Romney Marsh Day Centre offers an information and advice service. Please call 01797 363888 to make an appointment to see a member of our trained staff.
Information & Advice
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Are you over 65 and have a medical condition that makes day to day life more difficult than it used to be ?
If so, you may be entitled to Attendance Allowance. A non means tested benefit given to the over 65’s who have difficulties or need someone to help and supervise them to do the day to day things we used to take for granted.
There are also benefits for the under 65’s who have mobility and care needs, such as Personal Independence Payments.
If you are looking to apply for these benefits or want to apply for a Blue Badge (disabled parking), please follow the attached links or feel free to contact us here at the Day Centre for further advice and help with your applications.
About the services
You will need to book an appointment to meet with a member of staff to discuss your circumstances. We will take you step by step through the ‘maze’ of forms and procedures and support you to appeal decisions (if you would like to) should your application be turned down.
Our service is entirely free of charge and you are under no obligation to offer a donation however we welcome voluntary contributions to enable this valuable service to continue.
Further online help working through the maze!
The consumer magazine WHICH has the following information:
The Benefits System
There is a range of benefits available to older or disabled people, or those that need help with care. Some are means tested, others are available to anyone who meets specific criteria. If a benefit is means tested, it is only available to those people who earn beneath a certain level of income. Depending on their circumstances, your relative might qualify for such financial help. The main benefits and allowances are described in Benefits for older & disabled people
Benefits advice and calculators
Citizens Advice: for more detailed advice about benefits entitlement, contact your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) to make an appointment with a trained adviser. Details of how to get in touch are available on the Citizens Advice website
if you are unsure which benefits you or your relative might be entitled to, try using an online benefits calculator. You will be asked a number of questions about your personal circumstances, then offered guidance on which benefits you might be eligible for.
Source Which Magazine website
The benefits system
• Don’t forget that if your relative’s circumstances change, you must notify the Department of Work and Pensions immediately as this could affect the benefits they are entitled to.
• Benefits cap: there is a limit on the total amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. For more information, see the GOV.UK website
• Welfare reform: there are a number of changes taking place to the benefits system from April 2013 onwards as part of the Government’s welfare reforms, for example the introduction of the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and Universal Credit. For more details about the proposed changes, see GOV.UK website
Useful Websites
For Blue Badge ( disabled parking ) applications; – Vist KCC Blue Badge
For Carers and Disability benefits including; Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Carers Allowance applications; – Visit Carers and disability benefits
For Council tax and Housing benefit vist the Folkestone & Shepway District Council Council Tax Reduction Page
Other information you may find useful
Accessing local authority and NHS care and support visit this page on the Which magazine website Here
Financing care at home For a clear explanation of your home care funding options, see this page on the Which magazine website Here
To access benefits and grants Please visit the Turn2us website Here,/a>
Shepway Care Navigator Service a free service that will assist you to find the correct service for you care and mobility needs Here
Age Uk Ashford – Advocacy Service Available to older people across Shepway. Visit their website Here or call 01233 668765
Non-means tested benefits
In addition to the main benefits and allowances outlined in Benefits for older and disabled people, there may be other pieces of financial help available to your relative:
Christmas bonus: a one-off tax-free £10 payment paid at Christmas to people on certain benefits. Here
Council tax reduction: money off your council tax if you are on a low income. Here
Help with health costs everyone over 60 is entitled to free prescriptions and eye tests. If your relative is in receipt of certain benefits, such as the guarantee credit part or pension credit, they might also be entitled to free dental treatment, glasses and the cost of travel to hospital.
Help with travel for example. Most towns also have their own dial-a-ride scheme for people who find it difficult to get out and about on public transport. Apply for a bus pass here | Apply for a Blue Badge here
Housing Benefit available to people on low incomes who rent their home. For more information, see the GOV.UK website.
Here
War widow(er) pension you might be entitled to this if your partner died while serving in the armed forces. Here
Winter fuel payment an annual payment of between £100 and £300 to all people over 60 to help with fuel costs. People in receipt of a state pension or other relevant benefits will receive the payment automatically. Others who are eligible will need to apply.
Here