Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health Carers Association Newsletter Issue 1 February 2016

1. ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2016
Office 2, Canalside House, 383 Ladbroke Grove, London
W10 5AA
Email: kcmhcarers@gmail.com - Web: www.kcmhca.org
Tel: 020 8960 3873 - Mob: 077951 777 170
Patron: HRH The Duke of York, Chairman: Milton Martin, Secretary, Jeljte Pollock-Heveel
A member of Attend. Enhancing Health & Social Care. Locally. Registered Charity no. 1116393
The announcement was made last night by Lord Freud, Minister of
State for the Department of Work and Pensions, in a House of Lords
debate on the Welfare Reform & Work Bill.1
The announcement came in response to an amendment tabled by
Baroness Pitkeathley following a landmark ruling from the High
Court2 on carers affected by the benefit cap. In his Judgment Justice
Collins cited Carers UK evidence extensively and ruled that the
Government was unlawfully discriminating against disabled people
and their carers.
Carers UK has campaigned for changes to the benefit cap rules
since the policy was first announced in 2010, highlighting the iniquity
of further reducing the incomes of carers who already contribute so
much to society.
SIGNIFICANT VICTORY FOR CARERS
Source: Carers UK
Carers UK’s 50 year history has seen us raising our voices in
12 General Elections, urging candidates and political parties to
recognise carers’ and their families’ need for support. Our We
care. Don't you? campaign calls on all political parties to:
Stop cutting carers’ support
Carers need more help, not less – yet our families face cuts to
vital care services and benefits.
End carers’ financial hardship
Caring shouldn’t push families into financial crisis – we need
urgent reform of carers’ benefits.
Prevent carer breakdown
Health and care services must act to prevent carer ill-health
and isolation.
Please visit www.kcmhca.org/newsletter.php
Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of
Carers UK, said:
"This is a significant victory for carers
and carers’ rights. By changing the law
to exempt carers who receive Carer’s
Allowance from the benefit cap, the
Government has shown that it
recognises both the valuable
contribution that carers make to society
and that the benefit cap unfairly
penalises carers – many of whom are
already facing significant financial
hardship as a result of their caring role.
“The Government's response goes one
step further than complying with the
recent High Court judgment, by
exempting all carers on Carer’s
Allowance from the policy. It will be
welcomed by those carers who are
currently affected by the cap, as well as
those who were at risk of being affected
when the cap is lowered later this year.”
The announcement comes just months
ahead the benefit cap being lowered,3
which would have seen greater
numbers of carers impacted by the
policy.4
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2. Family: A primary social group consisting of parents and their
offspring, the principal
function of which is provision for its members.
(Extended) Family: All the persons living together in one household. A
group
descended from a common ancestor.
Carer: A person who has accepted responsibility, without payment,
for looking
after a vulnerable neighbour or relative.
Caregiver: USA and Canada term for carer.
Careworker: A person who, as paid employment, provides essential
care for
others.
Professional: An occupation requiring special training, esp. law,
theology or
medicine; undertaken or performed by people who are paid;
extremely competent
in a job
READ MORE AT OUR WEBSITE: www.kcmhca.org
Signs and symptoms of the most common mental health
problems, including psychotic symptoms such as delusions and
hallucinations in people with intellectual disabilities
Challenging behaviour
How mental health problems affect people and self-awareness
What causes mental health problems: biological, psychological
and social factors
Diagnosis and treatment …….
read Guide to Mental Health for Families
and Carers of People with Intelectual Disabilities
Please visit www.kcmhca.org/newsletter.php
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3. Carer’s Allowance is £62.10 a week to help you look after
someone with substantial caring needs.
You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care
for.
You must be 16 or over and spend at least 35 hours a week
caring for them.
Carer’s Allowance is taxable. It can also affect your
other benefits.
How you’re paid
You can choose to be paid either weekly in advance, or every 4
or 13 weeks.
All benefits, pensions and allowances are paid into an account,
eg your bank account.
Effect on other benefits
Any means-tested benefits you get will be reduced by the same amount you
get from Carer’s Allowance. This includes:
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
An extra amount (called the ‘carer premium’) will be included in the
calculation of your means-tested benefits.
You might also be eligible for a Council Tax Reduction.
Effects on the benefits of the person you care for
Carer’s Allowance can affect the benefits of the person you care for, if
they get a severe disability premium with any of these benefits:
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income Support
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Housing Benefit
Their severe disability premium will stop if you get Carer’s Allowance for
looking after them. If they get it, their additional Pension Credit (for severe
disability) will also stop.
It can also affect their Council Tax reduction. Contact the local council of
the person you care for to find out if this affects them.
Please visit www.kcmhca.org/newsletter.php
More at https://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/what-youll-get
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4. You might be a carer
Do you look after a relative, friend or neighbour
who couldn’t manage without your help?
If you provide unpaid support to a relative, partner
or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental
health or substance misuse problems, you are a
carer. You might feel that you’re doing what
anyone else would in your situation; looking after
your mum, son, or best friend and just getting on
with it.
KCMHCA is here to support you in your caring
role.
CARERS CARD
This helps to identify carers in the event
of an emergency, and offers exclusive
retail discounts. APPLY ONLINE at:
www.kcmhca.org
The aims of this strategy and information on all aspect of caring is to
put into place actions that Kensington and Chelsea Mental Health
Carers Association can take to ensure carers and young carers:
- have improved emotional and physical wellbeing.
- have increased confidence in managing their caring role.
- have the ability to combine caring responsibilities with work, social,
leisure and learning opportunities.
- do not experience disadvantage or discrimination (including
financial hardship) as a result of caring.
-are involved in planning and shaping the services required for the
service user and the support for themselves.
Mental Health A to Z read more at www.kcmhca.org/Mental-Health-A-to-Z.php
Please visit www.kcmhca.org/newsletter.php
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5. Patron: HRH The Duke of York, Chairman: Milton Martin, Secretary, Jeljte Pollock-Heveel
A member of Attend. Enhancing Health & Social Care. Locally. Registered Charity no. 1116393
Office 2, Canalside House, 383 Ladbroke Grove, London
W10 5AA
Email: kcmhcarers@gmail.com - Web: www.kcmhca.org
Tel: 020 8960 3873 - Mob: 077951 777 170
NEXT ISSUE WILL BE IN MARCH 2016
YOU FEEL FREE TO CALL US, E MAIL OR WRITE US ANYTHING ABOUT
NEWSLETTER.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS WHO CAN HELP US FOR PREPARING
NEWSLETTER.
NEWSLETTER EDITOR: AGRON DE PARIS
Please visit www.kcmhca.org/newsletter.php
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