To obtain benefits advice please contact a Citizens Advice Bureau. Benefits advice is available not only to service users but also to carers. A check of benefits entitlement is an integral part of the assessment of needs carried out by Social Workers and by Community Care Officers.
Council Tax – disabled band reduction
If a disabled child or adult lives in your property you may qualify for a reduction. One or more of the following facilities must be available for their use:
A room other than a bathroom, kitchen or toilet.
A second bathroom or kitchen.
Space for a wheelchair to move easily about the property.
The use of the room must be essential in meeting the needs of the disabled person. If you qualify Kirklees Revenues and Benefits Service will reduce the Council Tax band for your property by one band (for example, a band D property will pay band C Council Tax).
If your property is in band A, they will reduce your bill by 1/9th of the band D charge. There is no disabled person’s lower age limit for the household to receive a disabled band reduction – as long as appropriate facilities have been installed for the disabled child. For advice please Revenues and Benefits.
Anyone who is assessed as needing care from Adult Services or Children and Young People Service may be offered the choice of direct payments to employ their own staff or use an agency of their own choice. There are no age limits.
A direct payment is not a Social Security benefit and will not affect your entitlement to any means tested benefits you receive, such as Housing Benefit or Income Support. A direct payment can only be used to buy the services you have been assessed as needing. It can be used to employ one or more personal care assistants, or you can pay an agency to provide a service for you. You can use a direct payment to buy an alternative day care service, certain items of equipment or a short-term break.
A direct payment cannot be used to pay for:
clothes or food
savings
permanent residential care
services from Adult Services or Children and Young People Service, although you can have a mixture of some services provided by Adult Services or Children and Young People Service, and the rest by direct payment.
Direct payments give you more control over the services you receive. It must be spent on the service you have been assessed as needing, but you can choose who you employ to provide the service you need, or which agency to use. This gives you the flexibility to arrange services at the times that suit you.
A direct payment involves responsibilities:
if you choose to employ a personal care assistant you will become an employer and take on all the legal responsibilities that entails
you will have to sign a contract with Adult Services or Children and Young People Service to confirm you will use the Direct Payment to meet your assessed needs
you will have to keep receipts to show how the money has been spent.
You will receive help with direct payments. Your assessor will explain what is involved and give you some basic information. The Independent Living team will provide more detailed advice and help you with any problems you may encounter. They will be able to help you with all aspects of becoming an employer, and arrange any training you may need. You can telephone the Independent Living team on 01484 416760.
If you are interested in direct payments you should contact any of the following:
The Disability and Carers Service provides a benefit help line for people with disabilities, carers and representatives, called the Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL). BEL is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. The Benefit Enquiry Line offers advice and information on benefits and how to claim them. In addition to giving advice they are also able to send out an extensive range of leaflets and claim packs to customers.
As a national service they serve the whole of England, Scotland and Wales. Their advisers have no access to customer’s personal records and so are able to provide general advice only. Although their advisers are trained in most benefits, the most common benefits they provide advice on are those relating to sickness and disability, that is, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit and Income Support.
There is no change for using BEL; however, some mobile phone users may be charged by their operator. BEL also provides help to complete certain disability-related claim packs over the telephone.
Braille, large print and some leaflets on audio tapes are available.
BEL is open Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Independent Living Fund
The Independent Living Fund supports people with severe impairments to live independently at home. It is a Government Trust funded by the Department for Works and Pensions and is run in partnership with Kirklees Council Social Services.
Who can use the fund?
You can use the fund if you have a severe impairment and:
Receive the highest rate care component of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) - or higher rate Attendance Allowance if you are 65.
Receive, or are assessed as needing, at least £200 per week support from Adult Services or Children and Young People Service (including direct payments)
Are a UK resident
Are between 16 and 65 years old
Have savings of less than £18,500
You expect to live independently at home for at least the next six months
How much money can people get?
The Independent Living Fund can provide up to £455 per week. Any additional funding from Adult Services or Children and Young People Service cannot take the total amount to more than £785 per week for the first six months.
What can be money be used for?
The funding can be used to employ a personal assistant or care agency to help with your personal care needs (including social and leisure) and essential household tasks. (A relative can be a personal assistant if they do not live in the same house as you).
The funding can also be used to cover employers’ liability insurance, tax and national insurance contributions, and holiday pay.
For more information, please contact: Independent Living Fund Co-ordinator
Eastlawns
21 Thomas Street
Lindley
Huddersfield
HD3 3JJ
Telephone:01484 416760
Fax: 01484 223549
Kirklees Benefits Advice Service
Benefit Advisers provide independent advice and assistance in claiming benefits and representation at appeals tribunals. They work in partnership with the Citizen’s Advice Bureau and can be contacted through those offices.
You can speak to an adviser on the following telephone numbers:
Huddersfield area – 01484 223950
North Kirklees – 01924 326010
All residents in Kirklees who receive a service from Kirklees Adult Services should telephone 01484 223399.
Nursery Education Funding
Children become eligible for Nursery Education Funding (NEF) the term after their 3rd birthday. Funding is available until they reach statutory school-age.
The Local Authority (LA) pays money to each provider of nursery education, who reduce the fees paid by parents to take account of this.
Your child is entitled to 12 hours 30 minutes of free nursery education a week for 38 weeks a year. Your child can get a place in any of the types of childcare provider listed below, as long as they are included in the LA Directory: Local authority reception and nursery classes (subject to their admission policy):-
These are some useful contact details on state pensions:
The Pension Service They answer enquiries about State retirement pension.
Telephone:0845 60 60 265.
Lines are open 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Pension Credit
If you are 60 or over, Pension Credit could top up your weekly income, and if you are 65 years or over you may be rewarded for the savings and income you have for your retirement. The person who applies for Pension Credit must be at least 60 or within four months of their 60th birthday – it does not matter if their partner is less than 60 years old.
You can obtain a pension credit claim form by telephoning 0800 99 1234 (freephone).
Forms can be completed over the telephone.
Lines are open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 9am - 1pm Saturday.
This helpline can be used for enquiries and changes of circumstances for people who have their state pension paid into a bank account.
Telephone: 0845 301 3011.
Lines are open 8am - 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Retirement Pension Teleclaims Line
Claims for state retirement pension can be completed over the telephone.
For more information, telephone 0845 300 1084, textphone: 0845 300 2086.
Lines are open 8am – 8pm, Monday to Friday.
Winter Fuel Payments.
This service is for people aged 60 or over. It provides financial help with heating bills in winter.
To ask for a forecast for state retirement pension,
Telephone: 0845 3000 168.
Lines are open 8am – 8pm, Monday - Friday and 9am - 1pm Saturday.
Textphone: 0845 3000 169.
Publications which contain information about the charges for assessed social care services can be obtained from the Gateway to Care.
Tax Credits and childcare costs
About 9 out of 10 families are entitled to Tax Credits, and if you qualify for Working Tax Credit you may get help towards the cost of your childcare. There are two kinds of Tax Credits: Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit. Some employers can also give you tax-free vouchers to help pay for childcare. To find out more please visit the Inland Revenue website.
Please have the details of all your income, from every source, available.
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