The Equality and Human Rights Commission want to understand whether the availability of accessible and adaptable housing and support services around it, fulfils disabled people’s rights to live independently.
They want to hear from YOU – your views and experiences. This includes the effect it has on disabled people’s choice and control over housing and your right to independent living.
We know as a community group accessible housing for people with disabilities in Knowsley is few and far between and any new homes should be homes built for life, to accommodate an individuals need and circumstances throughout life. We also know that lots of young people with disabilities in Knowsley aspire to have a place of their own – not just a flat in shared supported living – we want to have more choice and a range of homes for local people pf all ages with disabilities and long term health conditions.
There are three questionnaires, one for each group of interest they would really like to hear from, please click on the appropriate link below which will take you to the survey.
The closing date for questionnaires to be submitted is 23:59 on Tuesday 18 April 2017.
The information you give to The Equality and Human Rights Commission will form an important part of the evidence they will consider for their formal inquiry into housing and disability.
About the inquiry
In spring 2017, The Equality and Human Rights Commission will carry out a survey of all local authorities in England, Wales and Scotland. They expect the formal response from local authorities to be provided by the survey.
Individuals working for local authorities may wish to complete the housing provider’s questionnaire, giving a personal response based on their experience.
Please only complete the questionnaire that is relevant to you and only complete the questions that are relevant to your situation.
Leading national charity Disability Rights UK have a produced a FREE downloadable guide about how to apply to make a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Personal independence payment (PIP) is a new benefit for people who need help taking part in everyday life or who find it difficult to get around. It replaces disability living allowance for people between the ages of 16 and 64 inclusive. In 2012, there were over 3 million DLA claimants in the UK; the Government estimates 600,000 fewer disabled people will qualify for PIP by 2018.
Disability Rights UK has produced a guide to help you through the claiming process. The guide covers information on:
The PIP rules
The scoring system
The activities and descriptors
Filling out the claim form
Keeping a diary
The face to face consultation with a healthcare professional
What to do if you are not happy with your decision
Further help and information
Please click on this link below and download the guide for FREE in word.
We know first hand that this is a stressful process to go through and please remember there is one to one help available locally across Knowsley to guide you through the process. Here’s just a couple…
Heard about NHS Continuing Healthcare? If you (or a relative) need full time care and you have a certain level of savings/assets, you’ll probably be told to pay.
But if you have health needs you should first be assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding, which is a package of care for adults aged 18 or over arranged and funded solely by the NHS.
In order to receive NHS CHC funding individuals have to be assessed by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) according to a legally prescribed decision making process to determine whether the individual has a ‘primary health need’.
NHS England have produced a short information video about the topic (below) and the Department of Health have produced a fact sheet – click here.
A brilliant online information resource all about NHS Continuing Healthcare funding in England is Care To Be Different. Which was set up by Angela Sherman after her own parents’ experience of the UK care system.
“Whether or not you pay for care does NOT depend on your money. It depends on your care needs only. It doesn’t matter how much money you do or don’t have. Be sure to get properly assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding. Our website provides lots of information to help you”.
She developed the website as a specialist information resource, providing practical information about NHS Continuing Healthcare funding and other care matters. It can help families:
apply for NHS Continuing Heatlhcare funding – and appeal decisions that deny funding
understand what really goes on in Continuing Healthcare assessments and how to fight your relative’s corner
make a better decision when choosing a care home
prevent an elderly relative being discharged from hospital before being properly assessed for NHS Continuing Healthcare funding.
Do take a look at the website which features, frequently asked questions, case studies as well as questions you may need to ask.
We at Knowsley’s User Led Organisation would also like to host a public information session on this topic and invite a local representative from Knowsley’s CCG to give an overview/lowdown on Continuing Healthcare – we’ll keep you posted on the date that we run this – it’ll be well worth getting along to!
If you have a disability which affects your mobility you may qualify for a Blue Badge.
It allows you to park to park in ‘Blue Badge’ parking spaces, even if you aren’t the person driving.
If you meet at least one of the following criteria, you can apply for a Blue Badge:
You receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
You are severely sight impaired (blind)
You received a score of 8 points or more under the ‘Moving Around’ activity of the mobility component of Personal Independence Payments.
