Category Archives: ukcuts
Sleepless nights for carers, disabled hit by new 'bedroom tax'
Sleepless nights for the families hit by the threat of new ‘bedroom tax’
Is it right to ‘tax’ people who are not using all of the bedrooms in their home all of the time? Caroline Mortimer reports.
About 80,000 people in Yorkshire look set to hit by a “bedroom tax” when the Government’s controversial Welfare Reform Act comes into force this April.
The under-occupancy charge will cut the amount of housing benefit available to households with one or more bedrooms classed as spare under the new rules.
Its supporters say it is unfair for the taxpayer to subside extra rooms when there is a shortage of housing across the country. But its critics insist it will have a devastating impact on vulnerable tenants and local economies.
Approximately two-thirds of people nationally who are hit by the cuts will either be disabled or caring for a disabled person. One of them, Cheryl Guillot, 48, from Holywell Green near Halifax, said she had been left “totally bewildered” by the situation.
Unpaid Family carers ‘at breaking point’
Family carers ‘at breaking point’
Mencap ambassador Jo Whiley called for help to provide short breaks for carers
The majority of people who care for disabled family members have reached “breaking point”, a charity has warned.
Mencap said that eight in 10 people who care for loved ones with a learning disability feel they do not get the respite or support they need.
Despite the Government allocating funds for carers to have short breaks from their caring responsibilities, the money was not ring-fenced and is being spent elsewhere, the learning disability charity said.
Half the councils across England have cut short break services so carers are not getting any time to themselves, the charity’s report Short Breaks states.
500 jobs to go in mental health services – Norfolk and Suffolk – Where is the Care?
Suffolk and Norfolk mental health shake-up concerns
Aidan Thomas, the chief executive of the trust, hopes change will improve the serviceConcern has been raised over the pace of a major shake-up of mental health care in Suffolk and Norfolk.
Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is looking to cut up to 500 staff as it tries to make savings of £40m.
The Trust told the Norfolk and Suffolk scrutiny panel, meeting to oversee plans, that the concerns were being addressed.
Panel chairman Alan Murray said members broadly backed the need for a reorganisation.
The new strategy includes addressing people at an earlier stage of their illness to try and avoid the need for care beds to be used.
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