Follow-up from September Richmond Meeting

ByEditor

Follow-up from September Richmond Meeting

Our Speaker, Jo Anderson, has sent the following useful information following questions that came up at the September Richmond meeting:

1. Freedom Pass

The definition of “disability” under the Transport Act 2000 are listed below. You will note that the last category relates to those who are unable to drive due to a disability. However, the previous category also relates to cognitive impairment. I would think that many of your members would be able to argue for one or both of these categories, and therefore that being able to drive should not necessarily mean that you would lose you Freedom Pass.

• People who are blind or partially sighted
• People who are profoundly or severely deaf
• People without speech
• People who have a disability, or have suffered an injury, which has left them with a substantial and long-term adverse effect on their ability to walk
• People who do not have arms or have a long-term loss of the use of both arms
• People who have a learning disability that is defined as ‘a state of arrested or incomplete development of mind which includes significant impairment of intelligence and social functioning’
• People who, if they applied for the grant of a licence to drive a motor vehicle under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988, would have their application refused pursuant to section 92 of the Act (physical fitness) otherwise than on the ground of persistent misuse of drugs or alcohol.

2. Claiming PIP

Set out below is the link to the Citizen’s Advice Service website and the page relating to claiming PIP. This gives the telephone number to call to start your claim  and a list of the information that you need to have with you before you make the phone call. If you have a root around this part of the website you will find lots of other helpful info regarding PIP.

https://www.citizensadvice.org .uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled- people-and-carers/pip/help- with-your-pip-claim/how-to- claim/

3. Working Tax Credits

I meant to let everyone know at the end of the session what the income limits were for Working Tax Credits.  You can earn up to £13,000 as a single person and £18,000 as a couple and claim Working Tax Credits.

4. Turn2Us

I don’t know if anyone took any of the leaflets that I left yesterday. You will remember that I mentioned that the charity Turn2Us have a great website with a “benefits calculator” tool. I have attached the link below. I recommend entering your details in to this. It is very easy to use and the results may be surprising. If you are entitled to benefits, you really should be claiming them!

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/