Search results for ‘Subject term:"attendance allowance"’ Sort:
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The five year battle
- Authors:
- LLOYD Jeremy, FRANKLIN Julia
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 27.9.90, 1990, p.10.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
From the 1st October 1990 people with a terminal illness will be able to claim Attendance Allowance without having to meet the usual qualifying rules - this marks the culmination of a five year campaign by the Association of Hospice Workers.
A delay they can ill afford: delays in obtaining Attendance Allowance for older, terminally ill cancer patients, and the role of health and social care professionals in reducing them
- Author:
- NOSOWSKA Geraldine
- Journal article citation:
- Health and Social Care in the Community, 12(4), July 2004, pp.283-287.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Despite a growing interest in holistic care for the terminally ill, financial needs are often not addressed. This is reflected in the fact that some people with a terminal illness are not accessing disability benefits, despite eligibility. This paper is based on a study investigating delays experienced by cancer patients in obtaining Attendance Allowance (AA) by special rules, and missed opportunities for professionals to assist with claims. It took place in a hospice where patients were referred to social work professionals for assistance in claiming AA. In each case the patient had been eligible for some time before the referral. Over 5 months all 22 referred patients completed a questionnaire. Data were collected to show personal characteristics, how they came to be referred and level of knowledge of AA. Length of time they had already been eligible and time taken to claim were recorded to show the amount of lost benefit. The health and social care professionals seen since becoming eligible were also recorded. A wide range of people experienced delays in accessing AA. Total lost income ranged from £110.60 to £1106 (median £387.10) and 4 died before being awarded AA. Only 4 were fully aware of their eligibility. Every person had seen between one and 4 professionals since becoming eligible for benefit, without the meeting resulting in a claim. Increased income aids illness management, and information and assistance to claim disability benefits should be made available in a consistent manner at the earliest opportunity. Health and social care professionals are in a position to provide this. However, changes to the claims process, proposed by the author, could ensure that AA is received automatically, without delay and without extensive paperwork.