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The leading housing and care charity Housing 21 has published a new report which calls for government action to help support and encourage older people who are eligible for benefits which they don't claim.
The report 'A World of Difference' analyses the experience of older people who have successfully claimed benefits with the support of Housing 21's specialist benefits advisors. It also examines national benefit and pensioner policy and
compares key current issues with those outlined in a similar report published six years ago.
Lyn Davey, welfare benefits manager at Housing 21 and co-author of the report, said:
"It's both frustrating and disappointing that so little has changed in the last six years. Whilst someone's quality of life can be radically improved by a modest increase in income, benefit levels are hardly generous. The Government can and should do more to encourage benefit take up and ensure older people get the benefits they need."
To download a copy or read summary details of the report please click the image above.
The Department of Work and Pensions today announced agreement with six of the largest mobile networks in the UK to no longer charge their customers for calls to the Department’s 0800 Benefit Claim lines.
Currently 12% of UK households use only mobile phones and do not have a land line. Calls to claim benefits and state pension use 0800 numbers which are already free to customers using BT land lines and mobiles. But currently people calling 0800 numbers from other mobile phone providers are charged for these calls.
The Department has now reached agreement with O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone to end charges to their customers for mobile calls to around seventy of its 0800 numbers. These numbers are used by people making initial claims for benefit and pensions and to request emergency payments, such as crisis loans.
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Yvette Cooper, said: "We don't want people who lose their jobs or the poorest pensioners to be penalised when they need to claim benefits just because they call from a mobile phone. Lots of people need to use mobiles rather than landlines." The DWP estimate that there are around 60 million phone calls to its 0800 numbers each year, and around 15% (9 million) are from mobile phones.
Civica Group Ltd, has launched Civica Health and Social Care, a dedicated business unit for the sector and a new identity for in4tek following its acquisition in 2009. The unit will help customers, including health service providers and local authorities, to access broader service capabilities and resources for all aspects of community-based care, while capitalising on their existing investments in service delivery and technology.The launch coincides with the latest new customers for the company's comprehensive 'Paris' software application, which has been selected to help Child health and Community staff improve care delivery at St Helens and Knowsley PCTs.The new division builds on Civica’s integration of in4tek. It will continue to deliver and develop the Paris suite of person-centric application software, used across the UK and Canada to streamline the management of adults’ and children’s services, mental health, child health and community care. The new unit will also enable customers to access the company’s broader expertise in key service delivery technologies including web services and electronic workflow and document management.
Please click here for full details
The DWP is seeking views on proposed regulations that provide for the movement of benefit claims from incapacity benefit, income support paid on grounds of incapacity and severe disablement allowance to employment and support allowance and associated changes to housing benefit and council tax benefit.Before the Committee considers and reports on proposals, it would like to hear from organisations and individuals who have views on these proposed regulations.Full details can be downloaded here
Dr Jane Martin has been appointed as a Local Government Ombudsman (LGO) by Her Majesty The Queen following the recommendation of the Communities Secretary John Denham.
Dr Martin will take up her new post on 11 January 2010 when she will also succeed Jerry White, who retired in September, as Vice Chair of the Commission for Local Administration in England.
The Minister for Local Government, Rosie Winterton MP said:
"I am delighted that Jane Martin has been appointed as a Local Government Ombudsman, and that she has been designated as Vice Chair of the Commission for Local Administration. The Local Government Ombudsman has a vital role to play in ensuring that people get swift and fair redress if things go wrong in the delivery of their local services."
The LGO was set up by the Local Government Act 1974, to conduct investigate complaints from members of the public who consider they have suffered injustice, as a result of maladministration by bodies within their jurisdiction.
The objective of the Ombudsmen is to secure, where appropriate, satisfactory redress for complainants and better administration for the authorities. Since 1989, the Ombudsmen have had power to issue advice on good administrative practice in local government based on experience derived from their investigations. In 2008-2009 the LGO decided on over 17,000 complaints. Where remedies and settlements resulted in a payment being made, the amount of compensation obtained or recommended came to over £2.2m.
As we're all only too aware, and this amazing snowy image from space clearly shows - the UK is in the middle of a record breaking cold snap - even a ski centre in Plymouth has had to close due to the conditions! But at least one man in Birmingham is seeing the positive side to his transport and gritting problems!
"Walking in the snow yesterday, it was very cheering to be called 'Good morning' to and have some banter with nearly everyone else on foot. Shows how isolating cars are and also how the British generally deal with adversity with good humour!"
However, on the flip side no prizes for the school in Kent where pupils had coats confiscated because they didn't meet uniform regulations!
Keep warm and cheery everyone, and best wishes for 2010 from all at Civica OPENRevenues
A number of Local Government figures were recognised in the recent New Year Honours List including chairman of the Local Government Association Margaret Eaton who has been made a Dame of the British Empire (DBE) for services to local government.
Other notable awards included:
CBE for services to local government
Cllr Peter Box, leader of Wakefield MDC
Pamela Challis, leader, Castle Point BC.
John Sinnott, chief executive of Leicestershire CC,
Dr John Beer, former executive director of social services, Southampton City Council.
Mavis Champagnie, councillor, Harrow LBC.
Amanda Deeks, CEO, South Gloucestershire Council
Maurice Heaster, deputy leader, Wandsworth LBC
Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council,
Dr Linda Ebbatson, leader of Chester-le-Street DC
MBE for services to local government.
Elizabeth Ducker, leader of South Oxfordshire DC,
Derek Law, corporate director, adult and community services, North Yorkshire CC
Shahda Khan, principal community cohesion officer, Middlesbrough Council
Thomas Evans, councillor, Ceredigion CC.
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