For the Disabled

As a new carer of a disabled person, I don't know what a disabled
person is entitled to.

My Mother is partially sighted and over 75, so we get the TV licence
free.

Andon has just been talking about a disabled Sky telephone number.

Grannie Annie...

Hi Fred

This is from the original post:

..... The most difficult and time consuming part of the process was
negotiating the automated switchboard at Sky.

Must confess that their Disability Service is darn good.
One number, no queue, any subject, one person takes and deals with
the entire call. Just wish there was a non - 0870 number for it like
the main Sky Customers have. Still, it's worth using.

I just wonder what else there is out there that 'they' don't tell us
about.

Splodge...

Annie, you could always ask that same question on uk.people.disability.

Wally...

Have a word with "Age Concern" Annie, they will know all that
you are entitled to.

GrannieAnnie...

Yes, Mum goes to Age Concern every Tuesday but if I don't know she's
entitled to something, I don't know to ask about it.

Age Concern have been very helpful for things I know to ask about. It's the

Ali...

Well, ask them what she could be entitled to; and ask them what you, as
her carer could be entitled to.

One possible benefit for you, is Council Tax Disregard for Carers. This is
only useful if it reduces the number of people in the household who are
counted for Council Tax purposes to Zero or One (some disabled people are
also disregarded, but not on grounds of age or blindness).

shaz...

We are having the same problems Annie. It is the not knowing what to ask
that is the problem. I have found out that we can get reduced Council tax as
I am a carer. BUT we can't get that until Mum gets the higher rate of
Attendance Allowance. She is on the lower rate at the moment. I have applied
for higher rate, but had a letter back saying it will take up to 11
weeks!!!!!!!. They were not so slow to reduce Mums benefits by Ł50 (for
being severely disabled). As soon as they knew she was no longer on her own
they took it away and backdated it to when she came here. So they will want
repaying.
Whether we will get Mum's heating allowance remains to be seen. As I have a
pension I cannot claim carer's allowance.
What did you do to get the free TV licence? Mum got that where she lived, so
can we still get it here for her and how do we do that?

Splodge...

This should give you the info you need Shaz

shaz...

Thanks Splodge. Very helpful. Hubby is going to ring today

Grannie Annie...

Thank you Ali, Shaz and Splodge

I'll look into all these things, particularly the Council Tax Disregard
for Carers... when my council's website decides to play.

The TV licence isn't free because Mum is disabled, it is free because
she is over 75years old. I just fill in the back of the licence....
EVERY time I buy a TV!

Thank you all for your knowledge.... keep it coming :D

shaz...

Mum's is free because she is 83. Hubby has rung and they have said we will
get a quarter of this year's fee back. So that is good.

Grannie Annie...

Well done, at least someone gets something out of the greedy beggers.

Perhaps I should have titled this post "for the over 65's". I wonder
what else we are entitled to for just being old? As little as possible
I expect :/

Ali...

You probably know already about free local bus travel (national in
Scotland) for over 60s; and the Ł100, Ł200 or Ł300 heating allowance
(depending on age and circumstances); there is also a special cold weather
payment for people on certain benefits if the temperature is zero Celsius
or less for a week - normally paid automatically with the benefit.

Various commercial concerns offer discounts for old people, subject to
various conditions - B&Q is one such.

Grannie Annie...

Thanks Ali
I didn't know about B&Q unless you mean discount days.

MCC...

Focus Do-it-All currently have a 10% off *every day* for card-carrying over
60s :-)

Ali...

I may do. Not being old enough to qualify yet, I didn't take notice of
the details.

Splodge

not knowing.

I've had loads of help from the group in the past
Splodge

Grannie Annie...

What a useful group, thanks for telling me it was there. I'll lurk
awhile lol I'll learn a lot just by lurking.

Coats...

Also if you have a branch of the Disability Living Partnership where you are
get in touch with them. They are great and know loads about benefits and
freebies disabled people are entitled t. Included in that is DLA.

Grannie Annie...

Thank you Coats.
Is this who you mean (Disabled Living Foundation?)

I can't find Disability Living Partnership here in Kent.

Thanks again.
Annie

andon...

The name is different because they are not the same :-)
The trouble is that there is NOT one agency that takes responsibility
for Disability in the UK. There are hundreds of Gov and NGO agencies.
There have been some good tips above, and there are plenty that only
operate in certain locations. Others that deal with specific
disabilities and will not aid others. You also need to look at Age
related bodies, so you have both aspects covered and DON'T forget
YOUR needs either.

Amongst your first stops you should contact your Kent CC Social
Services Dept for an assessment of both your and your Mum's needs.
As mentioned above, Age Concern has advisers who will assist in
listing, collating and form-filling. As does Citizens Advice Bureaux.

Coats...

As you say Andon it isn't the same agency we have here. :-( The one we have
here is set up to help with all benefit applications, the implementation of
Direct Payments (for services) and for the buying and hiring and short term
loan of equipment such as wheelchairs.
I try to steer clear of always reccomending social services to people, even
though given my chosen career maybe I should. After a few months in the
adult disability team here I realise that we have quite a special team and
not many other social services have the resources or the interested workers
like we do.
But having said that if you go to the equivilent team in your area hopefully
you will get a good service off them and that includes as carers assessment.
If you want any of my, cheshire based and still being learned, knowledge
feel free to ask. :-)

Grannie Annie...

Thanks Coats.

Grannie Annie...

Thank you very much for the advice and the links.
The last one is very interesting.