Preparing for changes to your Welfare Benefits


Welfare Benefit is the money that you can get from the government to help you. There are lots of different types of benefits depending on peoples needs.


The rules around benefits can be complicated. The government is going to change each of the benefits system to make it easier for everyone and combine everything into one single payment. This monthly payment will be called Universal Credit.


Over the next few years everyone who claims a range of benefits will have a re-assessment which could include a health assessment. This reassessment will establish your needs and how much money you will get in the future. Your needs will be regularly reassessed to make sure you’re getting the right support.


If your benefits are changing you might get some help to make sure you have time to make changes, this is called transitional protection.


We will be keeping you and your staff team informed and preparing everyone for the changes as they happen by working closely with Citizens Advice officers and other advice services.


Personalisation and progress of the Self-Directed Support (Scotland) Bill


The Self-Directed Support (Scotland) Bill aims to extend choice for people when they are thinking about how to meet their support needs and achieve their outcomes.


The Bill was passed in its final form at the end of November 2012. The next stage is for government officials to draw up the regulations and guidance. Local authorities are at different stages of making their own plans to put this policy into effect.


The 4 options open to people following a local authority assessment are unchanged in the final Bill;


• Option 1: The making of a direct payment by the local authority to the supported person for the provision of support


• Option 2: The selection of support by the supported person and the making of arrangements for the provision of it by the local authority on behalf of the supported person


• Option 3: The selection of support and making of arrangements for the provision of it by the local authority


Self-Direct Your Support


If you already get services or support through your local council, ask for a review. Tell your Care Manager you may want to change to Self-Directed Support and want a Direct Payment.


Carr Gomm Can help, we can make it easy for you if you have a Direct Payment.


Visit www.carrgomm.org or ask your worker Kilimanjaro Wordsearch


• Option 4: The selection by the supported person of Option 1, 2 and/or 3


Personalisation was defined in the Scottish Government Changing Lives Report as:


“enabling the individual alone, or in groups, to find the right solutions for them and to participate in the delivery of a service.”


There is no doubt changes are happening for some people now and for others the changes have already taken affect. When considering the new legislation, it is helpful to remember the definition of personalisation outlined above and to recognise that this represents the main driving force for why change is happening.


Why not have a go at this Kilimanjaro inspired word search- good luck! Find the following hidden words:


1. Elephant 5. Africa


Carr Gomm Newspaper | Page 6


2. Kilimanjaro 3. Malaria 6. Rucksack


7. Summit


4. Tanzania 8. Altitude


S R Q N Z A W E Y Q F F R T N X Z K E T P T R T R T T E A E H D I H R A N S F O I R R J O T B L F A N Y F H D H C E M I L O O U U V G H N E B S A G A O A F E R S R L D J M L P G X Y F E R G E S Z T A N Z A N I A E D Y E X E R L P N N X R P O C U G F P E E A M D T A G H Y A T K F F S C L Y L F E R H N S I E C K X A H J A X A X D S P T R F A C I R F A M T T E P R L E A Q S E E L T W O R A J N A M I L I K C M S P R D S C S H T O S A E C I N A L W Z U G H S E T I M M U S G N O F E M X H P E Z S T E R N E C P E


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