	top BENEFITS AND FINANCES

	There is an Income Maximisation Officer at the Carers Centre, please telephone us and we will call you back, discuss information you may require and arrange appointments. Anyone proposing to apply for Carers Allowance, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance should request forms from D.W.P. departments directly, as they are dated, and any successful claims will possibly be backdated to the date the form gets sent (We can do this on your behalf if required). Also, help from the Advice Officer is best sought at the initial application stage to ensure the best chance of claiming benefits CARERS ALLOWANCE click here for factsheet ILLNESS AND DISABILITY BENEFITS For new claims - The Benefit Enquiry Line - 0800 88 22 00 - a confidential free phone service for disabled people and Carers, open from 8.30am to 6.30pm Monday to Friday, and 9.00am to 1.00pm on Saturday. You can request a claim pack, and it can be provided in alternative formats such as Braille. Claims for DLA can be made if someone has needed help for three months, and is likely to need that help for at least another six months. Attendance Allowance claims cannot be made until someone has needed help for six months. Anyone who is terminally ill will qualify for help automatically. Payments for both DLA and AA can be made to someone even if they are not receiving actual help For existing DLA or AA Claim enquiries - The Disability Benefits Unit (Blackpool) 08457 123 456 Check information on the directgov website - this gives guides on who is eligible, and more information on each benefit DLA - Link to claim form and notes - This is for people who become disabled and make a claim before age 65. It has a care part and a mobility part. The care part has three rates, £ 64.50, £ 43.15 or £ 17.10. The top two rates are paid for help with personal care, e.g. help with dressing, washing or moving around the home, or if supervision is needed to prevent someone hurting themselves or others. The lower rate is if people need help for some of the day only. The mobility part is for someone who cannot walk, have great difficulty walking or who needs someone with them when walking outdoors. It is paid in two rates, £ 45.00 or £ 17.10. DLA is not dependant on national insurance contributions, it can be paid on top of other income or savings, and can be paid even if someone is working, as long as they fit the criteria. Anyone who is terminally ill will qualify for the care component without waiting, but they must prove they need help getting around to qualify for the mobility component DLA in a care home - The mobility component of DLA is not affected by admission to a care home. Whether or not you receive the care component depends on how the fees are being met. If someone is paying the full charges in a care home they can receive the care component. If the Local Authority finance the care home fees people cannot start to claim DLA, and those getting the benefit stop receiving it after 28 days. If they move out of the home, but still retain an underlying entitlement to DLA they could start to receive it again ATTENDANCE ALLOWANCE - Link to claim form and notes - This is for people aged 65 and over who are physically or mentally ill or disabled and need help with personal care, as above. It is not means-tested, and can be paid on top of any savings or income of any kind. It is not dependant on previous national insurance contributions. There are two weekly rates, £ 43.15 if you need help in the day or the night, and £ 64.50 if you need help both day and night Attendance Allowance in a care home - Whether or not people can receive AA depends upon how the fees are being met. If they are paying the full charges in a home they can claim, but if the Local Authority are paying they cannot start a claim, and would stop any existing benefit after 28 days. This may restart if they move out of the home. top of page PENSION CREDIT For new claims - The Pension Service - 0800 99 1234 - Open 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and 9.00am to 1.00pm Saturday. An advisor will help you apply for Pension Credit, and help you apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit at the same time, if appropriate 'Pension Credit at a glance' and 'A guide to Pension Credit' Link to claim form and notes There is no upper savings limit for Pensions Credit, but if you have savings of over £ 6000 this will reduce the amount of benefit you get. There are two parts to Pension Credit; GUARANTEE CREDIT - This credit replaced Income Support for over 60s, and should ensure that all single people have an income of at least £ 119.05 a week and couples at least £ 181.70 a week. These levels may be higher if someone is disabled, a carer or have certain housing costs. SAVINGS CREDIT - This credit, of up to £ 16.44 for a single person or £ 21.51 for a couple provides extra cash to people of 65 and over with modest incomes who have made savings for retirement, e.g. through an occupational pension COUNCIL TAX BENEFIT AND RENT RELIEF If you receive the Guarantee part of Pension Credit then Housing Benefit and Council Tax Benefit may be able to meet all your rent and council tax bills. If you do not get the Guarantee credit, but have no more than £ 16000 in savings, you may still get some