Support for Carers & Benefits in Cheshire West

Benefits and Carers 21stSeptember 2021

Julie Duff Introduction and role of PCF Sharon Harding Wills and Trusts Peace of Mind Planning Benefits Cheshire and Merseyside Carers trust Clare Crerand

House Keeping

PCF Cheshire West Values What is the Parent Carer Forum? It is a representative body for Parents, Carers and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). Our aim is to make sure the services in Cheshire West and Chester (CWaC) meets the needs of disabled children and their families.

DO Represent the voice of families with children with SEND We are led by Parent Volunteers who sit on a Steering Group with Professionals We signpost families to relevant third sector organisations DONT We are not a support group We don t work for the Local Authority Forum s DO NOT Campaign

Steering Group Structure Treasurer Secretary Vice Chair Sarah Nafisi Sarah Nafisi Vanessa Usai Chair Julie Duff Third Sector Schools Health Commissioning Education Comms Social Care Professionals Gill Tyler Val Sturgess Professionals Sarah Banks Professionals Laura Holden tbc Professionals Mark Nixon Joanna Davies Paul Arista Professionals Emma Walker Professionals Neil Oxley Professionals Angela Lewis PCF Lesley Gledhill Daniela Giza PCF Annika Flower Joanne Cawley PCF Diane Dixon PCF Vanessa Usai PCF Jo Southall PCF Vanessa Usai Diane Dixon PCF Julie Duff

Plans for this year How to book on: https://www.pcfcheshirewest.org/whats- on

Sharon Harding Wills and Trusts Peace of Mind Planning

Disability Benefits & Support for Unpaid Carers Clare Crerand (Chester Office) & Clare Gallagher (Crewe Office) Parent Carer Support Workers Making Carers Count

Intro Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Personal Independent Payment (PIP) Mandatory Reconsiderations Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) Carers Allowance Carers Credit Cheshire West Blue Badge Scheme Cheshire West Council Tax Reduction Scheme Other support from Cheshire & Warrington Carers Trust Links & contact details

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Tax free & non-means tested Criteria: child must be under 16 have extra care needs or walking difficulties (can be both) have had difficulties for at least 3 months and expected to last for at least 6 months OR a medical professional has said they may have less than 6 months to live Weekly rates 22/23: Care component: 24.45/ 61.85/ 92.40 Mobility component: 24.45 (5 yrs+)/ 64.50 (3yrs+) Who can claim? Parent or guardian How to claim? Request form from DWP (will be backdated) or complete printable form What to do if disagree with decision? Mandatory reconsideration/appeal

Personal Independent Payment (PIP) Tax free & non-means tested Criteria: over 16 yrs of age & under state pension age have long term physical or mental health condition or disability have difficulty with certain day to day tasks or getting around expect difficulties to last at least 12 months from when started OR medical professional indicated you may have less than 6 months to live Weekly rates 22/23: Daily Living component: 61.86/ 92.40 Moving Around component: 24.45/ 64.50 How to claim? Phone for a form with info as requested online

Daily Living Component: Assessment: Extra help needed for every day tasks If more info required, will be invited to a formal assessment. Decision: Letter advising of points awarded Moving around Component: Do not require physical disability to be eligible, can also be considered if have a cognitive or mental health condition Disagree with decision: Mandatory reconsideration Citizens Advice PIP Descriptors Citizen s Advice PIP Descriptors

Mandatory Reconsiderations - DLA/PIP Reasons to request a MR: DWP made error/missed relevant information whilst making decision; disagree with decision; You want the decision looked at again Request within 1 month of date of decision letter; Can request via telephone, letter or using DWP printable form; For DLA can request written statement of reasons but then need to apply for a mandatory reconsideration within 14 days of the date printed on the letter Can submit additional supportive evidence such as medical reports, care plans etc

