In this section

July 2004

Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

Hello everyone, I hope you find this newsletter interesting and informative. Please take time to read the Policy Update section; focusing on the changes that could affect the amount of money a Fund user has to contribute towards the Funds part of their care package.

On the 5th page I have included a bookmark to cut out and keep that can be used as a quick reference guide when you and/or your colleagues are out and about visiting potential applicants.

Policy Update
Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

Fund users not in receipt of Income Support (IS) will be asked to complete a financial information form. The form is used by caseworkers to assess the level, over and above ½ DLA, that Fund users are expected to contribute towards their care package.

Below is a summary of some of the policies we use in relation to the financial assessment process.

Mortgage Payments
If a person does not receive, Income Support or Guarantee Credit the Funds will conduct a financial assessment. The Funds have confirmed that it will take into account the following components of a mortgage in relation to a Fund user’s assessable income: -

✔ Fund users’ mortgage (repayment or endowment)
✔ Life insurance directly linked to an endowment mortgage
✔ Mortgage protection payments (MPP) when calculating individual’s incomings or outgoings

* The Funds will not include buildings or contents insurance as an outgoing

Child Maintenance Payments
The Funds’ Policy on child maintenance payments is as stated: -

Income
Where the Fund user is receiving for a dependant child maintenance payment this must be taken into account fully as an income, regardless of whether the payment is made by formal or informal agreement.

Expenditure
Where the Fund user is making a child maintenance payment through a formal
agreement as instructed by the court or Child Support Agency (CSA) this amount should be
allowed to form part of the Fund user’s weekly allowable costs.

Child Tax Credit – Interim Policy
The Funds will take into account as an income any monies that a Fund user or their partner
receives in this form of a tax credit. This will only apply to Fund users who do not receive Income Support or the Guarantee (pension) credit as a notional assessment is not carried out in these cases.

Pension Credits
There are two separate credits that can be claimed by people over the age of 60, the Guarantee Credit and the Savings Credit.

Guarantee Credit
It is anticipated that the majority of Fund users over the age of 60 will no longer receive Income Support. Fund users who are awarded the Guarantee Credit will be treated in the same way as those who have been awarded Income Support i.e. the Fund user will only be expected to contribute ½ DLA, and the Severe Disability Addition if the Fund user is entitled to it, towards the Funds element of their care package.

Savings Credit
For income purposes the Funds will fully disregard any monies a Fund user receives in the form of a Savings Credit for income purposes.

Redundancy Payments and Pay in Lieu of Notice (PILON)
Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

The Funds sometimes receive requests for payments to meet the cost of redundancy pay or Pay in Lieu of Notice (PILON).

The Trustees have carefully considered the issues and a decision has now been made that the Funds are unable to make payments in respect of redundancy payments or PILON available to Fund users.

At the present time the separate issue of the Quinquennial Review recommendation to make payments for up to eight weeks if Fund user dies, or moves to a permanent residential care home is still under consideration.

Increases and Alterations to Care Packages
Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

Just a gentle reminder, if the Social Services Department is notified of a change to a Fund users care package please could you inform the Funds. It is important, as it allows the Fund to ensure that the Fund user is receiving sufficient monies to pay for their care.
For example many Fund users employ agency care and find themselves in financial difficulty. This is because the agency increased their hourly charges and the Fund user was unaware that they had to inform the Funds, or believed that their Care Manager had informed the Funds. The Funds would gratefully appreciate your assistance in keeping us informed of Fund users’ care package changes and or costs.

Please be aware that the Funds will not automatically increase a Fund user’s care package every year, unlike the Department for Work and Pension’s’ (DWP) annual increase in benefit rates.

Application Form
Michael Beacroft
Policy Officer

When completing your part of the form please could you check part one, the part we ask the Fund user to complete. If the form is not fully completed we will have to return it to the Fund user or Care Manager, and this will result in a delay.

In particular

~ Full postal address for both applicant and Social Services including postcode.

~ Date of Birth and National Insurance number for the applicant.

~ The address of the Benefit Office if the applicant is in receipt of Income Support.

~ Applicant or Benefits Appointee or attorney must sign page 22. No one else (e.g. Social Worker can sign). If signed by Benefits Appointee or Power of Attorney their details must be noted on page 21.

~ All boxes on pages 5, 27 and 28 must be completed.

