Category Archives: Health & Wellbeing

Don’t miss out on Warm Home Discount

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Warm Home Discount would give you £140 towards your winter fuel bills. It is paid in the form of a credit on your electricity bill from your supplier (if you get both gas and electricity from the same supplier you may be able to ask for it to be transferred to your gas account).

To get it your supplier must be part of the scheme – all the larger companies have to take part but it is voluntary for smaller firms although many of them do take part.

There are 2 ways you might qualify for this:

Core Group: If on the qualifying date (this year 4th July 2021) you were getting Guarantee Pension Credit and your, or your partner’s name was on the electricity bill, you will be eligible in the core group. You shouldn’t need to claim – the DWP should write to you with the details and you should get the discount on your bill sometime between November 2021 and March 2022. If you are in this group and DWP have not written to you by December contact the Warm Home Discount Scheme helpline on 0800 731 0214 to check.

Broader Group: Most suppliers who are part of the scheme will also give this discount to customers who are on a low income and/or get some means tested benefits. The exact qualifying criteria varies from different suppliers and you do have to appy for this so if you think this applies to you, contact your supplier directly to find out if you can get it.

Most suppliers have a limited fund for this so apply as soon as you can.

What if your energy supplier fails? If you are in the Core Group and your supplier fails, you should still be paid automatically to your new energy account, If you are in the Broader Group then you would need to re-apply to your new supplier as soon as your new account is set up.

Details can be found on https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme and including a list of all energy suppliers who are part of the scheme https://www.gov.uk/the-warm-home-discount-scheme/energy-suppliers

If you want help with Warm Home Discount please contact Valerie on 07483333115 or email valerie@caringtogether.org.uk

Are You missing out on Pension Credit?

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Nearly a million households are entitled to, but not receiving pension credit  and in Leeds alone there are thought to be over 10,000 households missing out on this.

Pension Credit is extra money for people over state retirement age to top up their income.

The basic amounts to qualify are weekly income less than £177.10 for a single person and £270.30 for a couple but you may still be able to get it if your income is higher depending on your circumstances – for example there is an extra amount if you have a disability, if you care for someone, or if you have certain housing costs.  And if you reached pension age before April 2016 you may be also be able to claim savings credit.

There is NO savings limit for pension credit although savings over £10,000 will reduce the amount you can get.

You can claim if you are still working if your income is low enough for you to qualify.  It’s tax free and you don’t have to have paid NI contributions.

What counts as income includes:

  • State Pension
  • other pensions
  • earnings from employment and self-employment
  • most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance

If you’re entitled to a personal or workplace pension and you have not claimed it yet, the amount you’d expect to get still counts as income.

Not all benefits are counted as income. For example, the following are not counted:

  • Attendance Allowance
  • Christmas Bonus
  • Child Benefit
  • Disability Living Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment
  • Social fund payments like Winter Fuel Allowance
  • Housing Benefit
  • Council Tax Reduction

You could do a quick benefit calculation on https://benefits-calculator-2.turn2us.org.uk/

Pension Credit is worth claiming even if you only qualify for a very small amount, as it can entitle you to lots of other things including:  full housing benefit, reduced council tax, warm home discount, cold weather payments, free tv licence if you are over 75, help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments.

Pension Credit can be claimed by phone: 0800 99 1234 or online: https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim.

Or ask Caring Together if you need help.

‘Monthly Bereavement Support Group’ at Caring Together

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Come and meet other bereaved people for group support and understanding. A warm welcome, cuppa and biscuits will also be on offer too. We are meeting together on the first Monday of each month.
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Next one is this Monday 1st November @11am – 12noon
Venue: Caring Together, 127 Woodhouse Street, Leeds LS6 2PY
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If you are interested, or just want to know more then please do get in touch. Call Lisa 07436 530073, or email if you wish: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk

Skills Share: crafting together

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We have loved getting together for our skills share sessions. We are having a break this week but we are back next week. Due to ill health our first get together back we will continue with Crocheting/Knitting and Sewing. We will commence the card making for the following 2 sessions all being well thereafter. We will review this nearer the time.
We look forward to seeing you next week for some good company, nattering, sharing, a cuppa and a bit of creativity.
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When: Wednesday 3rd, 10th & 17th November 2021
Time: 11am to 12.30pm
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Venue: Caring Together, 127 Woodhouse Street, Leeds LS6 2PY at 11am
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Contact Lisa 07436 530073, or email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk if you require any further information. Note: We can also bring something to you as well if you are not able to get to us.

Make a your Will and help a charity – Will Aid month

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HomeNovember will be Will Aid Month.  During this month  participating solicitors donate their time and skills to draw up a basic Will for clients without charging their usual fee. Instead, they invite their clients to make a voluntary donation to Will Aid.   Donations support the vital work of the nine Will Aid charities to help people in need in the UK and around the world.

The suggested donation is £100 for a single will or £180 for a pair of mirror wills (less than the usual fees charged) but you are free to donate as much or as little as you choose.

There are a number of solicitors locally taking part and many are offering online or telephone appointments as well as face to face.

To find out more and how to make a will aid appointment go to https://www.willaid.org.uk/will-makers

Caring Together’s Monthly Carers Support Group in partnership with Carers Leeds

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Are you a carer for a family member, partner, or friend? Would you like to meet others in a similar situation? Why not come along and join us on the last Thursday of each month for a friendly chat and a cuppa.
 
Next one: Thursday 28th October 2021
Venue: Caring Together in Woodhouse and Little London, 127 Woodhouse Street, Leeds 6
(opposite the Post office/Londis shop)
Time: 11am to 12.30pm
 
Just pop in, or call Lisa 07436 530073, or email: lisa@caringtogether.org.uk for more information

Getting Your Covid Booster

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If you are eligible for a Covid Booster and still haven’t had it you no longer have to wait to contacted by the NHS.

You can now book online  NHS – book or manage a booster dose of Covid Vaccine or call 119 if:

aged 50 and over
aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from COVID-19
a frontline health and social care worker

AND it has been at least 6 months since you had your second dose of a Covid vaccine

nhs.uk

 

Standing and Seated Pilates at Caring Together

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We have two more weeks to go so if you wish to come along and give it a try then please just call 07436 530073, or email: lisa@caringetogether.org.uk
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We are getting to learn some useful tips in relation to posture, muscle and core strength.

“Tell Tracy” – consultation on The Police and Crime Plan

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Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire is urging everyone in West Yorkshire to get involved and #TellTracy about your policing and community safety priorities.

The consultation will feed directly into the new Plan which sets the strategic direction for West Yorkshire Police, community safety partners and commissioned services over the next three years.

Under the Police Reform and Social Responsibility Act 2011, the Mayor must produce a Police and Crime Plan which sets out the strategic policing and crime priorities for West Yorkshire, and how she plans to meet them. The plan also has a requirement to set out the objectives and priorities of the work and activity of West Yorkshire Police and the Chief Constable for the next three years, and how the Mayor will hold the Chief Constable to account in delivering these objectives.

Your views and the information collected in this survey will be used to ensure the Mayor, along with her Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe, is focusing activity and funding on the areas of greatest need and of greatest concern to the people of West Yorkshire.

You can find the survey here https://wh.snapsurveys.com/s.asp?k=163042341519

More information and details of other ways to get involved: https://www.yourvoice.westyorks-ca.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan-consultation