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Benefits
Information
What
Benefits can I claim?
NEW Carers Expert- By Experience sister site This site will be where you will find carers stories. It is new at the moment and will be added to shortly
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Out
of the Benefits Maze?
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NEW
Disabilities Forum
an organisation run by disabled people for
disabled people to maximise our potential, maximise our earnings and improve
our quality of life.... |
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Help and advice on housing, benefits,
job/education/training search, resume/cv building, obtaining equipment
grants, form filling, travel & |
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The website – www.bhas.org.uk - belongs to the Barton Hill Advice Service. Help with filling out benefit forms. |
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Assess Yourself for Disability Living Allowance |
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Benefit
Enquiry Line (people with disabilities): 8.30am – 6.30pm, Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Saturdays.
Tel 0800 88 22 00 Textphone: 0800 24 33 55 Web:
www.dss.gov.uk |
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NEW For a full list of the new benefit rates go to www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/Ben_Rates_2007_2008.pdf |
| Benefits help and advice http://www.ddlg.co.uk/ |
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Employment issues. Go to www.acas.org.uk |
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Health and Safety Executive Stress at work site http://www.hse.gov.uk/stress/index.htm |
Work The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) into assessing capabilities for work and entitlement to benefits, published September 2006. http://www.dwp.gov.uk/welfarereform/tpca.pdf
CARERS
ALLOWANCE
Carer's Allowance (CA).
What is it?
CA (formerly called Invalid Care Allowance) is a
taxable benefit for informal carers.
| Your
other benefits may increase or decrease |
| Certain
benefits for the person you look after may sometimes reduce |
| You
must spend at least 35 hours a week caring, which need not be every day |
| CA
is not affected by any savings you may have |
| The
person you care for could be a relative, friend or neighbour |
| CA
can be paid to more than one person in a household, such as a couple caring
for each other. |
Can
I get it? Are
you:
| aged
16 or over? |
| spending
at least 35 hours a week looking after someone who is getting or waiting to
hear about these benefits: |
What
else should I know?
Before 28 October 2002, carers aged 65 and over
cannot qualify for CA. This age limit is removed from 28 October 2002. Carers
aged 65 and over can make claims before this date, but entitlement will only
start from 28 October 2002.
Contact:
PALATINE HOUSE,
LANCASTER ROAD, PRESTON, PR1 1HB
TEL
: 01772 899205..FAX : 01772 899087..TEXTPHONE :O1772 899489
If in doubt, Check it out.
If you
have children, you may be able to get Child Tax Credit. To find out more about
Child Tax Credit, phone the Inland Revenue helpline on 0845
300 3900. If you use a textphone,
the number is 0845
300 3909.
If you are claiming CA for a period starting before 6 April 2003, you may be able to get extra money for your children. For more information contact the CA Unit on 01253 856 123. If you use a textphone, the number is 01772 899 489.www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/carers_allowance.asp
You can find information on most
benefits you may be entitled to on the DWP site above
CA may be claimed if the person
you care for is receiving the middle to high rate component of care from
disability living allowance
Home
Responsibility Protection
If you
are not entitled to Carers Allowance, are working and do not earn enough to pay
national insurance contributions. You may be entitled to Home Responsibility
Protection. When your national insurance contributions may be paid for you. For
further details contact your local social security office.
If the person
you care for is unable to work because of a disability. They may be able to
claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
For further
information contact:
Department for
Works and Pensions, DLA Warbeck
House, Warbeck Hill, Blackpool. FY2 OYJ
TEL:
0845-7123456 TEXTPHONE (for the deaf/hard of hearing ONLY) 0845-7224433 http://www.dwp.gov.uk#department
for works and pensions.....
Aged
60 or over and under 65?
You are likely to be entitled to
Pension Credit if your weekly income is less than:
£105.45 if you are single; or
£160.95
if you have a partner.
