Tag Archives: DLA
Elderly care is already in crisis
Why we must all open our eyes to the longevity timebomb
Last updated at 6:19 PM on 24th January 2012
I was catapulted into the parallel universe of geriatric care a few years ago, when my father was struck by a little understood and highly unpredictable form of dementia.
I won’t pretend that I wasn’t shocked: at the score of under-resourced and poorly maintained care homes we inspected, at the patronising and casual disrespect with which Dad was treated in hospital; at the irritability, exhaustion and patent disinterest of the social workers with whom I tried to raise extremely serious issues of neglect and abuse.
Told her son was not disabled enough to qualify for the help
Norwich mum’s battle for disabled son after benefits slashed
Tom Bristow Monday, January 23, 2012
6:30 AM
Julia Challonder and her son Byron are losing the use of their Blue Badge and are concerned about the effects of the new welfare reform bill. Photo by Simon Finlay
A Sprowston mum-of-four is fighting to get her family’s disability benefit back after being told her son was not disabled enough to qualify for the help.
Julia Challonder, who volunteers at Norwich’s Citizens Advice Bureau, was told before Christmas that her family was being stripped of its blue badge and £30 a week in help, as her son was being put on a lower rate of disability support.
Mrs Challonder, of Colindeep Lane, looks after her 13-year-old son Byron who has autism and severe learning difficulties. Her 14-year-old son Connor, also has learning problems. The letter came as the Government’s Welfare Reform Bill is set to overhaul the amount of money given to disabled people and the families who care for them.
IDS says “Nobody will be made homeless”
Welfare reform: Lords bid for benefits cap concessions
Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith: “Nobody will be made homeless”
Peers will press for changes to government plans for a cap on benefits families can receive when the measure is debated in the House of Lords later.
