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advice and support | benefits | charitable funding | wish granting

INFORMATION

Flexible working for parents of disabled children

Did you know that from 6th April 2003 parents of children under 6 or disabled children under 18 have the right to apply to work flexibly, and employers have a duty to consider the request seriously? 

For more information click here http://www.dti.gov.uk/employment/employment-legislation/employment-guidance/page16358.html

Direct Payments
These are cash payments made to you to enable you to organise and buy your own social care services, which you have been assessed as needing by Social Services. This may give you more flexibility and control to make your own decisions about how services are delivered. The following people can request a direct payment following an assessment of their needs:

1. People with parental responsibility for a disabled child
2. A young disabled person aged 16 or 17
For more information about the above two options download here ( 598kb)
3. Anyone over the age of 18
For more information about the above option download here ( 390kb)

To find out more, speak to your contact within Children's Services, or contact Philip Snowball (Direct Payments Manager) on Tel: (0191) 566 1825 or download the Social Services guides below:

Click here to download 'Employment of Personal Assistant' guidance ( 237kb)

Click here to download 'Employment of Personal Assistant Fact Sheet'. ( 835kb)

Click here to download 'Provision via Care Agency' guidance ( 194kb)

Direct Payments Resources

The four resources below are designed to help you understand Direct Payments and offer information and advice:

1. The Department of Health have produced two guides to using Direct Payments. Download them here ( 262kb) and here ( 987kb)

2. The National Centre for Independent Living can support people in accessing Direct Payments. Click here to visit their website http://www.ncil.org.uk/

3. Download the Scope report about Direct Payments here ( 552kb)

4. In the Driving Seat and My Money, My Way Two Direct Payments Resources from SCOPE. Through DfES funding, SCOPE have produced a series of resources on raising awareness of Direct Payments. In the Driving Seat is a guide for parents and is accompanied by My Money, My Way, specifically targeted at young people. For further information please visit the website here

http://www.scope.org.uk/issues/directpayments/   

5. 'Starting Point' - an on-line signposting facility which is designed to give people in the city up to date information on the services / support available to help them maintain an active, independent and healthy life. Visit the website at www.sunderland.gov.uk/startingpoint/

Education Maintenance Allowance

From September 2004 students who stay on in Education after Year 11 (post-16) will be able to claim Education Maintenance Allowance. This is a weekly payment made to the student worth up to £30 per week, to help towards the costs of continuing education such as books, transport, equipment etc. The level of allowance granted to a student is dependent upon the family income, but any allowance awarded does not affect the family or young person’s benefits.

For more information contact:

Tel: 080 810 16 2 19
Ask your Connexions PA, or your school or college
Visit the website at www.ema.dfes.gov.uk
Click here to read a leaflet about it ( 88kb)

ADVICE AND SUPPORT

Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
The Citizens Advice Bureau Service offers free, confidential, impartial and independent advice, about all sorts of issues such as debt, consumer issues, benefits, housing, legal matters, employment and immigration. They can also help with filling out forms, writing letters, negotiating with creditors, and representation at court or tribunal hearings. Many centres also provide specialist advice in partnership with other agencies. Local centres can be found at:

Washington CAB, The Elms, 19 Front Street, Concord, Washington, NE37 2BA
Telephone: 0191 416 6848,
Fax: 0191 415 3494.
Monday and Wednesday 10am to 3pm, Thursday and Friday 10am to 1pm.
The building is wheelchair accessible, and translation in Greek is available.

Easington and District CAB, 5th Floor, Lee House, Peterlee, SR8 1BS.
Tel: 0191 586 2639
Fax: 0191 587 2695
Monday 10am to 3pm, Tuesday and Friday 10am to 1pm, Thursday 10am to 12 noon.

There are also community outlets for Easington and District CAB services at Seaham, Trimdon, Wheatley Hill, Wingate, Horden, South Hetton, Haswell, Easington Colliery, Murton and Blackhall Colliery. Contact the main office for details.

A website is available at www.nacab.org.uk

Welfare Rights Service
The Welfare Rights Service can give advice and information about a wide range of issues which may affect families. One important thing they can offer to families with a disabled child is advice and expertise in completing Disability Living Allowance application forms and other benefits information.

They offer welfare benefits advice in the Ford, Pallion and Pennywell areas via their outreach venues. They also provide help over the telephone and do home visits for the elderly and infirm.

They can also provide Information Days or attend similar events to provide information to larger groups. The service is free, confidential and independent.  

