No images? Click here Inform & Advise IntroductionWelcome to the March 2022 edition of Inform & Advise. If you have any questions about this bulletin, please contact Age UK on adviceunit@ageuk.org.uk Please note: some items in the Briefings are not relevant for partners in Wales; these are marked up in the Briefings. In this issue
New ‘Online Rip-off Tip-off’ campaign shines light on misleading online sales practices“The Online Rip-Off Tip-Off” is a new consumer facing campaign, fronted by TV presenter and consumer champion Angelica Bell and brought to you by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). It features advice for everyone on how to spot and avoid harmful misleading online sales practices. The impact of the pandemic has shown that more people than ever before are shopping online. Misleading online sales practices can be particularly detrimental for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, who may be less familiar with, or new to, online shopping. 71% of people that the CMA surveyed said they had experienced a misleading online sales practice. The CMA’s research shows that these practices, which are carefully designed to manipulate shoppers, can lead to wasted time and money, as well as anxiety and stress, and so cause people significant financial and emotional harm. Age UK advisors can now access and share advice from the CMA’s ‘Online Rip-Off Tip-Off’ campaign by visiting the campaign page at: www.gov.uk/ripoff-tipoff On the campaign page you will find:
Follow the CMA on its social channels (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram) for the latest #ripoff-tipoff information The campaign is running now up until 31st March and will run again in more phases over the next three years. The Vulnerability Registration ServiceThe Vulnerability Registration Service (‘VRS’) was created to help protect vulnerable people. VRS is a not-for-profit organisation notifying companies when individuals are in a vulnerable situation and where their circumstances need to be taken into consideration. It allows vulnerable people a single place to register their status, helping them avoid repeating the same difficult conversations every time they engage with organisations. Vulnerable people can either register themselves, or an organisation can register for them. People can either opt to be pre-declined for financial service applications, or they can simply add a ‘referral flag’ to their names to make organisations aware of their circumstances. We can also hold some information about the type of vulnerability – like mental health, physical disability, financial capacity and cognitive disorder - as an added level of protection. Once someone is registered, organisations that use the VRS will know that the person is vulnerable and needs to be treated in an appropriate way - with the right level of sensitivity. The VRS works in many sectors such as financial services, local authorities, housing associations, insurance, banking, credit, energy, telecoms and retail. If someone is vulnerable, they’re vulnerable across all sectors and many touchpoints in their lives. When most organisations see that someone is registered with the VRS, they take that person out of any automated processes – giving more care and consideration to that person and their needs. The VRS is also being used more widely – for example utilities companies to help them identify people who might qualify for cheaper rate tariffs, and the Illegal Money Lending Team to help keep their victims safe. To apply, all we need is name, address and date of birth. If circumstances change over time and an individual no longer needs to be registered, it’s easy to come off the register. For more information visit Vulnerability Registration Service or contact us on info@vregservice.co.uk. Common Enquiry Codes – New Codes for 2022-23 from April 2022This is early notification that a few minor amendments/additions have been made to the Enquiry Codes for 2022-23. Each primary contact we have for your organisation’s I&A service will receive an email to let them know about the changes that have been made along with other information that you may need. Updated GuidesIn the past month we have updated these guides and they will be available for order in due course - AgeUKIG03: When someone dies AgeUKIG14: Staying steady AgeUKIG15: Bladder and bowel AgeUKIG21: Powers of attorney AgeUKIG45: Looking after your money AgeUKIG51: Thinking about end of life AgeUKIG57: Getting help with debt From next month we will be sending each local Age UK a set amount of each new information guide as it is updated. We are currently updating the following benefits guides and posters. The quantities of each guide that each local Age UK will receive is listed below, however more guides can be ordered in the usual way. AgeUKIG43: More money in your pocket 60 AgeUKIG49: Attendance Allowance 60 AgeUKIG54: Council Tax Support 30 AgeUKIG50: Pension Credit 50 AgeUKIG53: State Pension 30 AgeUKIG52: Carer’s Allowance 30 AgeUKIG58: Universal Credit 20 Welfare benefits booklet 20 Welfare benefits posters (x2) 1xA2 poster 3xA3 poster You can order any of these guides through the normal email address at orders@ageuk.co.uk, and If you have any questions about these updates or upcoming guides, please email tim.sheaff@ageuk.org.uk. Covid briefings to be retiredFollowing the Prime Minister’s announcement on Monday 21 February 2022 regarding the cessation of various measures related to the Covid-19 pandemic (see TASO briefings for further news related to specific areas), we have decided to retire the Covid-specific briefings with effect from 24 March 2022. The TASO team have produced these briefings for nearly two years but with the winding down of easements and other rule changes, we feel this is the right time for us to stop producing and updating these resources. They will be removed from the Loop and from the Wordpress site and should no longer be used as reference sources. The two exceptions are:
On care home visits, we anticipate that current guidance will still be in operation and David Broome will continue to update this briefing as necessary. On access to cash, much of this content will still potentially be applicable to older people struggling to get out of the house to get their money and Mark Tomlinson, Senior Development Advisor will be maintaining and sharing this guidance. Benefits, Housing and Health & Care BriefingsThis month’s Benefits briefing, produced by Liam Bradford, Technical Advice Support Officer – Money and Benefits Includes information on a consultation on second pensionable age review, SSP and ESA Covid easements ceasing and requirement to widen job search outside of preferred sector after four weeks for those on universal credit. This month’s Housing briefing, produced by Lottie Beauchamp, Technical Advice Support Officer – Housing, Includes information on the Levelling Up White Paper that repeats the Government’s commitment to ending section 21 (‘no fault’) evictions and announces a Task Force on older people’s housing. Also, a consultation is running on exempting survivors of domestic abuse from social housing ‘residence requirements’ This month’s Health and Care briefing, produced by David Broome, Technical Advice Support Officer – Social Care, and Rachel Freeman, Technical Advice Support Officer – Health & End of Life Includes information on the Government indicating mandatory vaccination for social care staff will be scrapped and the Ombudsman finds care provider at fault for failing to comply with complaint recommendations. Also, Living with Covid-19 report is published, and the launch of ‘My planned care’. Factsheet updateThe following factsheets have had an annual review for March 2022: FS42 Disability equipment and home adaptations FS62 Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards FS67 Home improvements and repairs The above factsheets and the Factsheet Index will be available to download from the Age UK website from 1 March 2022. The Large Print versions of all factsheets are also available to download from the Age UK website here https://www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets/age-uk-large-print-factsheets/ Book Recommendation – Somebody I used to know, by Wendy MitchellCatherine Howard, who is Administration Manager at Age UK recommends reading the Sunday Times best seller - Wendy Mitchell - ‘Somebody I used to know’. This book is Wendy Mitchell’s memoir about how she coped with receiving the news aged 58 that she has young-onset dementia. Whilst the book highlights the fact that Wendy had to say goodbye to some of her previous life including her NHS career, her love of running, and her ability to be able to drive, it is also very much a book about hope and determination, and about how Wendy has fought to remain as independent as possible, for as long as possible. I highly recommend the read, it’s interesting, thought provoking and occasionally sad in places, but it’s a good insight into the world of someone with young onset dementia, and what they, and others can do to support those with this condition. You can also read more about Wendy at her blog - Which me am I today? | One person's experience of living with dementia (wordpress.com) Control what you get from Age UK communicationsSign up: You can subscribe to newsletters for local Age UKs using our online sign-up. Control what you receive: You can update your existing subscription and details online. Unsubscribe: To unsubscribe, please email signpost@ageuk.org.uk. If you click the unsubscribe link in the footer you'll unsubscribe from all Age UK newsletters. |