Post by fidothat's the advice I've been given by a charity who's giving me advice
on claiming Attendance Allowance, because if I can cut the lawn then I
don't need AA! Any comments?
The charity shouldn't be advising you in such a way. Either you can cut
the lawn, in which case cut it, or you can't cut the lawn in which case
don't! Cutting grass isn't dependent on receiving or not receiving benefits!
AA is paid to meet the additional costs of personal care because of
severe disability. In a way I can see what they mean - to get AA you
need to be severely disabled and for many elderly people this would
preclude them being able to do many tasks including gardening. But it
isn't beyond the realms of possibility that someone getting AA can cut
the lawn. Needing help to do one thing doesn't mean you can't do another
by yourself.
If the DWP were to apply the test that the charity have set - if you can
cut the lawn then you don't qualify for AA - then the charity shouldn't
be advising people to not cut the lawn if they can as effectively the
charity is advising people to tell a few lies... of course in reality
there is no "cutting the lawn" test.
--
Robbie