2014 today.  The new version only just having been received in the post.  As you say there is more than the AA at stake as it passports on to other benefits.  Many thanks for your comment.

BC Welfare Rights
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The Brunswick Centre, Kirklees & Calderdale

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The printable forms on gov.uk are still the January version which is a bit odd that they haven’t been updated if new version came out in July