Advice day for Wiltshire people affected by sight loss

A free event being run by the UK's leading sight loss charity on Thursday 18 April and aims to bring together Wiltshire's people affected by sight loss and to promote independence.

The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) has worked closely with the local society, Wiltshire Blind Association, to bring together a Low Vision Day. 

It will offer advice to people who have lost their sight, as well as to their families and friends, including details of support and clubs available in the local area. 

Full Article on This is Wiltshire

10% Late Availabiity Discount on Carers Holidays

Carers Support Centre Bristol and South Gloucestershire currently have availability in their 2 and 3 bedroomed caravans at Torbay between Friday 12th April and Saturday 27th April. They’ve got short breaks available for 3 or 4 nights for just £199 or a 7 night breaks for only £266.

Carers must quote reference CT0113 to get this special discount.

This discount is only for the forthcoming two weeks so you need to act quickly so you don’t miss out!

Disability Living Allowance replaced by PIP scheme

Major changes to disability benefits for new claimants are being introduced in some parts of the UK ahead of a national roll-out of the new measures.

It is the start of the replacement of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) by Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said the current "ridiculous" system where people were given benefit with no further checks must end.

But charity Scope says the changes have been designed just to save money.

Full Article on BBC News

BBC One - DIY SOS: THE BIG BUILD are looking for applications

For the past 3 years DIY SOS: The Big Build has helped ordinary people whose lives have been dramatically changed by an unforeseen issue e.g. an accident leading to a disability, the onset of a  life altering illness or a condition, the sudden death of a parent and so forth.  

The show helps these people by radically transforming their homes, in the past we have put in downstairs wet rooms for people who can no longer get up to the bathroom. We have totally reworked entire houses so that they are wheel chair friendly. We have put up single and double story extensions to increase the living space for a family and have thus created healthy safe environments for young children and those with learning difficulties.  We have added internal lifts, wheelchair ramps, specialist bathrooms and bedrooms to people homes.

DIY SOS: The Big Build is a very positive series which genuinely helps people and really makes a difference to their lives.  As well as bringing great benefits to the chosen families the series will raise public awareness of the conditions that affect them. 

 

Download the flyer for more information and a link to apply

Disability payment changes begin

Reforms to disability benefits will end the 'ridiculous' system that gives people lifetime awards, Iain Duncan Smith has said as the disability living allowance is replaced by the new personal independence payment (PLA).

The work and pensions secretary said claims in disability benefit had more than doubled in some parts of the country ahead of the changes.

His comments came as nearly half a million people call on the Tory cabinet minister to live off £53 a week for a year in a petition being delivered to his office on Monday.

Full Article on Guardian Society

440,000 families 'will lost £16.90 a week' in benefits double-whammy

Almost 440,000 families will see their income cut by £16.90 a week as they are hit by both the "bedroom tax" and the changes to council tax benefit, according to research by the New Policy Institute.

The cumulative impact of the welfare changes prompted a former Lib Dem minister, Sarah Teather, to urge the coalition to review its reforms. She said: "My concern is that some families are being targeted over and over again."

The MP for Brent Central added: "Hitting the same people repeatedly means it adds up to a very significant cut in income. I am not sure how they are supposed to manage, where they are supposed to live, or whether the government has looked at the cumulative impact."

Full Article on Guardian Society

Welfare reforms could leave system more vulnerable to fraud, say MPs

MPs have raised fears that the government's huge welfare shakeup will leave the benefits system more vulnerable to fraud.

A report by the communities and local government committee highlighted concerns about universal credit, which will be implemented nationally from October and replaces a string of benefits such as housing benefit and child tax credits.

The committee highlighted concerns raised during an inquiry into the changes that the IT system under universal credit will have trouble distinguishing between genuine and fraudulent claims.

Full Article on Guardian Politics