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A non-medical person within DCS (the 'decision-maker') will consider the report along with all the other information provided for your claim and decide whether to approve your claim and whether you're entitled to the higher or lower rate of Attendance Allowance (AA). You will receive a letter stating their decision.

Confidentiality

All the medical information related to your claim, including the doctor's report from the medical examination, is confidential and will not be released to anyone outside the DWP.

However, sometimes the doctor may want to send some information about your medical examination to your GP. In that case, Medical Services will write to you and ask if you're happy for them to do so.

Finding out about the benefit decision

It normally takes about 22 working days to process an AA claim, from the day DWP receives your claim form. You can check on the progress of your claim by calling the Disability helpline.

Telephone: 08457 12 34 56

Textphone: 08457 22 44 33

The helpline is open 7.30 am to 6.30 pm Monday to Friday.

Email: DCPU.Customer-Services@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

If you're not happy with the medical examination

If you're not happy with the way the medical examination was carried out, you can complain to Medical Services. The complaints procedure is outlined in the letter you received about your medical examination.

You can also complain to the doctor at the time of the examination. If they can't resolve the problem, they will give you a brochure explaining the formal complaints procedure. You can also call the Disability helpline for advice on making a complaint to Medical Services.

If you're not happy with the benefit decision

If you think the decision about your benefit claim is wrong, or you disagree with the rate at which you've been awarded AA, you can:

• How to appeal against a benefits decision (general money, tax and benefits section)

The doctor's report

You can ask to be sent a copy of the doctor's report at any time. If you appeal against an AA decision, you will be able to see the doctor's report as part of the appeal process.

Repeat medical examinations

Your AA award will be for either a fixed or an indefinite period. The decision-maker will set the length of your award depending on whether your disability or illness is permanent or your needs may change.

If your award is for a fixed period, you'll be invited to make a new claim six months before the award runs out. This is called a ' renewal claim'. Renewal claims are processed exactly the same way as new claims, so you may be asked to attend a medical examination. 

If your benefit award is for an indefinite period, you will not usually have to make a renewal claim. However, indefinite awards can sometimes be reviewed and you may need to have another medical examination as part of the review.