Inform & Advise

Introduction

Hi all

I will be going on furlough for a three-week period from Wednesday the 10th June.  There will be no issues of Inform & Advise sent out while I’m on furlough.  Instead, Jan and Mark, my fellow Development Advisers, will email I&A managers with any important updates that aren’t included in our regularly updated resources.  The latest guidance from the TASOs can be found on their individual loop pages – Welfare Benefits, Health & Social Care and Housing Advice. The latest template response to common COVID-19 enquiries can be found on the wiki.   I&A resources developed to support you during the pandemic can be found on either the dedicated loop page or Age UK I&A Hub.

I look forward to catching up with you when I return (on the 1st of July) and in particular I’m looking forward to the upcoming virtual network meetings in July.  In the meantime, keep yourself and your teams safe and keep up the excellent work supporting our clients in these trying times.

Mark Tomlinson, Senior I&A Development Adviser

Updated resources for advisers

We have continued to update the template responses to common Coronavirus queries and since the last issue of Inform and Advise on the 26th of May we have updated the following templates:

• Funerals and bereavement support – updated information on attending funerals
• Health and wellbeing –updated information on the easing of lockdown for vulnerable people
• Visiting or living with a vulnerable or extremely vulnerable person – updated information on the easing of lockdown for vulnerable people
•  Older workers – updated information on the furlough scheme and grants for self-employed people to reflect updated government guidance

We have also added a new template on the Government’s guidance on easing lockdown and expanded the template on testing to also include information on the tracing service.

To view the templates visit our wiki.  On the first screen of the wiki, under “SPACES” select “Age UK Advice” and then under “PAGE TREE” select “Coronavirus – template responses”.  NB: if you get a bit lost in the menus (which is easy to do) click on the Age UK logo in the top left and this will take you back to the first screen.

David has updated the ‘Changes to the Care Act 2014 under the Coronavirus Act 2020’ briefing to include:

• Changes to the Care Act under the Coronavirus Act: added local MPs to the list of those who must be told easements have been enacted, in line with update to the Guidance to the easements
• Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman: update on partial reopening of helpline and restart of some investigations involving local authorities
• Home care: reference to guidance that brings together existing guidance for home care providers
• Care homes: corrected typo in section on the care homes admission guidance.
• Deprivation of liberty safeguards: updated to reflect additional DoLS guidance.

Sheelagh has updated the ‘COVID-19 hospital discharge requirements and other health services-related matters’ briefing to include:

• From the 8th June, dental practices can reopen, once they have completed a risk assessment appropriate to their circumstances, though this will likely to be a phased reopening rather than being able to accept all types of clients from the outset.

Lottie has updated ‘COVID-19 Housing and energy updates’ to include:

• Updated information on: repairs and home improvements in both rented and owner-occupied housing; mortgages; homelessness
• A new section on rights around moving home
• A new sub-section on private tenancies coming to the end of a fixed term
• Some additions to the further resources section

The TASO COVID-19 briefings are also available on the Age UK COVID-19 online hub in the dedicated I&A hub.

Updated guidance on completing AA forms remotely

We have updated the guidance produced on using Zoom to undertake Attendance Allowance form remote appointments to now also include how to complete the forms over the telephone as well.  In addition the guidance has been expanded to include some useful AA resources for advisers.  Thank you to all of the local Age UKs that provided support with the production of this document.  The guidance entitled ‘Guidance on completing Attendance Allowance forms remotely can be found on the loop and the I&A Hub.

An update on our work on advisers making on-line claims

You may recall that we have previously provided guidance on the risks involved in using the recently released online Pension Credit application process.  In response to this guidance a number of local Age UKs contacted us about other online processes.  As a result of this we have reviewed the online application processes of all of the main older person’s benefits and are currently consulting with our group Professional Indemnity Insurers on how local Age UKs can use online application processes in the current pandemic. 

The issue is not specifically about using online application processes but how the use of them is then made more risky by the advice being provided remotely, with the client not being able to witness or check the application before it is submitted.  Once we have confirmation of the position of our insurer we will produce guidance for the network on using online application processes.  The four key concerns that we will look to address in the guidance are

1.)    As a matter of professional principle the client should be engaged in the process of making the application as much as is possible.  It is their claim to benefit and it is an adviser’s role to provide the client with the information/guidance so that they can make an informed choice about applying and empower them to access their rights and entitlements. 

2.)    To avoid any legal liability for an incorrect or fraudulent claim being the responsibility of the adviser we need to make it clear that the client was fully aware of all of the information being submitted on the application form and had made the final decision on the submission of the claim to benefit.

3.)    To ensure complete transparency in disclosing our role in supporting the client with the application to the awarding authority in case there are any issues at a further date.

4.)    To avoid the possibility of a client seeking compensation in future because of an error made by the adviser, that has either led to an under or over payment of the benefit – i.e. the final responsibility for checking the form before it is submitted is the client’s.

It is expected that the guidance will be published in July.

Staying Connected – help with phone and internet bills

Age UK has produced guidance entitled ‘COVID – Help with staying connected’ on the financial support available from phone companies during the pandemic. This includes free calls and mobile data and free access to NHS websites. As the offers are often time-limited and the situation rapidly changing, please contact Joel Lewis, Age UK’s Consumer Policy Manager, if you identify an example of support or need further help.

Credit Union and spotting loan sharks online training

The England Illegal Money Lending Team have forwarded details of two free online 1 hour training seminars that you maybe interested in.

Do you understand credit unions?

Leading the Seminar will be England Illegal Money Lending Team’s specialist Credit Union Liaise Officer, Sean Lynch, who was recruited from Citysave Credit Union, based in Birmingham which had roughly 7,500 members and savings deposits of over £7 Million. He had more than 8 years’ experience with this medium/large size credit union before joining the Illegal Money Lending Team. For the last 3+ years of his time there, He was the manager of the Credit Union  and looked after day to day operations, lending, marketing and website content etc. Working with the CEO, he contributed to the governance as well as all policies approved by the board.

Select your Session (places are limited)

To book a place please follow the links below

10am Tuesday 16th June

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/do-you-understand-credit-unions-tickets-107201079314

10am Thursday 18th June

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/copy-of-do-you-understand-credit-unions-tickets-107201428358

A link to join the training will be sent to you the day before the course

Could you spot a loan shark?

Select your Session (places are limited)

To book a place please follow the links below 

10am Tuesday 23rd June

 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/could-you-spot-a-loan-shark-tickets-108081803584

10am Thursday 25th June

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/could-you-spot-a-loan-shark-tickets-108082172688

10AM Tuesday 30th June

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/could-you-spot-a-loan-shark-tickets-108082503678

10AM Thursday 2nd July 

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/could-you-spot-a-loan-shark-tickets-108082754428

A link to join the training will be sent to you the day before the course

Independent Age funding opportunity

The following information is taken from Independent Age’s website:

Before coronavirus struck the nation, Independent Age was exploring how to strengthen collaboration with older people and local organisations with the aim of shaping a more active role in supporting communities. But right now, our focus must be directed towards the current crisis. We can’t do this alone which is why our trustees have released £2 million from Independent Age’s funds to help smaller organisations across the UK working with older people hardest hit by the virus.

Our Grants Fund will comprise of four separate funding rounds. In each round we will make £500,000 available where organisations can apply to receive up to £15,000 each. For more information visit: https://www.independentage.org/community/grants-fund

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