HEALTH and social care staff are working together to raise awareness of a disability benefit for older people which can help to improve their quality of life.
Many ill or disabled older people in Northumberland are failing to claim for Attendance Allowance, a social security benefit which they are entitled to.
The benefit is for people aged 65 and over to help them cope with the increased costs they incur because of their disability.
Statistics show that fewer older people in Northumberland claim it than nationally or in neighbouring areas and a team from Northumberland Care Trust is aiming to increase the uptake of the benefit, to help alleviate pensioner poverty and to ensure that all older people who need care and support get what they are entitled to.
Keith Thompson, Principal Welfare Rights Officer for Northumberland Care Trust, said: "There are many reasons why fewer older people in Northumberland claim Attendance Allowance than in other areas but many people are unaware of its existence, and when people have heard about it they often don't think they can claim."
Northumberland Care Trust is working in partnership with the County Council, the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service — which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions — and other organisations to raise awareness of the benefit and the number of people receiving it.
Morpeth man Donald Scott, 83, is one of a number of older people who have benefited from the joint working between the Care Trust and other organisations to increase awareness of the allowance.
Mr Scott, who lives in sheltered housing complex Renwick House, Kirkhill, wasn't aware he might be entitled to claim this benefit until he met one of the Northumberland Attendance Allowance take-up campaign partners, Phil Soden who works as a welfare rights adviser for Castle Morpeth Housing Association, part of the ISOS Housing Group, and he found Donald could be eligible.
Mr Scott, who has two grandchildren, said: "Phil came to Renwick House to talk to all of us about the benefit. Initially I didn't think I qualified for the allowance but Phil explained that I didn't have to have someone coming in to help me to be eligible.
Mr Scott added: "He talked me through applying for the benefit and I recently found out that it was accepted and I'll be able to start receiving the allowance.
"It's great news that I'll be getting the Attendance Allowance and my weekly income will get a much needed boost."
Mr Thompson, said: "I'm so pleased that the message we are trying to spread about Attendance Allowance is reaching people like Donald. It's great that he now has more money coming in every week to help him pay for support and I hope his story encourages others to claim."
To find out more about Attendance Allowance in Northumberland, contact Keith Thompson, Principal Welfare Rights Officer at Northumberland Care Trust on 01670 536488 or keith.thompson@northumberlandcaretrust.nhs.uk
The benefit is for people aged 65 and over to help them cope with the increased costs they incur because of their disability.
Statistics show that fewer older people in Northumberland claim it than nationally or in neighbouring areas and a team from Northumberland Care Trust is aiming to increase the uptake of the benefit, to help alleviate pensioner poverty and to ensure that all older people who need care and support get what they are entitled to.
Keith Thompson, Principal Welfare Rights Officer for Northumberland Care Trust, said: "There are many reasons why fewer older people in Northumberland claim Attendance Allowance than in other areas but many people are unaware of its existence, and when people have heard about it they often don't think they can claim."
Northumberland Care Trust is working in partnership with the County Council, the Pensions, Disability and Carers Service — which is part of the Department for Work and Pensions — and other organisations to raise awareness of the benefit and the number of people receiving it.
Morpeth man Donald Scott, 83, is one of a number of older people who have benefited from the joint working between the Care Trust and other organisations to increase awareness of the allowance.
Mr Scott, who lives in sheltered housing complex Renwick House, Kirkhill, wasn't aware he might be entitled to claim this benefit until he met one of the Northumberland Attendance Allowance take-up campaign partners, Phil Soden who works as a welfare rights adviser for Castle Morpeth Housing Association, part of the ISOS Housing Group, and he found Donald could be eligible.
Mr Scott, who has two grandchildren, said: "Phil came to Renwick House to talk to all of us about the benefit. Initially I didn't think I qualified for the allowance but Phil explained that I didn't have to have someone coming in to help me to be eligible.
Mr Scott added: "He talked me through applying for the benefit and I recently found out that it was accepted and I'll be able to start receiving the allowance.
"It's great news that I'll be getting the Attendance Allowance and my weekly income will get a much needed boost."
Mr Thompson, said: "I'm so pleased that the message we are trying to spread about Attendance Allowance is reaching people like Donald. It's great that he now has more money coming in every week to help him pay for support and I hope his story encourages others to claim."
To find out more about Attendance Allowance in Northumberland, contact Keith Thompson, Principal Welfare Rights Officer at Northumberland Care Trust on 01670 536488 or keith.thompson@northumberlandcaretrust.nhs.uk
Morpeth Herald, 6th July 2009
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