You receive a War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement
You have had a payment under tariff 1 to 8 of the Armed Forces compensation scheme and are certified as having a permanent and substantial disability likely to last the rest of your life
You have a permanent and substantial disability which makes walking difficult or impossible
You have a severe upper limb disability in both arms and can drive a vehicle, but can’t turn a steering wheel by hand even if the wheel is fitted with a turning handle
You belong to an organisation that uses a vehicle to transport disabled people
Children under 3 may also qualify for a badge if they have a medical condition which means that bulky medical equipment needs to be carried around with them, and / or they need to be near to a car in case they need speedy treatment.
How to apply
Apply in person at any KMBC One Stop Shop. If this is not possible, please contact Knowsley Council for advice. The fee for a Blue Badge is £10.
You can also download and print off the Blue Badge application form and fill it in beforehand to save time. Otherwise, staff at Knowsley’s One Stop Shop will help you fill in the form when you call in.
You will need to provide:
Two passport standard photographs
Two forms of identification. One photo ID such as a passport, bus pass or photocard driving licence, and at least one must show your current address and be dated within the last 12 months.
Your most recent qualifying benefit award letter (within the last 12 months). See the list of qualifying benefits above.
£10 administration fee
Please note, if you apply but do not have a qualifying benefit, you will have to undergo an independent mobility assessment. Please contact the Council for an application pack to arrange an assessment.
Knowsley Council will usually order your badge on the day you apply. You should receive it in the post within five working days.
If you are applying for a renewal of your current badge and need a mobility assessment KMBC recommend that you apply at least six weeks before your badge runs out to ensure you receive your new badge in time.
You must fill in the application form and provide the documents requested. For more information about the blue badge scheme in Knowsley, call 0151 489 6000 or email blue.badge@knowsley.gov.uk.
As part of our volunteer led Plan B Programme for Young People with Autism, our community group The Knowsley User Led Organisation delivered a ‘Being Safe Online’ session to our group.
We covered and discussed topics such as secure passwords, how much personal information you want to share with others, limiting risks, fake accounts, what to do if you feel unsafe, but our key message to our Plan B members was ‘YOU ARE IN CONTROL’.
Getting online is an important part of our Plan B programme and is one of the different ways young people can connect to each other. We’ve created a Plan B Knowsley CONNECT group on Facebook and it’ a safe and accessible place for young people with Autism to meet new people and make friends.
With 91% of 16 – 24 year old’s accessing and using social networking sites as well as learning online across the UK, we know the enormous benefits of the internet, but equally and importantly we all know and understand the risks.
Click on this link to download a useful and comprehensive parents guide to Internet Safety for Learning Disabilities and Autism from National Charity Cereba and remember to ‘B’ safe online!
Did you know that anyone with a disability can obtain a cinema card that allows them to be accompanied by someone to the cinema free of charge?
Called the CEA Card it’s a national card scheme developed by the Cinema Exhibitors’ Association (CEA) for UK cinemas.
The scheme was introduced in 2004 and is one of the ways for participating cinemas to ensure they make reasonable adjustments for disabled guests when they go to the cinema; in particular it ensures a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them.
You may get a Cold Weather Payment if you’re getting certain benefits.
Payments are made when your local temperature is either recorded as, or forecast to be, an average of zero degrees Celsius or below over 7 consecutive days.
You’ll get a payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.
Use the Cold Weather Payment tool to find out if your area is due to receive a payment.
After each period of very cold weather in your area, you should get a payment within 14 working days. It’s paid into the same bank or building society account as your benefit payments.
Cold Weather Payments don’t affect your other benefits.
You may get Cold Weather Payments if you’re getting:
Pension Credit
Income Support
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit
Pension Credit
You’ll usually get Cold Weather Payments if you get Pension Credit.
Income Support and income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Heard about the End the Awkward campaign by Scope?
Research shows that younger people are more likely to have negative attitudes towards disabled people and most Brits say they don’t feel comfortable talking to disabled people.
Mainly that’s because they’re worried about doing or saying the wrong thing and feeling awkward.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission want to understand whether the availability of accessible and adaptable housing and support services around it, fulfils disabled people’s rights to live independently.