For f urther information please contact:

Tel: 0191 514 2930 Monday to Friday. 

E-mail: outreachwelfarerights@btconnect.com

For more information click here

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BENEFITS

Jobcentreplus
Many families with disabled children are entitled to claim benefits. It is important to get good advice about which benefits to claim, and to get support in filling out the application forms. Ask for a complete benefits check to make sure you are not missing out on anything. Information and advice is available from a qualified Benefits Advisor.

For further information contact your nearest Jobcentre or visit the website at www.dwp.gov.uk

Advice and help lines: The following services are offered in conjunction with Jobcentres Plus:

• Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance Helpline: open 7.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday, offering advice and update on Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance claims and payments. Phone: 08457 12 34 56. Textphone: 08457 22 44 33.
• Carers Allowance Unit: open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday, offering advice and updates on Carers Allowance claims and payments. Tel: 01253 85 61 23.
• Vaccine Damage Payment: open 9am-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9am-4.30pm Friday, offering advice and updates on Vaccine Damage Payment claims and payments. Tel: 01772 89 99 44. Textphone: 01772 89 94 89.
• Benefit Enquiry Line: open 8.30am-6.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am-1pm Saturday, offering advice and information about benefits for people with disabilities, their representatives and carers. Tel: 0800 88 22 00. Textphone: 0800 24 33 55. Use this number to obtain all claim forms.

Information about benefits is available from the organisations below:
Contact a Family helpline: Tel: 0808 808 3555
Your local Citizen’s Advice Bureau (see above)
Disability Alliance Rights Advice Line: Tel: 0207 247 8763
Your local Welfare Rights service.

Contact a Family
Family Fund
Audit Commission Guides guide 9a here  ( 84kb) and guide 9b here ( 86kb)
Working families : benefits and tax credits for families with disabled children

Changes in Benefits when a child reaches 16
Once a young disabled person reaches age 16 they can claim benefits in their own right, even though they may still be at school. So the question is which benefit do they claim, Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or both?

Incapacity Benefit can be claimed from a child’s 16th birthday and entitlement depends on (a) passing an incapacity for work test called the personal capability assessment (PCA) or (b) your child having a condition that exempts them from the test, e.g. severe learning disabilities, registered blind or receiving disability living allowance (DLA) for care at the higher rate.

Income Support can be claimed by a young disabled person at age 16 in their own right whether they are at home, school or attend a training centre. If they are still at school and aged 16, 17, or 18 years they have to be able to show that because of their disability they would be unlikely to get a job within a year if they left school now and signed on for work at a Jobcentre. However if they have left school they would have to show that they were incapable for work, therefore they would need to claim Incapacity Benefit and be assessed under the personal capability assessment unless they fell into one of the exempt categories.

For further information contact your local Jobcentre

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CHARITABLE FUNDING

The Family Fund
This organisation gives financial help and provides information to families with a severely disabled or seriously ill child under the age of 16. Financial grants are given to families in relation to the child’s care needs, for instance:

• holidays or leisure activities so everyone can have a break
• a washing machine or tumble drier because of constant bed wetting or getting dirty clothing
• bedding and clothing to cover the expense of wear and tear because of the child’s disability
• driving lessons for the child’s main carer if there is a car available

The Trust can help if the child’s condition or disability is regarded as severe and if a family’s income comes within the Trust’s guidelines. Families with a disabled child can make one application per year if they continue to meet the criteria. To apply, an application form can be completed online by clicking here http://www.familyfundtrust.org.uk/ .  A form can also be requested by phone, fax or e-mail (see below). A professional involved with the child can apply on the family’s behalf with their permission.

Other resources produced by The Family Fund are:

• ‘Taking Care’ - a guide written by parents for parents ( 783kb)
• information sheets on a wide range of issues, including adaptations to housing, benefits, holidays, transport etc
• ‘Your Life Your Future’ - a planning booklet for young people as they grow up ( 964kb)
• ‘After 16-what’s new’  - a guide to growing up and becoming an adult. 

Click on the links above to view each one. 