Disability Students Allowance (DSA) A non-means tested allowance to support the study-related costs of an undergraduate or postgraduate student in England- needs based- up to 25,575pa (2022-2023) Eligibility: Areas it can be used for: must not be on an alternatively funded course; course must be at least one year long; must have diagnosis letter from medical professional specialist equipment; laptop and printer if required (must pay first 200); non- medical helpers- e.g BSL interpreter; 1:1 support up to 1hr per wk; travel costs due to disability; stationery costs Covers 3 areas - disabilites/long-term health conditions; - mental health conditions; - specific learning disabilities Requires a needs assessment

Carers Allowance Eligibility: must be over 16; must provide over 35 hrs of care; person you care for must be in receipt of care component of PIP or middle/high care DLA; no one else is claiming CA or Universal Credit element of if you care for a severely disabled person for the person; not in full-time education or studying over 21 hrs earnings are less than 132 (including state pension) per week after tax, NI and expenses Affects on other benefits: If cared for receiving pension credit or severe disability premium, they mostly likely will stop. Could also affect carer s council tax discount.

Carers Credit National Insurance credit to reduce gaps in NI contribution Eligibility: 16 years or older and under state pension age cares over 20 hrs a week person cares for receives mid/high rate care DLA or daily living component of PIP (or health/social care or professional completes Care Certificate ) Income, savings and investments will not affect eligibility Do not need to apply if receiving carers allowance, child benefit for child under 12 or are a foster carer (apply for NI credits instead for this) Apply via printable form

Possible eligibility: have a permanent, substantial disability and cannot walk or find walking very difficult under 3 years with a disability or medical condition requiring bulky equipment or be close to a vehicle for emergency medical treatment walking is dangerous to their health and safety they are constantly a significant risk to themselves or others near vehicles, in traffic or car parks they struggle to plan or follow a journey it is difficult or impossible to control their actions and lack awareness of the impact they could have on others they regularly have intense and overwhelming responses to situations causing temporary loss of behavioural control- aka Meltdowns they frequently become extremely anxious or fearful of public/open spaces CWAC Blue Badge Scheme What is it? National parking scheme for people with disabilities or health problems Automatic eligibility: severely sight impaired or blind receive the high rate mobility DLA scored 8 or more points in the moving round section of PIP scored 10 or more points in the planning and following journeys section of PIP have a diagnosis of terminal cancer

CWAC Council Tax Reduction Scheme What is this? A reduction of around 10% in council tax band of the property where a disabled person/s lives Be prepared for a possible housing inspection. Eligibility the disabled person/s must need additional rooms to meet therapeutic/day-to-day needs the property must have at least one of the following: a second bathroom (e.g adapted wet room) or adapted kitchen, a specific therapy room or the disabled person/s uses a wheelchair at home if your child/young person is severely learning disabled (certificate from GP/consultant required) - but rules around this are more complex- need to contact LEA for eligibility/percentage discount.

Further support from Cheshire & Warrington Carers Trust Support includes: Disability benefit forms Emotional support Information, advice & support Personal budget & essentials fund Emergency Card General support group, parent carer support groups, carers in employment support groups Carers Breaks Training

Links: Cheshire & Warrington Carers Trust: https://cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org/ Benefits Advice: Citizens Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ DIAL House: https://dialwestcheshire.org.uk/ Contact a Family: https://contact.org.uk/help-for-families/information-advice-services/benefits-financial-help/ Cerebra: https://cerebra.org.uk/ Other Helpful links: Benefits Calculator: https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/ PIP Descriptors: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/Global/Migrated_Documents/adviceguide/pip-9-table-of-activities-descriptors-and-points.pdf Cheshire West Blue Badge: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/transport-and-roads/parking-and-permits/blue-badge- scheme/apply-for-blue-badge Cheshire West Council Tax Reduction: https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/council-tax/discounts-and-exemptions/reductions- for-disabled-people

Contact details: Helpline: for general advice/support/register - weekdays 9-5 - 0300 102 0008 or email: advice@cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org Contact Emails: Clare Crerand - Cheshire West: clarec@cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org Clare Gallagher - Northwich/Winsford: clareg@cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org Website: https://cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org/

Thank you for coming Next in person meeting will be November 23rd Vicars Cross Golf Club Contact.pcfcwac@gmail.com http://www.pcfcheshirewest.org @pcfcwac 07900 840867