Attendance Allowance
Posted , 4 users are following.
For those that don't know what this is or was - it is/was broadly similar to DLA except that there is no Mobility element.
My back story - I lost my DLA when the offer to go for PIP came through earlier this year (January).- I am 68 so cannot re-claim PIP as I'm too old.
The DWP were supposed to send out a claim from for AA if the DLA is removed - no form received (this was 8+ weeks ago). Telephoned the DWP who said that there was no point in making a claim for AA as everything is on hold with no new applications being accepted as it was likely that the budget (2 weeks ago) was to scrap AA altogether.
There was nothing in the budget!!! Does that mean that I can apply for Attendance Allowance now? What about the back dating to when I lost the DLA?
0 likes, 18 replies
marshall71 les59996
Posted
mike09523 les59996
Posted
As far as I know the plans for AA are to give local councils a yearly budget increase to help their vunerable people direct. Of course, if this goes through it wont be to long before it becomes just another way of increasing the council coffers, damn it, I get more sceptical every day.
les59996 mike09523
Posted
AgeUK did tell me back in January that any claim that is in payment and any claim that is received before the cut off date can get AA, those that haven't or don't submit a claim will lose out.Seems a bit suspect to me - I suppose the same goes for those who miss the deadline to claim PIP due to going over 65 - it's all or nothing.
les59996
Posted
They asked why I wanted to claim AA. So out came the story - followed by ooo and ahhh's by way of sympathy - it seems that the DWP were wrong on every count when they stopped my DLA. On top of that the DWP had no right to tell me not to bother claiming AA as the government wanted to use the money elsewhere.
It seems that the DWP have never not accepted any AA application!!
Anyhow, they started to fill in the form with me and asked if I wanted to complain/appeal the DLA/PIP debarcle as well. That I know would be a Tribunal hearing so no just leave it alone.
I was then asked about supporting evidence - uumm don't have any.
Form has gone off with my version of my difficulties which I have been warned may well require me to be seen by a 'Doctor' at home as there is no evidence to back up anything that I have said.
To be honest wishing I had not have bothered now - if I get some snotty over bearing medic they will be out of the front door pronto - I just don't need to be assumed that I am lying until proven otherwise - all they need to do is look at the DLA history - all 20 years of it!!
les59996
Posted
I have been watching with interest the movement of getting rid of Attendance Allowance and the giving of the money to Local Authorities. Obviously any current awardee will not be affected - it is for new claimants who will have to pass tests set by the councils.
Anyhow things are gathering pace and a consultation is to take place in July
https://ukaji.org/2016/02/22/consultation-on-the-future-of-attendance-allowance-what-questions-do-we-need-to-ask/
There are some charities that are completely against the idea but on the face of it the local authorities are at the moment starved of funds for their Social Services departments.
Wait and see what transpires.
les59996
Posted
What a morning! First someone from the Pain Clinic telephoned to get an update on how I am getting along with the additional medication - Gabapentin. Errr I am not taking it - i take enough pills as it is. To say the least he was not happy.
Next I get a telephone call from my GP asking why am I not taking it - it was first news to him. Rubbish - I haven't ordered any on the repeat prescription for over 3 months - don't you look at your records?
Then he suggested that I come in for another Depression/Anxiety assessment as that may well be the reason why I am refusing my meds.. Nope not a chance.
I'm sure that GP's like keeping patients on drugs - must be on a commission.
So with AgeUK telephoning last week trying to pressurise me into making another AA claim and now the medics are on my case - is this normal when you get beyond a certain age?
mike09523 les59996
Posted
Hi les59996,
I have hesitated in answering this post, but here goes: As we get older and "wiser" the hoop jumping competition gets harder.
They take away our dla, then make it harder, or impossible to claim pip, or a a. Leaving it to local council to award aa would be a recipe for disaster, much better things to spend it on.
On the other hand - someone who is trying to claim aa with the help of AC or CAB are put on extra medication by their pain control specialist, when they contact said person, he or she simply says , fine thanks, no problem. When their GP contacts them and suggests a consultation the patient agrees, gets help, therefore has professional backing to their claim.
Play their games, but now and then, by your rules, not theirs.
Yes, yes I know I am wrong,, we must always be honest otherwise we deserve to be called cheats and whatever but the number of genuine sufferers being penalised, punished and branded liars are increasing.
les59996 mike09523
Posted
Thanks, and I gather from your comments that just because I am getting on in years I have a choice - play the game of working the system so as to put a picture before the DWP in order to claim a benefit? Maybe I have misunderstood you, and if I apologise - my brain just isn't the same as it was (so the professionals say - acquired brain injury and early onset of Dementia).
