Moneysaving For Carers

System

my son gets middle rate DLA. what proof do you have to offer? is it only for wheelchair users?

Fran

Jane, which question are you replying to?

System

Jus tlogged on and seen all this info. Sounds great but I too have a child who is on middle rate DLA and I get the corresponding carers allowance. What does this entitle me too? Oh, and by the way, she doesnt use a wheelchair. Is there anything that she can get etc. Would be grateful to find out......................

Rachelle_2

Hello,

Gosh, thanks for all the posts and tips! Keep 'em coming, please.

This is just a quick note to respond to Mancunian & Yvonne about the tv license question. As it's called a
"Free Over 75 TV License", it means, as someone mentioned earlier, that it's only available for folks that fit the age-bracket. It won't help you if the person you care for is younger. (Unless you have an elderly parent or grandparent living at the same address with you)

Don't despair though, because there's still lots of other stuff out there that will help in one way or another, as some of the above posts are testifying to! (Thank you and a great big smooch to all!) (Ewwww, yuck)

I have to go to a Carers Support Group meeting right now, but will post again later tonight. I found some some valuable travel info stashed away in my folder and will share some of that stuff with you later.

Before I go, I have a question. BBC once did a week long afternoon program about elderly care.....in one episode was a recreational facility (in the UK) aimed at senior citizens. What made it stand out was that it was very different from what you'd normally expect for places like that. Instead of bingo games and old wartime songs they showed wheelchair grannies being taken off-road driving and sliding with glee down a hill (with safety belts tightly strapped, of course) on wheelchairs instead of sleds!

What struck me was how happy all the old folks were, and I very much want to find out where this place is because I'd love to take my mum there. (I tried BBC's website but it's such a labyrinthian maze, I just got more and more lost!)

Does anyone know anything about a place like that? I'll love you forever if you can point me in the right direction. Thanks.

Rachelle_2

Here's some of the travel info I spoke about earlier. (Still haven't found the leaflet.) Most of these holiday organizations are registered charities or trusts. The contact details may be out of date as I got these several years ago, but you should be able to look up the various organizations in the phone book or through Citizen's Advice Bureau.

Some of these groups will even help pay towards the costs of the holiday, depending on what the carer's situation is. Of course, it is understood that these are outings for both, the carer and the person they look after.

3H Fund

147a Camden Road,
Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN1 2RA
Tel: 07892 547474
Fax: 01892 524703
email: info@3hfund.org.uk

Holidays for physically disabled people and respite for carers. A group leader and nurse accompany each group. All holidays are for one week.

Holidays for Disabled People

PO Box 164, Totton,
Hants SO40 9WZ
Tel: 01252 332452
email: h4dp1@aol.com

Accompanied holidays with helpers, or holidaymakers can bring their own friends/escorts. Disabled people pay the cost of the holiday, volunteer helpers pay a minimum donation and the charity makes up the remainder.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

MS National Centre,
372 Edgware Road,
London NW2 6ND
Tel: 020 8438 0700
Fax: 080 8438 0701
email: info@mssociety.org.uk

Organises holidays for members. Accommodation in holiday homes and respite care centres across the country, available to people with MS and their families, partners and careers (see Adapted Accommodation in the UK)

Parkinson's Disease Society of the UK (PDS)

215 Vauxhall Bridge Road,
London SW1V 1EJ
Tel: 020 7931 8080
Helpline: 0808 800 0303
Fax: 020 7233 9908
email: enquires@parkinsons.org.uk

Holidays at centres run by the Winged Fellowship Trust (who hold up-to-date information). Details of respite care facilities, hotels, guest houses and centres which are suitable for people with Parkinson's, their carers and families.

Phab England

Summit House,
Wandle Road
Croydon CR0 1DF
Tel: 020 8667 9443
Fax: 020 8681 1399
email: info@phabengland.org.uk

Holidays and courses, organised by regional and country group, for disabled and able-bodied people of all ages.

Rachelle_2

For Louise Gallis, I'm not an expert on DLA as my mom doesn't have that one. At the moment, she's on Attendance Allowance & Pension Credit. Anyway, here is info on some of what you can get on the DLA.

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If you get the higher rate mobility part of Disability Living Allowance you will be eligible for:

Exemption from road tax
Blue Badge scheme
Motability
Driving licence at age 16

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Also found this refreshingly outspoken view on the subject:

http://www.disabilityuk.com/masterpages/dla1a.htm

(Even if you are not dealing with disability as such, it might be worth your time to check out some of the other links on this website, as the info is quite comphrehensive in some areas that concern folks like us)

Hope this helps.

System

Hi

I too care for my disabled Mother.

I have just discovered that for specialist products for the disabled (mobility aids - shoes etc) we can claim the vat back.

See the cutoms & excise website for more details and the forms, which for a government body are not at all complicated.

System

to rachel and everyone,many thanks for all the info.will keep looking on the site for more thanks again yvonne my e mail address is vonny@speed-mail.co.uk if anyone wants to get in touch

Rachelle_2

Hi to Yvonne & Jane,

Thanks for the tips and for saying hello. Caring for an ill loved one is certainly not an easy task and can be very stressful at times, so please remember to take care of yourselves too.

Here are some of the best links I've found so far, covering topics related to UK Carers issues, including finances:

1. Princess Royal Trust For Carers (Excellent site!)

http://www.carers.org/


2. Information for Carers Nationwide & Regional:

http://www.carersonline.org.uk/


3.Department for Work and Pensions site covering,
amongst other things: Invalid Care Allowance /
Carers and benefits / Carers housing benefits / Home
responsibilities protection / Social
Fund and Help with health costs:

http://www.carers.gov.uk/zone3.htm


There's a lot of information here. If you still can't find what you're looking for after going through all this....
you'd better pack it in and move to Kalamazoo.

(I'm kidding, okay?)

System

my father has dementia. He doesn't pay Council Tax. I think there is an exemption for anyone with a "mental impairment". You just complete a simple form available from your local council.
He also receives attendance allowance - CAB did a home visit and helped us complete the forms. Their knowledge and help was invaluable.