Tag Archives: carers

Universal Credit: Disabled people 'to lose out'

October 17, 2012   benefits, Carers, disability

17 October 2012 Last updated at 09:19

Universal Credit: Disabled people ‘to lose out’

Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson: “We want to bring to people’s attention how their benefits might change”

Up to half a million disabled people and their families stand to lose out under the government’s proposed Universal Credit, a report says.

The Children’s Society, Citizens Advice and Disability Rights UK say 100,000 households with children could have incomes reduced by up to £28 a week.

They are urging ministers to reconsider their plans.

But the government called the report “highly selective” and said it could lead to “irresponsible scaremongering”.

The Universal Credit will replace Jobseeker’s allowance, tax credits, income support, employment and support allowance – formerly known as incapacity benefit – and housing benefits with a single payment.

The system will be “piloted” in parts of north-east England next April and will come into force across Britain for new claimants from October 2013.

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Why digital exclusion is a social care issue

October 16, 2012   Carers, disability, mental health, Older care

As our society becomes increasingly digitalised, figures reveal a large proportion of those not online have a disability or are elderly

 

A large proportion of those not online are elderly.

Next year the welfare system will undergo an overhaul as universal credit is introduced. The benefit, replacing six others, includes a new requirement to apply for benefits online. With millions of people having never used the internet, however, it raises the question of how those not online will manage.

Universal credit is just one example of how, as our society becomes increasingly digitalised, those who are not online are at risk of becoming excluded. And it’s not just a case of people opting not to be online.

This year there were 3.91 million disabled adults who had never used the internet, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. This is just under half of the 7.82 million adults who had never used the internet. Ian Lyons, from the Shaw Trust, which supports disabled and disadvantaged people live more independently, says many websites are not accessible for people with a disability.

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Social care cuts ‘could lead to higher NHS bills’

October 16, 2012   Carers, hospital, Older care, ukcuts

Dying people could end up in hospital sooner – and so cost taxpayers more – if cuts to social care services continue, a report warns today.

Better social care appears to reduce the need for hospital until the very latest stage among the dying, found the Nuffield Trust.

By , Medical Correspondent

6:45AM BST 16 Oct 2012

The Nuffield Trust, a think tank, has found that good social care tends to keep the terminally ill out of hospital until they really need it.

Their report looked at the usage that 73,000 people made of council social services and hospitals in the last months of their lives.

Dr Martin Bardsley, head of research at the Nuffield trust, said: “Our study suggests how social care might be effectively substituting for hospital care for this group of people.

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