Attendance Allowance and Change in Circumstance

[IrvineHimself]

As you know, I recently successfully claimed Attendance Allowance. Although I listed over a dozen conditions in the claim form, the letter informing me of the award stated particular reasons for why I got it. Since this is personal and sensitive info, I am not going to go into details, but I am sure older diabetics with OCD can guess the reasons. In particular, even though I made clear I had a referral for cataract surgery, the award was not time limited, nor tied in any way whatsoever to my cataracts.

Yesterday, I received notification that I have an appointment for cataract surgery on the 21st August. It's outpatient surgery and, if successful, will only offer a marginal, but none the less valuable, improvement to my eye-sight. More importantly, unless there are major complications [1 in a 1,000] it will not affect my underlying vision problems, which are: Glaucoma; Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy, and Presbyopia. Further, despite how bad my vision is, according to the notification letter, I was not awarded Attendance Allowance because of my poor eyesight.

Noting that it is out-patient surgery so [technically] I will not actually be going into hospital, I am wondering whether or not I need to report the surgery?

As to be expected, the guide lines as to what changes need to be reported are opaque

• the level of help you need or your condition changes - you’ll need to provide details like if the amount of times you need help each day has changed
• you go into hospital or a care home - you’ll need to provide the address, the dates you’ve been there for, and how your stay is paid for
• a medical professional has said you might have 12 months or less to live
• you leave the country for more than 4 weeks
• you go into prison
• you change your name, address or bank details
• you want to stop receiving your benefit
• your doctor’s details change
• your immigration status changes, if you’re not a British citizen

As you may imagine, particularly in these cash strapped times, the thought of even temporarily losing the award while they reprocess my claim is causing me a great deal of distress. (Just the fact that I managed to tear myself away from my vine project long enough to look into this is a good indication of how much anxiety it is causing me.)

So, what is the opinion of the forum: Do I need to report it or not?

As always, your opinions are valued;
Irvine

 

[Jade]

Hi, Don’t worry, you don’t need to report it. Dwp/AA only need to be told if go into hospital or care home for over 4 weeks. Or if you were on low rate and needed care day and night.

 

[Nayshiftin]

I agree with Jade

 

[IrvineHimself]

Thanks. that is a great relief.

 

[Jade]

Something else you would be entitled to is a blue badge if someone takes you out in their car or if you drive. Permit issued to persons rather cars as used to do.

 

[IrvineHimself]

Thanks for the tip.

I gave up driving several years ago because of blindingly bright headlights, I only recently found out this was an early indicator of Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy. When you add in my mini-stroke, glaucoma et al, there is no way I could legally drive. On the other hand, my support worker was telling me I should be eligble for a "taxi card' which would give me 25% off taxi fares. Not that I ever use them.

It is a useful tip though.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Noting that it is out-patient surgery so [technically] I will not actually be going into hospital, I am wondering whether or not I need to report the surgery?

No you don't need to tell them.
Also as you were not awarded points regarding your cataracts you don't need to tell them either.