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 FAQ'S ON DISABLED ADAPTATIONS TO THE HOME

 Can I  apply for a grant to make disabled adaptations to my home?

 Yes - funding is available from your local authority. There are two
 types of grant : Discretionary and Mandatory and both are means
 tested.

 What is a Discretionary grant? 

 These are available, at the local authority's discretion, to help with
 making disabled adaptations to allow a disabled person to live safely 
 in his/her home. In North Tyneside grants of up to FIVE THOUSAND
 POUNDS are payable towards the cost of the work. The grant is 
 means tested and only payable to those receiving certain benefits or 
 tax credits.  Grants of ONE THOUSAND POUNDS are available for
 emergency adaptations, for example, for a person being discharged
 from hospital or respite care. The person's needs should be assessed
 by an Occupational Therapist or other qualified health professional.
 Certain structural alterations may require approval by the Building
 Control Officer -  check with your local authority.

 What is a Mandatory grant?

 These are payable to persons who have been assessed as being
 chronically sick and disabled, or having a mental illness which affects
 their daily living, or diagnosed with a terminal illness.  They can also be
 claimed  by persons  assessed as being impaired by a serious illness
 such as diabetes. Such persons may need to instal a ground floor WC
 and/or shower because it is unsafe to make frequent trips up stairs or  
 they are unable to get in an out of the bath.  In some cases it is
 possible to claim for an additional kitchen or extra space for using a
 wheelchair indoors to meet disabled needs. Claim also  for
 widening doorways and new flooring to accommodate wheelchairs. The
 first step is to arrange a Special Needs Assessment by an Occupational
 Therapist, arranged via the GP, hospital staff or social worker. Grants
 of up to THIRTY THOUSAND POUNDS can be claimed for adapting
 a home to meet disabled needs. They are means tested and depending
 upon your income and savings you may be asked to contribute to the
 cost.  The disabled person does not have to be the home-owner - grants
 can be claimed for a disabled child or other occupant. 

 What if I am  tenant in my home? 

 These grants can be claimed by tenants and home-owners.

 What if my Landlord is the Council or a Housing Association?

 Special Disabled Facilities Grants can be claimed, at the local
 authority's discretion, for persons assessed by an Occupational
 Therapist or other qualified professional. 

 What other help can tenants get ?

 If your health has deteriorated and you  have developed a disability
 it might be that you no longer feel safe in your home.  You can ask
 Social Services to carry out a Special Housing Needs Assessment or
 someone can apply on your behalf.  If you have a Carer, their needs 
 must be assessed at the same time so that the Social Worker has a
 clear understanding of what help you need and what help you are
 getting from your Carer.  Your Social Worker can help you to move
 to a more suitable property, or can arrange an assessment by an
 Occupational Therapist so that your home can be adapted to meet
 disabled needs.  

 Council tenants who are moving home because of a disability, can claim
 a Special Disabled Facilities grant of up to £3,000 for relocation costs.
 These grants are means tested and are entirely at the discretion of the
 local authority.  

 CLICK HERE
 FOR A STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CLAIMING ADAPTATIONS GRANT

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 DISABLED BENEFITS 

 Extra Working Tax Credits
 Therapeutic earnings
 Housing and Council Tax Benefit
 Council Tax Band Reduction for disabled adaptations
 Incapacity benefit
 Disability Living Allowance - Care Component
 Disability Living Allowance - Mobility Component
 Attendance Allowance
 Severe Disability Allowance
 Income Support
 Terminal Illness special payments

 If you are claiming income support and are awarded the medium  
 or high rate of Care Component of DLA you are entitled to extra 
 income support. Alternatively, if someone is providing at least 35
 hours per week care for you (including overnight stays) they may
 be able to claim Invalid Care Allowance. This is a means tested 
 benefit and is affected by other income your Carer may have.

 The forms for claiming all of these benefits are complex. If
 you need help claiming, or appealing any decisions, your local
 Social Services can put you in touch with people who can help. 
 
  FURTHER BENEFITS FOR THE DISABLED

 Persons assessed as being chronically sick and disabled can  
 claim for VAT relief on certain items, including:

 Wheelchairs and electric adjustable beds
 Chair and Stair Lifts
 Building Alterations
 Adapted Vehicles
 Adaptations to Equipment or Appliances
 Service and Maintenance of disability equipment
 Gadgets specifically designed for the disabled
 Computer Software designed for the disabled
 Hire of equipment

 MORE INFO FOR THE DISABLED AND PENSIONERS

 You might have tried to claim certain benefits and grants before and
 were turned down. If  your circumstances have changed at  all you
 should make another claim.  Many pensioners whose income has
 been reduced by falling bank rates and share values have failed to
 contact the Benefits Agency, Dept of Work and Pensions, and the
 local Housing and Council Tax Benefits Office to ask if their reduced
 income has affected their rights to claim benefits.  If you are in any
 doubt make enquiries and make sure you are not missing out!