You may
still be able to get Pension Credit if your weekly income is more than these
amounts if, for example, you or your partner:
| are
a severely disabled person; |
| look
after a person who is severely disabled; or have certain housing costs –
for example, mortgage interest payments. |
| All
Carers There is a booklet available containing the above information
and information useful to all carers. The booklet is called: |
| State
Pension for carers and parents. (PG1) |
| To
obtain a copy Tel: 0845-7313233 |
| Website:
www.pensionservice.gov.uk |
| Public enquiries Tel: 712 2171 |
Extra support to help claimants get into work announced as number on incapacity benefits falls by 22,000: 17th March 2005 The details of changes to "linking rules" for people on Incapacity Benefit who want to try work can be found in the budget at www.hm-treasury.gov.uk
Strengthened support for people on Incapacity Benefits who want to try work. The Department for Work and Pensions Research Report "A Stepping Stone to Employment: an evaluation of permitted work rules wave 2" was published on 14 December - http://www.dwp.gov.uk/jad/index_2004.asp
'Job
Retention and Rehabilitation Pilot: Employers'
Management of Long Term Sickness Absence' by Katharine Nice and Patricia
Thornton of the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York, is published
today in the DWP. Research Report Series: report number 227. A summary and copy
of the report are available on the DWP website http://www.dwp.gov.uk/asd/asd5/rports2003-2004/rrep227.pdf
Citizens Advice Bureau Advice site
http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/
Community Legal Services
http://www.clsdirect.org.uk
Older Peoples Advocacy Alliance Phttp://www.opaal.org.uk
On-line help with filling out benefit
Forms www.bhas.org.uk
A guide to receiving direct payments
from your local council : a route to independent living September
2004 edition. This guide offers advice to people who are thinking about or who
are already getting direct payments from their local council social services
department. This guide can be found at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CONTENT_ID@97397&chk=lI0o
Alternatively try: http://snipurl.com/b9dt
Direct
payments and health: Published: February
2005 The Government is committed to seeing an increase in the take up of direct
payments, as they are an excellent way for individuals using social services
to gain control and independence over their own lives. Direct payments are cash
payments made by local authorities in lieu of providing certain social services.
Further information about direct payments can be located at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/OrganisationPolicy/FinanceAndPlanning/DirectPayments/fs/en
Implementing
direct payments in mental health': Just
published on the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website is 'Implementing
direct payments in mental health'. This project identifies how take-up of
direct payments by people experiencing mental health problems can be
increased. Read it at: http://www.jrf.org.uk/redirect.asp?url=ndings/socialcare/0105
If
you are caring for somebody with a disability and are on a low income you may be
able to claim a Housing benefit (help towards your rent) and Council Tax Benefits. The care
component in disability living allowance is disregarded when assessing your
income.
Housing
Benefit Office Plymouth
City Council Civic
Centre Armada
Way Plymouth
PL1 2AA
Tel: 0175-668000 or:
01752-304889 Website:
www.plymouth.gov.uk
Quids
for kids---9 out of 10 families with children are due Tax Credits
If you earn less than £66,000 per
year you may be entitled to family tax credits. For further information TEL:
0845-3003900 for claim packTax benefits can affect the amount of housing and
council tax benefit you get. Seek advice from Plymouth City Council's benefits
line Tel: 01752-304889
You do not need to have Kids to qualify for tax credits
For information on tax credits, contact the Tax Credits Helpline on 0845 300 3900
You can
claim online at: http://www.taxcredits.inlandrevenue.gov.uk
CASH TO HELP PAY FOR NANNIES AVAILABLE FROM TOMORROW
- HODGE05 April 2005
For the first time, thousands of parents
may be eligible for financial support to help pay for nannies. For more
information about tax and NICs exemptions please visit www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/childcare
Further information on the Childcare Approval Scheme is available on www.surestart.gov.uk/childcareapproval
The Approval Body can be contacted on its helpline: 0845 767 8111
Leaflets for both parents and child minders can be downloaded from the childcare
approval website.
Veterans
Agency (War Pension Dept)
Welfare
and Benefits Advice (Armed Forces)
Websites: http://www.combatstress.com#Ex-Servicemens Mental Welfare Society
Financial Problems
Here is where you can get help.......
| Money Advice Plymouth is based at Tamar View Community Centre in Barne Barton. Call 01752 208128 |
| City of Plymouth Credit Union Tel: 01752 201329 |
| Plymouth Citizens Advice Bureau 0870 126 4011 or send an email to: bureau.plymouthcab@cabnet.org.uk |
| Plymouth Focus Advice Centre Tel: 01752 669785 |
| Tomorrow’s People –advice for unemployed people or those working under 16 hours a week eligible to seek work. Tel: 01752 266314 |
| Plymouth District Mind offers advice in money matters for people with mental health issues. Call 01752 254004 |
National Organisations
The Consumer Credit Counselling Service has a free confidential advice service for people in debt. They can help you prioritise debts and liaise with creditors on your behalf. They also offer an online counselling service. Call 0800 1381111 or visit www.cccs.co.uk
For staff helping patients with mental health issues who have debt problems. Go to: www.mhdebt.info A new booklet - 'Final Demand' has been produced for health workers to help them deal with patients debt issues, supported by a website of resources and links
You may seek
help and advice from:
Guild of
Voluntary Services Disability information and Advice Services Ernest English
House, Buckwell Street, Plymouth PL1 2DA Tel: 01752-201766
For people
with mental health problems living in the community. Tel:01752-513690
Email: supportingpeople@plymouthmind.org.uk
For Patients who are at the Glenbourne. Contact: Welfare Rights Tel: 01752-763103