For further information please contact:

The Family Fund, PO Box 50, York, YO1 9ZX.
Tel: 0845 130 45 42 (if you need an interpreter, ring and tell them which language you require, and this will be arranged)
Fax: 01904 652625
Textphone: 01904 658085 (for people with a hearing impairment)
E-mail info@familyfundtrust.org.uk

Holiday and Opportunities Fund
This is a fund available in Sunderland to help provide breaks for carers where the usual short break schemes are not appropriate or available. Applications can be made to the fund for money towards holidays or days out which will clearly provide parent carers with a break. For example, money could be used to pay for a carer to look after your child while you have a day away, the grant could cover the cost of an extra night’s accommodation which would not otherwise be necessary (e.g. the disabled child can only travel so far in one day), or the child may be unwilling to take a residential break so the only possible break would be to go away together, but to go somewhere where paid support was at hand to ensure the carer really does get a rest. The fund is available to parent carers of children with disabilities as well as to carers who care for other adults. If you feel you could get a rest from caring if only you had the funds to pay for something in particular, contact Sunderland Carer’s Centre for details of how to apply.

Sunderland Carers' Centre, 12 Toward Road, Sunderland, SR1 2QF

Telephone: 0191 567 3232

E-mail: info@sunderlandcarers.co.uk

The Sunshine Fund
The Evening Chronicle Sunshine Fund is used to benefit disabled and disadvantaged children under 16 years of age, through the purchasing of specially adapted equipment. Both individuals and organisations living or based within the Evening Chronicle circulation area can apply for a grant.

For more information click here http://www.eveningchroniclesunshinefund.org.uk/

Birth Defects Foundation Newlife Child and Family Grants

What are child and family grants and who can apply?

BDF Newlife Child and Family Grants exist to help children and families who are significantly affected by an inborn condition (birth defect/congenital abnormality). 

How can the grants help?

They may be able to help by providing funds, in full or part, for the purchase of:

• Equipment which is specifically related to the care or needs of the child/family
• Other support for the child or family which is exceptional in its nature and where other funding is not available

Past grant examples

• Storage space for physio and other treatment equipment - external storage space to accommodate equipment that helped caring/treatment at home.
• Specialist flooring for a home bed/treatment room - where significant treatment requires rigorous cleaning/bacteria control.
• Additional beds/bedding - in cases of medically increased wear and tear.

Who? How?

BDF Newlife are an independent charity funded by donations and their trading activities. One of their services is to focus on families in greatest need, so whilst their assistance is not means tested, they would expect applications primarily from those on restricted income, relative to their family size.

Checklist ?

Is the condition inborn?

Is the affected child under 18 years old?

Are the effects on the child or carers/family significant?

Will a closely associated professional support the application?

Can you demonstrate that other funds are not available or there is significant time delay in supply with negative effects on health or ability?

Are you the parent/main carer or a professional acting on behalf of a child or person who fulfils the points above?

- If you can answer yes to the questions above - you can make an application now.

Queries - before or after making an application

Call their Nurses in complete confidence on 08700 70 70 20

BDF Newlife Nurses can also give other information on inborn conditions and related issues.

Making an application

Complete the official form and submit this on-line at www.bdfnewlife.co.uk  

For more information please contact:

BDF Centre, Hemlock Way, Cannock, Staffordshire, WS11 7GF

Tel:  01543 468888

E-mail: info@bdfnewlife.co.uk

WISH GRANTING

Round Table Children’s Wish (RTCW)
RTCW grant wishes for children aged 3-17 who have a life threatening illness. They must not have had a wish granted before or be due to have one granted from another organisation. Anyone can make a referral, but the child’s parents must consent.

For more information please contact:

Round Table Children's Wish (RTCW), 857 Wimborne Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH9 2BQ

Tel: 01202 514 515

E-mail: info@rtcw.org

Website: http://www.rtcw.org/index.htm

Starlight foundation
The Starlight foundation grant wishes for children aged 4-18 who have a life threatening or life shortening illness. They must not have had a wish granted before or be due to have one granted from another organisation. Anyone can make a referral, but the child’s parents must consent.

For more information please contact:

Starlight Children's Foundation, Room PRW1, .O. Box 4267, Goring, Reading, RG8 0AP

Tel: 0207 262 2881

E-mail: PRW1@starlight.org.uk

Website: www.starlight.org.uk

Make a Wish Foundation
Make a Wish foundation grant wishes for children aged 3-17 who have a life threatening illness. They must not have had a wish granted before or be due to have one granted from another organisation. Anyone can make a referral, but the child’s parents must consent.

For more information please contact:

Make a Wish Foundation UK, 329-331 London Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 3HQ

Tel: 01276 405 060

E-mail: info@make-a-wish.org.uk

Website: http://www.make-a-wish.org.uk/

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