The Princess Royal Trust Cheshire Carers Centre Albion Walk, Northwich, Cheshire, CW9 5XU. Helpline: 0800 085 0307 |
There is more than 8.6 million disabled people in Britain living in or on the edge
of poverty (Carers National Association report "Poverty & Benefits.") |
Please do not attempt to complete benefit claim
forms without first consulting the Cheshire Carers Centre, or some similar organisation, with Welfare Rights experience. It costs nothing to be careful and could save you both delay as well as a great deal of heartache. |
Government research estimates 60% of people eligible to Disability Living allowance
do not make a claim for it (Carers National Association report - "Poverty and Benefits.") |
If you have a continuing physical impairement which leaves you unable to go out without
another person to assist you should ask your doctor or chemist for form:
FP92A You may be able to entitled to claim exemption from prescription charges. |
From April 2001 Disabled Child Premiun will be �30pw. For Year: 2000 2001 Invalid Care Allowance �40-40 �41-75 Earnings Limit on ICA �50-00 �72-00 Income Support Premiums Carer Premium �14-15 �20-00 Earnings Disregard for carers & Disable People on Income �15-00 �20-00 Support. |
CARERS ASSESSMENTS AND SERVICES (Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 in England) All carers over the age of 16 claiming for someone over the age of 18 will be entitled to ask their local authority (primarily social services) for an assessment of their own needs in relation to their caring role, even if the person they are caring for chooses not to be assessed or to receive services. Parent Carers will also be able to ask for an assessment under this act (The above Act will come in to force in Wales later) SERVICES FOR CARERS For the first time, local authorities will be able to provide carers (of adults) with services in their own right. These services are not defined in the Guidance to the Act, but local authorities are encouraged to be flexible in order to "Maintain the health and well being of the carer." Services could include driving lessons, counselling services, training on how to lift properly or money to replace a washing machine. In order to provide any service to the carer, which would have previously have been a service to the disabled person, both the disabled person and the carer must agree that it should become a carers service. This prevents local authorities allocating the service to the person most able to pay for it. After Parent Carers have had an assessment, local authorities must decide what, if any, services to provide under the Children Act 1989. Charging. Local authorities will NOT be able to take into account the ability of a carer to pay before deciding whether to provide a service. However, local authorities WILL be able to charge carers for the service provided directly to them, subject to a means test. The Department of Health's Guidance on Fairer Charging for Home Care and other Social Services will provide more guidance on who can be charged and fairness of charging policies. Local authorities will have to have amended their own charging policies in line with the guidance by April 2002. (As part of their "Fair Deal for Carers Campaigne." the Carers National Association are making a case to the DOH for carers not to be charged for the services they receive) Direct Payments. Carers will be able to receive direct payments for their own services for the first time. This includes parent carers and carers over the age of 16. Carers will not be able to receive direct payment for services that belong to the person they are caring for. Young disabled people aged 16 and 17 will be able to receive direct payments in place of their own services and in certain circumstances, for the first time. Vouchers Carers and disabled people will also be able to receive vouchers for short term respite breaks. Local authoritieswill be able to provide vouchers so that carers and disabled people have more freedom to chose when and where to take a break (THIS PART OF THE ACT IS LIKELY TO COME INTO FORCE IN OCTOBER 2001) |
Did You Know Your local Post Offices May Now Also Provide Banking Services FREE Of Charge. Both Deposite and Withdrawel to those having accounts with: Barclays Bank plc, Cahoot Smile Alliance & Leicester The Co-operative Bank plc Lloyds TSB Bank plc |
Further Pages |
Be An Economiser EnergyWatch FREEPHONE 0800 887 777 Buy Co. UK (advice on dual service providers, mobile phones, water and digital tvs) 0207 535 6000 Website |
