ISSUE 1 FEBRUARY 2016Office 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’ supportCarers need more help, not less – yet our families face cuts to vital care services and benefits.End carers’ financial hardshipCaring shouldn’t push families into financial crisis – we need urgent reform of carers’ benefits.Prevent carer breakdownHealth 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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Family: A primary social group consisting of parents and their offspring, the principalfunction of which is provision for its members.(Extended) Family: All the persons living together in one household. A groupdescended from a common ancestor.Carer: A person who has accepted responsibility, without payment, for lookingafter a vulnerable neighbour or relative.Caregiver: USA and Canada term for carer.Careworker: A person who, as paid employment, provides essential care forothers.Professional: An occupation requiring special training, esp. law, theology ormedicine; undertaken or performed by people who are paid; extremely competentin a jobREAD 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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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 forCarer’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 AllowanceIncome Supportincome-related Employment and Support AllowanceHousing BenefitTheir 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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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 CARDThis 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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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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