Wiltshire residents will be offered advice in a way that suits them as the first online welfare information session goes live.
To support residents in the county with the forthcoming changes to
benefits which are the result of the government’s Welfare Reform Act
2012, Wiltshire Council will be offering the opportunity to get advice
and guidance during a live topical question and answer event, to be held
online on 5 March 2013 between 3pm and 7pm
Those affected by the government’s changes to welfare, or those who
wish to find out more will be able to seek guidance and clarification
where possible, from relevant council officers available during this
time. Offering this online question and answer session will allow people
to talk to council officers about changes to benefits in a way which
fits in with them. People will still be able to contact the council with
enquiries Monday to Friday during normal office hours on 0300 456 0100.
This initial session will be focused on answering questions around council tax benefit and underoccupancy.
To take part online people should visit the council’s website, the
Facebook Page ‘Our Wiltshire’, or they can tweet their questions using
the hashtag #WiltsWelfare between 3pm and 7pm on 5 March.
Article from Wiltshire Council
Thursday, 28 February 2013
Wednesday, 27 February 2013
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
Friday, 22 February 2013
Charities say millions without internet access will face benefits struggle
Charities and housing associations have warned that plans to move to an online-only system for claiming benefits do not include enought support for people who have no access to computers and do not know how to use the internet.
Once the government's flagship welfare reform Universal Credit is introduced later this year, the system will be wholly internet-based and claimants will only be able to make face-to-face applications in exceptional circumstances.
The radical changes to the benefit system are being introduced at a time when funding cuts have reduced the number of charitable advice centres that help claimants apply for benefits. Delegates at a debate on Universal Credit and IT readiness warned that insufficient thought has been given to how to support claimants from among the eight million UK citizens who are not online.
Full Article on Guardian Society
Once the government's flagship welfare reform Universal Credit is introduced later this year, the system will be wholly internet-based and claimants will only be able to make face-to-face applications in exceptional circumstances.
The radical changes to the benefit system are being introduced at a time when funding cuts have reduced the number of charitable advice centres that help claimants apply for benefits. Delegates at a debate on Universal Credit and IT readiness warned that insufficient thought has been given to how to support claimants from among the eight million UK citizens who are not online.
Full Article on Guardian Society
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Free Training for Carers - March 2013
Looking to learn some new skills that may help you in your caring role?
Below are the training opportunities we have due to start in March 2013 (click the image to download).
If you'd like to find out more, or view our complete training programme, please visit our website.
Once you click the image you should have the option to zoom in on the text. If you have any problems then please let us know.
Government must exempt Carers from 'bedroom tax'
Carers UK, with six other national charities, is urging the
Government to use the forthcoming Budget to ensure carers and disabled
people in social housing do not face ‘bedroom tax’ payments.
In an open letter published today (Thursday) to Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith, the Chief Executives of Carers UK, MS Society, Mencap, Macmillan Cancer Support, Disability Rights UK, Carers Trust and Contact a Family, express deep concerns about the impact of the new policy on disabled people and families caring unpaid for ill, frail or disabled loved ones.
Carers UK is also encouraging carers to write to their own MPs asking them to recognise their contribution and the need to protect them from additional financial hardship by supporting the campaign for exemptions.
Full Article on Carers UK
In an open letter published today (Thursday) to Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Iain Duncan Smith, the Chief Executives of Carers UK, MS Society, Mencap, Macmillan Cancer Support, Disability Rights UK, Carers Trust and Contact a Family, express deep concerns about the impact of the new policy on disabled people and families caring unpaid for ill, frail or disabled loved ones.
Carers UK is also encouraging carers to write to their own MPs asking them to recognise their contribution and the need to protect them from additional financial hardship by supporting the campaign for exemptions.
Full Article on Carers UK
A tax on carers: Charities say 420,000 disabled people will be hit by bedroom tax
Thousands of disabled people could lose their homes and be plunged into debt thanks to the bedroom tax, charities say.
Anyone in a council or housing association property will have their housing benefit cut by 14% if they have a spare room and by 25% if they have two or more spare rooms.
But campaigners say 420,000 disabled people, their families and carers will be hit harder by the changes in April.
In a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith they warn today: “Unless disabled people and their families are protected, those affected face financial hardship or being forced to move – moving them away from their networks of support and out of homes adapted for their needs.”
Full Article on Mirror
Anyone in a council or housing association property will have their housing benefit cut by 14% if they have a spare room and by 25% if they have two or more spare rooms.
But campaigners say 420,000 disabled people, their families and carers will be hit harder by the changes in April.
In a letter to Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith they warn today: “Unless disabled people and their families are protected, those affected face financial hardship or being forced to move – moving them away from their networks of support and out of homes adapted for their needs.”
Full Article on Mirror
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