Information Days
Lesley Berry
Customer Services Officer

Just a quick update. We have held information days in Northern Ireland, Wales, London, Kent, Glasgow, Newcastle, Leeds, Hampshire and Exeter. From the feedback we have had they have been very well received. The Information Days provide you with an opportunity for discussion and networking. We still have days due in Cambridge, Birmingham, Oxford (July), Edinburgh, Aberdeen (August), Liverpool, Manchester and Nottingham (September).

It is a whole day event 9.30 until 16.00; lunch and refreshments are provided. It is your opportunity to receive an update from us, and discuss issues on a face-to-face basis. If you missed the opportunity to attend an information day near you, or have not replied to confirm attendance at the July, August and September events, please contact me to secure a place. Direct dial 01159 450847.

Consulting Our Clients
Jon Duckworth
Client Liaison Manager

So far this year we have met our commitment to wider consultation with clients by staging a roadshow in Glasgow, sending a questionnaire out to each new recipient of the Fund, recruiting new members for the existing Client User Group, and exploring the possibility of establishing semi-autonomous user groups in other parts of the country. We have also had meetings with groups representing people with disabilities from black and ethnic minority communities.

The Glasgow event was well received by all who attended. Certainly, clients found it useful, but we also had Local Authority Social Workers attending that felt it was a good way to have their questions answered in an informal and relaxed environment. We will be looking to arrange a similar day later this year in another part of the country and are in the process of choosing a suitable location.

If you are interested in any aspects of the Fund’s Client Liaison and would like to find out more, or believe you can help in any way, please contact me on (0115) 945 0773, or email jon.duckworth@ilf.org.uk

Customer Services News
Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

Presentation Requests
The Customer Services Team receive regular requests for us to give a presentation to teams within your Local Authority (LA). Our presentation team have planned a series of talks to be undertaken between September 2004 and April 2005. We will be writing to those LA’s that have been selected shortly. Our current presentation strategy is targeted to those who we consider need the most support from us.

We are currently reviewing our communications and relationships with LA’s therefore whilst we undertake this review; we are not in a position to offer additional presentations or training events until we have completed the review.

Customer Service Manager
The Customer Services Manager (CSM) Jeff Macbeth has left; therefore, we are currently operating with one less member of staff. We are in the process of recruiting a new CSM; Robyn Lewis is currently acting Customer Services Manager. The Customer Services (CS) team will keep you informed of both the presentation review, and the appointment of a new manager.

Contact Officer Issues
The Funds are keen to ensure that the partnership between Local Authority's (LA) and the Funds are strengthened and improved.

If you and your teams have anything you would like us to pass on, tips, ideas, please get in touch. Leeds and Kirklees have produced a bookmark (a copy of which is on page 5) that is distributed to their Social Workers/Care Managers. It is hoped that the Newsletter will become a forum to exchange ideas, raise issues, and provide Contact Officers and Social Services Department to share ideas.

Contact Details

Independent Living Funds
PO Box 7525
Nottingham
NG2 4ZT

Tel: 0845 6018815

Fax: 0115 9450948

Text: 0845 6018816

Email: funds@ilf.org.uk

Website: www.ilf.org.uk

Cut Out And Keep™ Bookmark
Matthew Harrison
Customer Services Officer

Independent Living Fund is available for all disabilities.

Ø People 16-65* years

(*Payments can be made beyond 65 if the application is made before 66th birthday)

Ø High rate care component of DLA of if 65 higher rate Attendance Allowance.

Ø At least £200 (net of client contribution) per week from Social Services, which includes:

· Home Care

· Day Services

· Respite

· Direct Payments

· Shared Support

· Meals on Wheels

· Adult/family Placement

· Contracted Services

· Capital/Savings less than £18,500

· Expected to live independently for at least 6 months.

· UK Resident

But Not

· Health Funding or

· Supporting People

How Much can People Get?

Ø ILF can provide up to £420 per week. Joint funding (Social Service's and ILF)

Ø Can not exceed £715 per week (for the 1st 6 months)

Ø Other funding can go on top.

What can ILF be used for?

Ø To employ a Personal Assistant (PA) who can be a close relative as long as they do not live in the same house. Or an Agency to help with:

· Personal Care – including social and leisure

· Essential household tasks

Click here for printable version of the bookmark

This bookmark has been re-produced with kind permission of Zoë Thomas, Contact Officer at Leeds Social Services, and Tracey Parkes, Contact Officer at Kirklees Social Services.

Please be aware that the details enclosed within the bookmark are for guidance only. Full and detailed policies can be obtained from the Nottingham Office, or viewed at the website.