 GET HELP WITH GRANT FUNDING
 

 THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES FUNDING FOR  FOR THE DISABLED AND  OVER
 60's. SPECIAL AGENCIES WERE SET UP TO WORK  WITH LOCAL COUNCILS.
 

                         Click on your area for more details: 
  NORTH TYNESIDE                                                 NORTHUMBERLAND 

  GATESHEAD AND NEWCASTLE                                      SUNDERLAND
  
  FOR ALL OTHER REGIONS visit:  www.stayingput.org.uk 

 USEFUL CONTACTS FOR HELP AND ADVICE

 NHS DIRECT 0845 4647

 North of Tyne PALS for patient advice and support 0800 032 02 02

 Occupational Therapist Assessments  0191 270 3130  - take the first  
 step in applying for disability grants 

 CANCER RESEARCH INFORMATION NURSE 0800 226 237

 ALZHEIMER'S SOCIETY Dementia Helpline 0845 300 0336
 www.alzheimers.org.uk and info@alzheimers.org.uk

 NORTH TYNESIDE DIABETES PATIENT PANEL
 N.T. General Hospital, Rake Lane, North Shields 293 4169

 STROKE INFORMATION SERVICE
 North Tyneside  296 4167 
 Newcastle 219 4710  

 MENTAL HEALTH HELPLINE 0845 601 2458
 email: helpline@mhmh.co.uk
 www.mentalhealthmatters.com

 AGE CONCERN North Tyneside 280 8484
 email: enquiries@agenconcernnorthtyne.org
 www.ageconcernnorthtyne.org

 NORTH TYNESIDE DAY HOSPICE
 For patients with life threatening illness
 Free transport and escort
 Free refreshments and lunch
 Free activities including crafts, bingo, trips out
 Free Assessment by qualified nurse
 
 Enquiries to : Sir G B Hunter Memorial Hospital
 The Green, Wallsend tel 220 2212

DO YOU KNOW OTHER AGENCIES WHO
PROVIDE FREE SERVICES TO THE
ELDERLY AND DISABLED?

If so we would like to include them in our list
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CLICK HEREFOR A-Z SERVICES

 HAS YOUR CARER REACHED AGE 65 AND LOST THEIR ICA?

 If so, you may be entitled to claim extra benefit for yourself. When a 
 person in receipt of Attendance Allowance or DLA loses their Carer
 to retirement, they can claim extra benefit in order to pay their own
 carer(s) directly. If the retired Carer is a spouse or other family member 
 who lives with you, they are disregarded as Carers from age 65. In
 addition to extra income support for direct care payments your joint
 income will be reduced after the loss of ICA payments. So even if you
 have been refused benefits in the past you must make a fresh claim for
 income support, housing and council tax benefit. Claim at least 2 weeks
 before your Carer's 65th birthday to make sure you don't lose out.  

 COMPLAINTS

 To complain about a Care Home or Nursing Home contact the
 
 Commission for Social Care Inspection
 St Nicholas Buildings
 St Nicholas Street
 Newcastle upon Tyne
 NE1 1NB

 Tel 0845 015 0120

 To complain about a Social Worker there are 3 stages:

 1- complain to his/her superior officer at the Council - keep a copy
 
 2- if you are not satisfied complain to the Council's Statutory Complaints     
     Officer. If the complaint involves a vulnerable person, the Council must
     appoint an Independent person to investigate your complaint. A report
     will be presented to the Council who should then take action to satisfy your
     complaint.
 
 3- if you are still not happy you can proceed to Stage 3 - to an Appeal's Panel
     made up of elected Councillors. You will be invited to attend a hearing at
     which you and the social workers will be able to present your case. You can
     take a friend or advocate but you will not be able to claim any expenses for
     this.  Most cases can be resolved at this stage but if you are still unhappy
     you can complain to the Local Government Ombudsman or take court action
     against the council's social services using a solicitor who specialises in
     Administrative Law (law governing local authorities)

 To complain about the Benefits Agency, the DWP or any other Government
 Agency, you must contact your MP.  Through his/her Office you can complain
 to the Parliamentary Ombudsman.