Countywide carers support service to be set up in West Sussex
Countywide carers support service to be set up in West SussexWEST Sussex County Council is preparing to enhance its support services for people who provide care and support for an adult in their family.
It is advertising a three-year £1.4million contract for its direct access countywide service, available to all carers of adults, from April 1, 2013.
This will replace the current Carers Support Services Partnership, run by three local charities.
The service has helped carers to maintain their own health and wellbeing, in delivering short breaks for carers and in providing training and specialist advice to help carers develop their expertise in providing care to a loved one.
Benefits changes: Universal Credit system warning
Seventy organisations involved in the benefits system have raised concerns about a government overhaul.
9 September 2012 Last updated at 09:06
The Universal Credit aims to make the system simpler by replacing five work-based benefits with one benefit.
The groups are worried about moving to monthly payments, access to an online system and whether a new IT system will be ready by an October 2013 deadline.
The government says managing the system online will save money, and that the new benefit is set to come in on time.
Ministers have said they are determined to reform the system, so it pays people to work rather than claim benefits.
Written evidence, seen by BBC Radio 4’s The World This Weekend, was submitted to the House of Commons Work and Pensions Committee by organisations representing councils, charities, trades unions, business groups and housing organisations.
Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People says the poorest are being unfairly targeted in the government’s “austerity war”
Disabled people are being unfairly and disproportionately targeted in the government’s “austerity war”, according to a new report commissioned by a Norfolk campaign group.
By CHRIS HILL, Rural affairs correspondent Saturday, September 8, 2012
7:00 AM
Disability protestors in Norwich. Photo: Bill Smith
Despite the government’s austerity mantra of “we’re all in it together”, the notion of collective responsibility for resolving the country’s financial crisis has been scorned by sceptics.
But one group in particular is claiming that the burden of the cuts to public services is being unfairly shouldered by some of the most vulnerable people in our society.
The Norfolk Coalition of Disabled People (NCODP) has commissioned a report which says the poorest 20pc of the 2.7 million households receiving disability benefits will lose 16pc of their cash income, plus benefits-in-kind, during the four years up to 2015.
It estimates the percentage loss for the poorest fifth is four times larger than the loss for the richest fifth.
