News items from October 2016
Carers Allowance Digital Service
With Carer's Allowance, you could get £62.10 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain disability benefits. You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. Find out more in this handy guide from Carers UK
The Carer’s Allowance Digital Service has been available since October 2013. It's a simpler, clearer and faster way to make a claim or report a change of circumstances. The service receives excellent feedback, with customer satisfaction consistently over 90%.
Some benefits of using the Digital service to make a claim:
- Available 24 hours a day 7 days a week
- Arrives immediately at the Carers Unit once submitted
- Can be used on a mobile phone or tablet
- Has significantly less questions than the paper claim
- Does not require a signature or a password
- Has mandatory questions to ensure carers provide the information needed to pay claims quickly
- Has helpline numbers and help text if carers need to clarify questions
- Does not need to be printed or saved
- Is available in Welsh
What happens after the claim is submitted?
Claimants can request an email notification to confirm that the application has been submitted. The Carer’s Allowance Unit will start processing the claim and will write to the disabled person to let them know a claim by someone caring for them has been made.
How long will it take to make the claim?
The Carer's Allowance Unit regularly reviews the questions to ensure they only ask for the information they need. The time to complete the online claim has been reducing as they do this and average time to complete is now around 24 minutes.
What if the carer needs to take a break whilst making the claim online?
You will not be timed out for 90 minutes, once you have started to complete the digital claim form, meaning that you should be able to take a break and then return to complete. You will get 90 minutes to complete each page of the application.
What if you need some help?
There are help guides and eligibility questions right up front to help you. Remember, you'll need to make sure the disabled person you care for is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits, before you make your claim for Carer's Allowance.
Where can you access the Digital service?
Through GOV.UK - Simply click here to find out more and start your online claim
Report a Change of Circumstances
Claimants can report a change of circumstances online; for example if:
- You start or leave your job
- You stop being a carer
- You take a holiday or go into hospital
- The person you care for goes into hospital or takes a holiday
Find out more and report a change of circumstances
Vote now to help our Carers Choir keep running
We're trying to raise funding for our Carers Choir by taking part in the AVIVA Community Fund. Simply click here and you can vote for us up to 10 times.
We're so proud of our choir and determined to carry it on. It would be a tremendous help to us if you could vote for us, and pass this message on to anyone else you think would like to support us. Each time we meet up, we have to pay for the rehearsal room, the choir leader, a carer support worker, the tea and coffee etc. It costs around £175 a session.
Our Carers Choir meets every two weeks to learn contemporary upbeat songs in four part harmony under the leadership of a musical director and a carers support worker.
Support for Carers supports over 4,200 unpaid carers. Carers have lives, too. They have a right to an identity outside of their caring role; to work, study, socialise and enjoy life. Too often the life of a carer is one of service, isolation and depression.The choir gives carers a focus outside of their caring responsibilities. We want to continue to boost carers' confidence, self-esteem, wellbeing and fun. Singing is a wonderful mood-boosting tool with proven physiological benefits.
The choir gives carers the opportunity to learn a new skill and to meet other carers, not in a carer-focused setting, but in a fun and safe environment. They can meet like-minded individuals which also provides peer support and new friends to get together with outside of the choir.
Please vote to help our choir keep running
Dementia carer in Leicester?
Do you care for someone with dementia? Why not attend the Alzheimer's Society's carer workshops for information and support?
What is the Carer Information and Support Programme?
The Carer Information and Support Programme is a series of workshops run over 4 sessions for people caring for a family member or friend with dementia. It provides an opportunity for you to talk in a friendly and confidential environment about your experiences and the impact they are having on you.
The workshops aim to provide you with information and support. Topics will include:
- What is dementia?
- How can you support and care for someone with dementia
- The support services that are available
- Planning for the future
When and where?
Wednesday 30th November 2016 - Understanding Dementia: 2pm-4:30pm
Wednesday 7th December 2016 - Legal and Money Matters: 2pm-4:30pm
Wednesday 14th December 2016 - Providing Support and Care: 10:30am-1pm
Wednesday 21st December 2016 - Coping Day to Day: 2pm-4:30pm
Venue: The Bradgate Melntal Health Unit (The recreation room), Glenfield Hospital, Groby Road, Leicester, LE3 9EJ
Parking is available.
Who will be there?
The workshops are run by Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers for people who care for a family member or friend with dementia. If you are unable to attend the above dates/times, please register your interest as future groups may be available.
To find out more or to book a place contact Sara Lovett:
Call: 0116 231 1111
Email: [email protected]
Dementia carer in North West Leicestershire?
Do you care for someone with dementia? Why not attend the Alzheimer's Society's carer workshops for information and support?
What is the Carer Information and Support Programme?
The Carer Information and Support Programme is a series of workshops run over 4 sessions for people caring for a family member or friend with dementia. It provides an opportunity for you to talk in a friendly and confidential environment about your experiences and the impact they are having on you.
The workshops aim to provide you with information and support. Topics will include:
- What is dementia?
- How can you support and care for someone with dementia
- The support services that are available
- Planning for the future
Where and When?
Session 1 - Wednesday 2nd November 2016
Session 2 - Wednesday 9th November 2016
Session 3 - Wednesday 16th November 2016
Session 4 - Wednesday 23rd November 2016
All sessions will run between 1:30pm - 4pm.
Venue: The Marlene Reid Centre, 85 Belvoir Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3PH
Who will be there?
The workshops are run by Alzheimer’s Society staff and volunteers for people who care for a family member or friend with dementia. Please aim to attend all sessions if possible. If you are unable to attend the above dates/times, please register your interest as future groups may be available.
To find out more or to book a place
Call: 0116 231 1111
Email: [email protected]
Are you a young carer aged 11-19? Have your say!
Leicestershire County Council wants to hear from young people aged 11-19 who either care for a parent or another family member.
Your feedback will be used to improve the support and advice available from schools, GPs, councils and others organisations, and to gain a more comprehensive picture of the number of young carers across the county.
FREE Carers Walk - every other Wednesday
Join Active Together Harborough every other Wednesday in Welland Park for a FREE walk aimed at Carers and Care Receivers.
The walk is suitable for all ages and abilities, wheelchair friendly, and led by a qualified walk leader. Each walk will last around 30 minutes.
Where and when?
Meet at Welland Park Cafe every other Wednesday at 11am.
The next walks are on 2nd November, 16th November, 30th November and 14th December.
To find out more:
Call the Active Together Team on 01858 82 82 82
Email [email protected]
Please look after yourself - get the flu jab this winter
Please take the time to look after yourself and get protected with the flu jab this winter. As a carer for someone else, it can be easy to overlook your own health. Flu can knock even the healthiest people off their feet for a couple of weeks, making it impossible for a carer to look after the person in their care.
This is why the NHS offers you a free flu vaccination as a registered carer. It’s not just about protecting you as a carer from getting flu, but also preventing you from passing the virus onto the vulnerable person you care for.
Flu is a highly infectious disease which is easily spread from one person to another. Getting flu when you already have a long-term condition can lead to serious complications, and it can even be a killer. There are a lot of myths about flu that have circulated over the years. Many people worry that the vaccine can give you the flu. Please be assured that this isn’t possible as there is no live influenza virus in the vaccine. Unlike other medication for long term conditions, the flu jab is an annual one-off vaccine. The flu vaccine changes every year to fight the latest strains of flu, so even if you had a jab last winter you need another one this year to stay flu safe.
Find out more and watch a short video on why you should get the flu jab this winter
Find out more about staying well this winter
