Attendance Allowance claim

ruping20

Hi Everyone I am new to this site, I need your help in my attendance allowance claim/rejected 
last year I was awarded the full AA 
When  I renewed again they said I was not entitled to any ! Re personal care right through the day and night !

I had a random phone call from them prior to this decision asking things like have I contacted the DVLA and who is my full time carer !

So I have applied for a mandatory reconsideration I provided them with Dr letter and osteopath plus a letter, I ring frequently and a few days ago I rang and spoke to an assistant who informed me that I had been awarded the full amount again indefinitely! I thought Wow but on speaking to the pension credit just after that phone they said it was not on their screen so I rang again and another assistant said yes definitely got it, when I questioned her fully she said no you are right you have not got it and a decision will be made soon.
i sent a formal complaint in and now just waiting, this has been going on since February..
it is extremely hard work and very stressful.

Adrian_Scope

A warm hello and welcome to the community @ruping20. I'm sorry to hear about the difficulties you're experiencing with your Attendance Allowance claim. It sounds like a frustrating and stressful situation.

Initially reading your post I did consider that maybe they hadn't fully actioned the decision yet and so it wasn't showing on the Pension Credit system, but it's confusing that when you called back they said a decision hadn't been made. 

Did the telephone adviser explain why she had told you it had been accepted with an indefinite award and then changed her mind within the same phone call? 

How long ago did you put in the complaint? Hopefully you'll hear something back soon.

ruping20

Thank you Adrian for your warm welcome 
apparently the advisor did not fully read all my notes hence the confusion, so the first advisor did not read my notes at all (all confusing stuff) I have put a formal complaint in by letter.
apparently they are making a decision on the 11th but I explained in my letter I will not ring them as the advisor suggested as I have lost confidence in their system !

The reason my claim was rejected is the carer side of my claim my son helps me out by popping in on regular intervals, then I have a friend that also stays and helps me but I do not have a paid carer.
when I had the unannounced call the advisor was asking many questions and I got confused and could not answer her questions she was so abrupt.
Anyway I should hear this week and hopefully I will not have to take further steps ie tribunal.. 

Lou67

@ruping20
Hi and I hope you are well, I just want to wish you luck on your outcome it’s a shame you have been given the run around.

You should stick around and have a look at the chats and games and join in. 

It’s a great forum always someone about to chat to. 

Take care. 

ruping20

Yes I certainly will 
very interesting site with by the sound of it lovely people 

ruping20

I have been unsuccessful in my mandatory reconsideration re AA I am able to represent myself at the tribunal or do I need professional advice ??

Thanks in advance 
 

poppy123456

You don’t need representation at Tribunal. A lot of people attend by their self or with a friend/family member. 

The majority of hearings are by either telephone or video call anyway. 

Alex_Alumni

I'm sorry to hear your MR was unsuccessful @ruping20, and do let us know if we can help with anything in the lead up to the tribunal. 

It can take some time unfortunately, but keep us update when you can!

ruping20

Thank you I will be representing myself which is a bit scary 

Alex_Alumni

If you had any notes during your original assessment to help, keep those on hand for the appeal, so you can put everything you need to across. Although I've never had to have a tribunal, I can appreciate it must be quite nerve wracking @ruping20  

Turn2Us has some guidance on Tribunals which you might find helpful to read through too