But then where is my real choice of not wanting more pills, not wanting another 3/5 years of intensive psychiatric assessments, counselling and the involvement of Social Services again? Not wanting any more of that doesn't make me any less or more damaged/disabled.
Is this what it has come to - I only get a Welfare payment provided that I give up my rights and live the life of a complete zombie not knowing what day of the week it is?
I know you mean well but surely there has to be another way?
mike09523 les59996
Posted
Hi les59996,
Forgive me, but I did not advise said person should take all the meds, simply that accepting that the pain control clinic and your GP know best, put in the prescriptions, tick their boxes but if because of your " state of mind " , you forget to take all of your meds???
les59996 mike09523
Posted
Uummm, that is exactly what a friend does that I mentioned on another thread.
Whilst I see your logic - it's called 'window dressing' in accountany circles.
No I cannot condone that sort of action, it is having the NHS/GP fund drugs that are to be thrown away unused.
My thinking is that people should not have to go to those lengths in order to manipulate medical records and have taxpayers foot the cost of unwanted drugs all for trying to prove entitlement to benefits.
mike09523 les59996
Posted
Hi les59996,
I applaud your moral standing and accept that an accountant usually has an excellent phrase to cover legal technicalities.
But, you express that the GP may be on a commission to put you onto these drugs, certainly the drug company make a profit on these drugs, the tax payer (you and me both) also contribute towards these drugs. It's a merry - go - round, we are all on board, all being taken for a ride. Either hold on tight or let go, but don't expect the dwp, gps or the drug companies to have your moral standards. I am sorry les I used to think and behave like you but after what has happened to me over the last five years with the gps, surgeons, specialists, physiotherapists dwp and the dla they have all, between them sucked any and all pride, honesty and decency that I had.
les59996 mike09523
Posted
Thanks, as far as I can see it appears that a little bit of fraudalent activity is acceptable to most. Doesn't that just play into the hands of those that think benefit claimants are all a load of can artists?
And as for suggesting that we all should lower our standards to those of others including the DWP, that is plainly wrong.
I know you all mean well, but to sink to the level of being a normally honest benefit scrounger is not for me - for some strange reason I still believe that honesty does pay - eventually.
To have an award based on fabrication and manipulation would have me looking over my shoulder every day trying to spot cars that I don't recognise and people loitering around with a video camera.
mike09523 les59996
Posted
Hi les59996,
They don't follow you around like that so much these days. Whenever you fill in a form theses days they ask for your mobile phone number, to keep you up to date, you understand. Then they can use mobile tracking to keep an eye on where you go, Tesco Thursday, bingo Friday etc. Then they can use cc tv to monitor your movements and see what you can and cannot do, all without leaving the office. Modern technology, wonderful.
les59996 mike09523
Posted
In addition to what you say regarding public CCTV (which can easilly be downloaded onto a laptop from anywhere at your desk (private ones are not so easy), the government have access to ANPR data, DVLA data as well as Clubcard and Nectar data.
But the evidence gathered via on the ground surveillance is indisputable and which would concern me if I used fraudalent means to obtain benefits.
For the same reason I have never held a passport nor a modern driving licence preferring to use my old green paper one that was issued in 1985 and is completely out of date and having no inclination to leave Britain.
les59996
Posted
Just remembered something. I had to go and represent my wife at a Tribunal some 6 years ago when she claimed AA via Age Concern as she was too sick that day to leave the house.
The hearing lasted about 10mins and one question that was asked was ''what would I do if the pain medication that my wife was prescribed with wasn't working and she was suffering'
Not too sure how that related to the AA claim, but I was honest with my answer. I told the panel that if she was in such a state and her only recently having been discharged from hospital and her having experienced the mistakes, lack of care etc that she endured - I would give her some Morphine that was prescribed for me. I than continued saying that if it was an animal I would shoot it, but doing that to my wife would be unacceptable.
Immediately I was told to leave the room. When I came back in the GP on the panel accused me of being drug dealer in supplying a Class A drug - Morphine Sulphate and that he was considering reporting the statement to my GP and the Police. To say the least I was ushered out of the room and told to go away. She never got the award and the statement that the Tribunal sent her suggested that I was giving restricted drugs to her illegally!!
So yes you do have a point - maybe there are times when you have to tell a lie to the DWP/Tribunal.