Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is part of an initiative called Healthwatch-Communities Involved.

They are supporting NHS Change Day by calling on local people,

communities and voluntary organisations to make a difference by getting

involved and adding their voice to how local health and social care

services are run in their areas.

Local health and social care is changing rapidly and the ways in which

people can participate in shaping these services is also changing. From

1 April 2013, a new local consumer champion - local Healthwatch - with the

powers to hold local services to account will be set up in every city

and county council across the country.

To get the best local services people need a say. They need to be able to

influence what services are available, how they are delivered and who

delivers them. They also need to challenge services that aren't up to

scratch. There is so much potential to make a difference, your

involvement does not have to be huge. Anyone can get involved in local

Healthwatch.

Please click on the link below instead of the main one which is

underneath my name, as this will mean I can count you as a CSV

Volunteer.
Sign Up:  http://healthwatch-ci.co.uk/signup-csv/

For further information please contact

E:

As you probably know, there will be a lot of changes to welfare benefits & entitlements from next month onwards. The Welfare Reform Act legislates for the biggest change to the welfare system for over 60 years and will introduce a wide range of reforms.

Cornwall Council has produced a short film about the changes that might affect you, including changes to Housing Benefit, Council Tax and the Disability Living Allowance (DLA).
Visit:

http://cornwall.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=32154

If you are concerned about any of these changes, please contact our Disability Information & Advice Line (DIAL).

T: 01736 759500

E:

For further information please use the below contact details.

T: 01726 833555

www.wayswithwillow.co.uk

There is a Bedroom Tax Protest set up by Disabled People Against the Cuts, plus Cornwall Anti Cuts Alliance on

Saturday 16th March 2013 12pm at Camborne Town Square, Cornwall.

For further information please contact

Chris Gibson

T: 0187256048

E:

Support the research and performance project, run by the Remapping St Ives Project with Shallal Dance Theatre Company, around mobility and access issues in St Ives by completing the following (very) short survey. 

Results will also be fed into the St Ives community plan which is now underway.

Simply click on

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VNZSNT3

Responses as soon as possible please, ideally by Monday 18th March 2013.

Thanks in advance!

Jo Mayes

Remapping St Ives Project with Shallal Dance Theatre Company

T: 07856 426150

E: 

www.shallal.org.uk

Some of the latest news from the reputable website Benefits & Work which Disability Cornwall subscribe to:

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) enhanced mobility

Esther McVey, Government Minister for Disabled People has said; “the enhanced mobility rate of PIP will be paid to those disabled people who cannot stand and move up to 50 metres unaided or aided safely, reliably, repeatedly or in a reasonable time period.”

This is at odds with the law, which states that people who can walk between 20 and 50 metres will only get the standard rate of PIP. Disability Rights UK have written to the minister asking for clarification and are awaiting a reply.

Following an appeal via Benefits and Work, campaigners have gathered sufficient disabled candidates to mount a legal challenge to the reduction from 50 to 20 metres for PIP enhanced mobility. Further news of a judicial review should be available in the next few days.

Misleading Disability Living Allowance (DLA) statistics

The online Disability News Service has discovered statistics showing DLA claims had increased between February and May 2012, but failed to mention that the number of working age claimants had actually gone down. One of the main justifications for the introduction of PIP is an allegedly out-of-control increase in claimants, so the fact it’s only awards to children and the elderly who are not eligible for PIP that are increasing, is something the Department for Work & Pensions (DWP) would rather nobody noticed!

Bedroom tax 

The DWP have today withdrawn their appeal to the Supreme Court, meaning that local authorities should allow an extra bedroom for children who are unable to share because of their severe disabilities.

The We Are Spartacus campaign group having mounted a legal challenge against the bedroom tax which had its initial hearing on 5th March. The judge gave the DWP 14 days to come up with reasons why he should not allow the case to proceed.

Universal credit in trouble
Work and Pensions minister Mark Hoban has denied claims that contractors have stopped work on the massive universal credit IT project, but the DWP have admitted that when the pilot goes live in April, at least some of the claims will be processed with pen and paper rather than using the multimillion pound computer system that allegedly remains on time and on budget. They have also greatly reduced the range of claimants who will take part in the pilot.

Below is a News Release from the Cornwall Liberal Democrats concerning the new council tax support scheme:

Cornwall's Liberal Democrats have attacked the pernicious new council tax support scheme being proposed by the Conservative-led authority.

"After the council decided in January to impose a huge tax increase on 26,000 of the poorest working age families in Cornwall, the Conservatives announced that there would be an exceptional relief fund to help those who could not afford to pay," said Cllr Alex Folkes, Deputy Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Cornwall Council.

"But nobody could have anticipated that the Conservatives would put a cap on the amount that any individual could claim."

"Once again, the Conservatives have proved that they have no idea how the poorest families live and the challenges they face. When this poor tax was first imposed, the Leader of the Conservatives said she knew nothing about those affected. It's clear that none of her colleagues have bothered to find out since."

"Liberal Democrats argued for the maintenance of the previous system because we know that there are many people in Cornwall who simply cannot afford to pay. But even having imposed the huge tax rise, there was still action that the Conservatives could have taken to protect the poorest of the poor. But they have failed to do that. Instead, they have guaranteed that thousands of families will hear the bailiff's knock on the door."

Please see the below website for further information

http://lansonboy.blogspot.co.uk/

Life has changed dramatically for disabled people during the past 50 years. This has seen the creation of a wealth of equalities legislation, increasing independent living for disabled people within communities, rather than institutions. There is also a push for local and integrated education - with friends and neighbours - instead of special schools. In addition, buildings in the community are more accessible now, so more disabled people can shop, dine out with friends and relatives, and generally become active citizens in their respective communities.

Over the coming 16 months we are conducting interviews with older and younger generations of disabled people to hear stories about times past and present for disabled people in Cornwall. The video recordings will be placed in local archives.

• Click to see three photos of the Video Shoot Click to see three photos of the Video Shoot
•  

The Government say the housing benefit bill must be curbed, while the Labour Party say the 'bedroom tax' is a tax on the vulnerable.

Changes to housing benefit for council house and social housing tenants will come into force next month, with families deemed to have too much living space seeing their rental payments reduced.

Amid a dispute about who will be affected by the changes, the government are now going to introduce new regulations to clarify the impact on two groups; foster carers and families with adult children serving in the armed forces. Both will continue to receive rent payments if they meet certain conditions.

Ian Duncan Smith, Work & Pensions Secretary has said protections were being put in place for these groups which were 'beyond doubt', but crucially where disabled people are concerned, he also said he would advise local authorities that discretionary support should remain in place for other 'priority groups', such as disabled people whose homes have had to be significantly adapted and people with long-term medical conditions which create difficulties in sharing a bedroom.

HOW WILL THE CHANGES WORK

• From next month, families deemed to have too much living space by their local authorities will receive a reduced payment.

• Under the government's so-called 'size criteria', families will be assessed for the number of bedrooms they actually need.

• If tenants are deemed to have one spare room, the amount of rent eligible for housing benefit will be cut by 14%. If they have two or more spare rooms, the cut will be 25%.

• The government estimates that 660,000 households will have their benefit cut. Only those of working age will see reduced payments.

Contact DIAL if you are at all concerned about your own situation and to read the full story, click on the link below.

T: 01736 759500

E:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-21760365