Why Would You Be Refused Attendance Allowance?

Why are people refused Attendance Allowance?

Why Are Applicants Rejected? – The most common reason for applicants being rejected is not putting down specific issues or symptoms. Often, people applying for Attendance Allowance won’t say exactly how significant their condition is or the effect it has on their day-to-day life. All in all, over half of applicants are rejected.

What if I have been turned down for Attendance Allowance?

If you call the DWP to ask for mandatory reconsideration – It’s best to use the form or write to the DWP to ask for a mandatory reconsideration. If you call them, they might want to speak to you about your decision before they look at it again. They’ll call you back to tell you why your claim was refused.

help with personal care during the day or night, or both someone to look after you during the day to make sure you’re safe someone to wake up during the night to watch over you and make sure you’re safe

You should also tell the DWP if you forgot to write something in your claim form or want to explain something in more detail. It’s important to do this because the DWP will look at your AA decision again while they’re on the phone with you. They’ll tell you if they think you should get AA when you speak to them – you won’t have to wait for a letter.

You should make a note of what you talked about to help you remember what was said. If the DWP don’t change their decision and you still think you should get AA, you’ll need to apply for a mandatory reconsideration. Make sure you tell the person on the phone that you’re going to do this. You’ll need to follow the normal mandatory reconsideration process.

Attendance Allowance helpline Telephone: 0800 731 0122 Textphone: 0800 731 0317 Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then 0800 731 0122 You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it.

What qualifies you for Attendance Allowance?

See below for more answers to your questions on Attendance Allowance – Attendance Allowance is extra money if you have a long-term physical or mental condition or disability. It doesn’t matter what your condition is – what matters is how it affects you.

1. If you’ve reached State Pension age and need help with personal care, or need support to check you’re ok, you may be eligible.
2. Attendance Allowance isn’t means-tested, so it doesn’t matter what your income or savings are.
3. You can get Attendance Allowance even if you’re working or studying.
4. If you’re awarded Attendance Allowance, you can spend it on whatever you want that makes life easier.

You don’t have to spend it on paying for care. However, your local council or trust can take Attendance Allowance into account when working out how much you need to pay for care services. Getting Attendance Allowance won’t reduce your other benefits. In fact, it could even increase them.

• If you have a carer, claiming Attendance Allowance may help them qualify for benefits such as Carer’s Allowance.
• You and/or your carer may be entitled to other extra help too.
• If you’re a carer, with a long-term condition or disability, you can claim Attendance Allowance for yourself and it won’t affect any Carer’s Allowance you may be receiving.

For 2023/24, the rates are: Higher £101.75 per week Lower £68.10 per week You’ll receive the higher rate if you need help or supervision during the day and at night, or if you’re terminally ill. You’ll receive the lower rate if you need frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night.

You have a long-term physical or mental illness or disability. You have needed help with your personal care (for example, washing and dressing), or supervision to keep you safe, for at least six months before claiming. You’re over State Pension age.

There are also certain residence and presence conditions to meet. If you’re terminally ill, there are simpler rules which make it easier to apply. You may qualify for Attendance Allowance if you need help with personal care or supervision to keep you safe.

How long does it take to get decision on Attendance Allowance?

It normally takes 30 working days to process an Attendance Allowance claim, from the day the Disability and Carers Service receives your claim form. If the claim is made under the special rules for end of life, it will be dealt with much more quickly.

What is the question 44 on the Attendance Allowance?

One page on the form (Question 44) invites you to tell them anything else that they may need to know. This gives you the chance to tell the decision-maker anything you have not been able to mention anywhere else. Make sure you mention anything that will give your claim a better chance of success.

Can you get Attendance Allowance for diabetes?

Daytime needs – You may be entitled to Attendance Allowance if you need frequent care through the day. The care you may need may include:

Help with dressing Help with preparing food or eating Help with washing or using the toilet Help with reading or communicating Help with taking medication or treating a health condition

If you have diabetes complications, or another health condition in addition to diabetes, that requires regular care through the day you may qualify for Attendance Allowance. The presence of neuropathy, visual impairments, deafness, joint problems or complications as a result of heart, stroke or kidney problems could lead to difficulties in one or more of the above activities.

Does asthma qualify for Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance supports many health issues including emphysema, asthma and chronic bronchitis.

Can people with arthritis claim Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance is paid because the symptoms of your rheumatoid arthritis are such that you need either care or supervision from another person. The care you receive must relate to some kind of ‘bodily function’, such as with dressing, bathing, toileting and getting safely around the home.

Does osteoporosis qualify for Attendance Allowance?

Osteoporosis itself does not make you eligible for disability-related financial support. But you may be able to get financial help if you have broken bones that make it hard to do everyday tasks, get around, or work.

Does spinal stenosis qualify for Attendance Allowance?

Infectious Disease categories – Prior to October 2008 infectious diseases were not allocated to specific Infectious Disease classifications. Instead they were allocated to the existing classifications that best described them: e.g. pulmonary tuberculosis ( TB ) would be allocated to “Chest Diseases” but other types of TB would have been allocated differently, e.g.

• Renal TB would have been allocated to Renal Disorders.
• From October 2008 onwards incidences of TB of all types are recorded as TB and are reported in the table as “Infectious diseases: Bacterial disease – Tuberculosis”.
• An example of an infectious disease recorded as “Infectious diseases: Protozoal disease – other / precise diagnosis not specified” would be Giardiasis; pre-October 2008 this would have been most likely to be recorded in the “Inflammatory Bowel Disease” category as this would have given the closest fit to the condition.

Cases allocated before October 2008 will still have these classifications recorded for statistical purposes. Please note: From October 2008 Obesity, which would have previously been included in the general classification of “Behavioural disorder”, was allocated to a specific code (as were the other conditions formerly recorded under the umbrella classification of “Behavioural disorder”).

From February 2010 all “Obesity” cases that could be identified (i.e. had been allocated using the new finer classification system) were reclassified under “Metabolic disease”). Mental Health Causes: This consists of the categories: Psychosis, Psychoneurosis, Personality Disorder, Dementia, Behavioural Disorder and Severely Mentally impaired.

Deafness: This consisted of Deafness and Deaf/Blind. Back Ailments: This consisted of Spondylosis and ‘Back Pain – other / precise diagnosis not specified’. Examples of categories that feed into the ‘Back Pain – other / precise diagnosis not specified’ group are Spinal stenosis and Scoliosis.

What is the question 26 on the Attendance Allowance?

Question 26 asks when your care needs started. Try not to worry about being too exact with the date as the Decision Maker will be aware that there is not always a specific date that your care needs started and that most people decline over time.

Can I get carers allowance and Attendance Allowance?

Your Attendance Allowance will not be affected. If you care for someone for 35 hours or more each week, you may also get Carer’s Allowance. You can get Carer’s Allowance once we have agreed the person you care for is awarded Attendance Allowance.

What is the lowest payment for Attendance Allowance?

Attendance Allowance rates –

Rate	Level of help you need
Lower rate – £68.10	Frequent help or constant supervision during the day, or supervision at night
Higher rate – £101.75	Help or supervision throughout both day and night, or a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live

If your circumstances change, you could get a different rate. You must report a change of circumstances, You could get extra Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Reduction if you get Attendance Allowance – check with the helpline or office dealing with your benefit.

Is Attendance Allowance disregarded?

The days you enter and leave the home or hospital count as days at home. Income from AA is disregarded as income in the calculation of means- tested benefits including Pension Credit, Universal Credit, Housing Benefit, and Council Tax Support (or Council Tax Reduction).