benefit to reduce the amount of rent or council tax you have to pay. If you are aged over 65 and DO NOT receive Guaranteed pension credit you could qualify for a one off £ 200 payment for help towards your council tax. Homeowners as well as tenants can claim council tax benefit - the value of your home does not count as part of your savings Anyone living alone can claim 25% discount on Council Tax The disability reduction scheme can reduce a bill if the home has features that are important for a disabled person living in it, such as space for a wheelchair or an extra room for their use People can qualify for help from more than one scheme STATE PENSIONS State pension is based on National Insurance contributions and is paid to people who have reached pension age. The full basic pension is £ 87.30 and the pension for a married woman on her husbands contribution is £ 49.15. If anyone does not have enough contributions for a full pension, they may get a reduced pension or may not get one at all On top of basic pension many people get other amounts such as a graduated pension, the state additional pension, extra for putting off drawing the pension, or an extra 25 pence for reaching 80. Divorced or widowed people may be able to use their former spouses record of contributions to get a pension or increase their pension Although most people are entitled to a pension, they have to make a claim to receive it. If they have not been contacted about claiming their state pension by 3 months before it is due to start they should ring the Pension Service on 0845 300 1084 top of page DIRECT PAYMENTS Direct Payments - Frequently Asked Questions 01744 616316 - Paid to people who have had Community Care Assessment and have been assessed as requiring personal and social care needs. Instead of Social Services putting in services, you are provided with money to buy support. This enables people to have more control and choice over the way their needs are met. People who take up Direct Payments can decide how, when and by whom their support will be provided. This might be by employing their own personal assistant, the Direct Payments team will provide advice and support to do this. Carers who do not live with their Cared For person can be paid for their care through Direct Payments. The Carer's Centre arrange information sessions where members of the Direct Payment team come into the Centre and provide information for Carers, contact Jan Braycotton on 01744 675619 to book a place INDEPENDENT BROKERAGE Brokerage organisations will work with you and the person you care for to find the best deal for the money you have available, which may include Direct Payments, Independent Living Fund and Self Directed Support. They can also negotiate with Health and Social Care services to help you get the funding you are entitled to. STEP BY STEP LIVING NETWORK - 01709 357711 - www.livingnetwork.org.uk HEALTH COSTS Prescriptions and sight tests are free to people aged 60 and over, but other health costs such as dental treatment and glasses can be covered if they get the guarantee part of pension credit. Even if they do not get the guarantee part of Pension Credit, they may still get some help towards these costs if they have a low income and no more than £ 12,000 savings ( £ 8,000 if they are under 60). Form HC1 required, ask dentist optician etc before paying for treatment FUEL BILLS AND OTHER COSTS Some help is available so that people can keep warm and don’t have to worry about fuel costs in winter. Winter fuel payments are paid to most people aged 60 and over. For each eligible household payments are £ 200, £ 300 if someone in the house is over 80. Payments should be made automatically to people receiving state retirement pension and most other benefits, e.g. Carers Allowance. Others need to make a claim. Cold weather payments of £ 8.50 are automatically paid in weeks when the weather is especially cold, to people over 60 who are eligible for pension credits Warm Front Grants - 0800 316 6011 - www.eaga.co.uk - Targeted at people most at risk, i.e. elderly, chronically sick, disabled. Grants available for insulation, central heating. Grants available up to £ 2700. To qualify, householder must own their home or rent it from a private landlord and must receive certain benefits - DLA, AA, Income Support (with a disability premium) etc - see website for full list Warm Front Heating Rebate (for those not eligible for a grant) - 0800 316 6012 (quoteMK851). To qualify you must be 60 or over, own your home or rent privately, must not be in receipt of a Warm Front Grant, must not have a heating system or must have a system that does not work. The rebate is for the installation of a new central heating system, or repairs to a broken one. Telephone for an application pack, or print a copy at www.eagagroup.com/grants/heating_rebate.html Energy Efficiency schemes run in areas of St Helens as and when funding allows. Contact Helen Hinde at St Helens Council, 01744 456422, for latest details Disabled Facilities Grant - www.direct.gov.uk/DisabledPeople Local council grant to help towards the cost of adapting homes. Must be applied for BEFORE any work is commenced. OT assessment is required to assess need and identify the work needed. If you have the involvement of a Care Manager they need to request an