UK Disability Resource of Disabled Needs

This is my first visit to your website and forum.

My son is 29 and has never been diagnosed with anything other than behavioural difficulties. His paediatrician said he was 'typically syndrome' but I firmly believe he has ASD. He was statemented throughout school and then attended The Childrens' Society on a full-time placement until Sefton reduced funding and his centre closed. He attended a local college for several years until they said he could cope in mainstream with support which cut him off from his peer group.

Now he stays at home every day watching TV and surfing the web. My gas boiler has packed up and the Sefton Carers Centre in Waterloo sent me a Warmfront brochure. My problem is this...while he gets Income Support with Disability Premium and DLA, I am not disabled and have to work because I cannot live on the Carers' Allowance and my son is an adult and is not a tenant in my home...we don't appear to be able to get help from Warmfront.

It is him that has to sit at home in the cold. Does anybody know anything or any organisation I can apply to for help in the matter of my central heating?

Dotty

I hope this is helpful Dotty. Maybe one of the phone numbers will give you a clearer picture if you speak to them as sometimes there are grey areas.

If you own your own home or rent it from a private landlord, you may be eligible for a grant of up to £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is involved) under the Warm Front Scheme. Warm Front Grants are available in England only; other schemes operate in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

If the property has previously received Warm Front improvements, the grant now available will be the balance of £2,700 (or £4,000 if oil central heating is involved) less the value of all works previously completed.

Applicants meeting the following criteria may be eligible for a Warm Front Grant.

1. Householders aged 60 or over in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Income Support
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
Pension Credit
2. Householders with a child under 16, or pregnant women with maternity certificate MAT-B1, in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Income Support
Council Tax Benefit
Housing Benefit
Job Seekers Allowance (income-based)
Pension Credit
3. Householders in receipt of one or more of the following benefits:

Working Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460, which must include a disability element)
Disability Living Allowance
Child Tax Credit (with an income of less than £15,460)
Housing Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
Income Support (which must include a disability premium)
Council Tax Benefit (which must include a disability premium)
War Disablement Pension (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (which must include a mobility supplement or Constant Attendance Allowance)
Attendance Allowance
NOTES:

The term 'Householder' includes the applicant's spouse, or partner, if they are living with the applicant If you are not in receipt of the benefits listed above, but feel you may be eligible for a Warm Front Grant, please contact the Benefit Entitlement Check team on freephone 0800 072 9006 or email bec@eaga.com

If you have a query about the Warm Front Scheme, please contact enquiry@eaga.com or call freephone 0800 316 2805

Disabled Facilities Grants

If you (or someone living with you) are disabled, you may qualify for a Disabled Facilities Grant. These grants are available to help make the homes of disabled people more suitable for them to live in, and to help them manage more independently.

Who Can Apply ?

If you own your own home, or if you rent it from a private landlord or housing association, you can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. Private landlords can also apply on behalf of their tenants.

Anyone who does apply will have to sign a certificate confirming that for the next five years (the grant condition period), the disabled person will continue to live in that same property. In other words we need to know that, for the foreseeable future, the property to be adapted will be the disabled person's only or main home.

Who Qualifies For a Grant ?

Anyone with a disability who lives or is moving into the district can apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. The parents or guardian of a disabled person can also apply on their behalf.

However, to make sure that help goes to the people in greatest need, the amount of grant you receive is decided after your own financial resources have been taken into account.

This test of financial resources is the way we work out how much, if anything, you should pay towards the proposed adaptations.

What Types of Work are Covered ?

A Disabled Facilities Grant can be used for any work which :-

makes it easier for you to get in and out of your home
makes access to your living room, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom easier
provides suitable bathroom, sleeping and kitchen facilities that meet your needs
adapts heating and lighting controls for ease of use
provides you with adequate heating
helps you care for a disabled person living with you
makes your home safer.

How Much Grant is Available ?

The amount of grant you get is decided on an individual basis. You will receive the difference between the total cost of the adaptations the grant covers, and the contribution (if anything) that you will be making.

The maximum grant available is £25,000.

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Disab...ousingOptions/YourHome/DG_4000642

Pixie and Rabid,

Thank you so much for your quick responses. All ideas are well worth persuing and I shall look into my options asap.

Someone else suggested The Shaw Trust - have you heard of these people and do you know anything about them?

Bye for now...

Dotty

On a personal level I don't know anything about them but here is a link:

http://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/

What is Shaw Trust?
Shaw Trust is a national charity that provides training and work opportunities for people who are disadvantaged in the labour market due to disability, ill health or other social circumstances. We are the largest voluntary sector provider of employment services for disabled people in the UK.

Did you know?
Only about half of disabled people of working age are in work. For more details, see our disability and employment statistics.

What does Shaw Trust do?
Shaw Trust supports thousands of disabled and disadvantaged people across the UK to achieve their personal development and employment aims. We do this through:-
Government-funded employment services to support people moving from benefits to work, with guidance on finding jobs, training and benefits
Pre-employment activities in a supportive environment
Work-related, accredited training
Support for increased independence for disabled people
Creating jobs through social enterprise
Working in partnership with employers, local authorities and health trusts
For more information on these services, see Finding a job or personal development

Many of our services are tailored to the specific requirements of people with issues such as mental ill health, substance misuse problems or learning disability.

This is from their home page and it looks more to be about employment for young people with disabilities rather than a charity or other body that would help with heating.
It is possible that they may be able to point you in the right direct as part of their service to young people.

I personally think any child or adult on DLA should get the government cold weather pay out!

I have friends who are 60 who get it and they are still working with an excellant wage, one friend was so mad she got it she donated it to Children In Need

Jane x

Thanks for all the advise, folks. Pixie, I think you're right about The Shaw Trust.

My son did have a SW but 'someone' said he didn't need one. It was the same 'someone' who halved his funding! I will look into that again...

Cheers

Dotty