Tag Archives: ukcuts
Tax on carers and the disabled is not fair!
A tax on carers: Charities say 420,000 disabled people will be hit by bedroom tax
Spare rooms are essential for many households with disabled people as they give a carer a space of their own
Thousands of disabled people could lose their homes and be plunged into debt thanks to the bedroom tax, charities say.
Anyone in a council or housing association property will have their housing benefit cut by 14% if they have a spare room and by 25% if they have two or more spare rooms.
But campaigners say 420,000 disabled people, their families and carers will be hit harder by the changes in April.
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.