assessment, if not you can request an assessment by telephoning the Council Contact Centre directly - 01744 456600. flowchart on the Grant process - this shows steps to be taken to make application for grant VAT Exemption - Certain goods and services for disabled people are zero rated for VAT. Click on link below for full details HM Revenue and Customs documents top of page OTHER SOURCES OF INFORMATION AGE CONCERN INFORMATION AND ADVICE SERVICE 01744 752644 (50+) Advice sessions by telephone. Appointments for specialist help or lengthy interviews can be made. www.ageconcern.org.uk CINEMA AND TELEVISION BENEVOLENT FUND - 0800 138 2522 - Offer financial help to anyone who has worked in the industry for two years. Application form available at www.ctbf.co.uk CITIZENS ADVICE - 01744 737866 (appts.) 0870 121 2027(advice) www.citizensadvice.org.uk DASH - 01744 453053 - www.merseyworld.com/dash DEPARTMENT OF WORKS AND PENSIONS - for information on the types of benefits available and who can apply www.dwp.gov.uk ELIZABETH FINN CARE - 0845 603 6521- Charity that provides practical and financial support to people who have reduces means due to physical or mental illness, family breakdown or are on a low income due to bereavement, redundancy or old age www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk FAMILY WELFARE ASSOCIATION - www.fwa.org.uk - A family charity, supporting families to cope with complex issues including domestic abuse, parents with mental illness, learning disabled parents and severe financial hardship INDEPENDENT LIVING FUND (ILF) - www.ilf.org.uk - fund set up and financed by Central Government to enable disabled people to choose to live in the community and not go into care. Two funds originally, the Independent Living (extension) fund is now closed to new applicants. However, the Independent Living (1993) Fund is open to applications from severely disabled people. To qualify the person must receive at least £ 200/week in services or direct payments from Social Services, be 16 - 65, receive higher rate DLA and have under £ 18,500 capital (excluding property). Contact Social Services for application form MACMILLAN CARE LINE - 0808 808 2020 - Grants available to purchase items such as wheelchairs. Eligibility criteria include diagnosis, household income for each person of no more than £ 100 after essential bills paid and savings less than £ 8,000. Application by Health professional or organisation such as Carers Centre on request of application form MOTABILITY and VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY EXEMPTION - MOTABILITY 0845 456 4566 - www.motability.co.uk - Eligible if person receives higher rate mobility component of DLA or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. No qualification for those on AA. Enables disabled people to use mobility allowance to hire or buy a car or wheelchair. If they cannot drive, they can nominate up to two drivers who may be friends or relatives, and parents and Carers can apply on behalf of a child aged three years and upwards. Special terms arranged with car and wheelchair manufacturers. Also have grants available for people eligible for Motability, but require further help to purchase cars or make adaptations to cars. Variety of schemes. EXEMPTION FROM ROAD TAX is available if person receives higher rate mobility component of the DLA or War Pensioners Mobility Supplement. If they are not a driver they can nominate Carer, but the vehicle must be registered to them or the Carer, only be used for their benefit, and be insured for the Carer to drive. The Carer's car can be nominated but it must be used only for the purposes of supporting the person receiving the benefit. Exemption from road tax will not affect other benefits. If on DLA, an exemption certificate can be obtained from the Disability Benefits Unit - 0845 712 3456, if on War Pensioners benefit, the certificate is available from the Veterans Agency - 0800 169 2277. This certificate is then used when applying for a tax disc NATIONAL BENEVOLENT FUND FOR THE AGED (NBFA) - 020 7828 0200 - Provide assistance for pensioners who live on a low income. Provide emergency telephone alarm systems, TENS machines and for people who have not had a holiday for many years, they have annual holidays to a UK seaside resort www.nbfa.org.uk PERENNIAL - 01757 229474 - www.perennial.org.uk - Charity dedicated to supporting those who work or have worked in the horticultural industry. Also support partners and spouse SERVICE SPECIFIC GRANTS - such as Alzheimers Society - See list of services at end of pathway THE RESPITE ASSOCIATION - Provides assistance in the funding of appropriately qualified respite care for disabled, sick, elderly or terminally ill persons so that their regular carer can have a break. 01406 701079 email - help@respiteassociation.org VETERANS 2008 - 0800 169 22 77 - Service for ex forces personnel in receipt of a war pension. Funding exists for those suffering from a disability subject to meeting criteria WILLS - See 'Planning for the Future' Whilst every care is taken to ensure the accuracy of information provided to Carers, St.Helens Carers Centre do not undertake any liability for any error or omission. The products and services listed are not necessarily endorsed or recommended by St.Helens Carers Centre top of page