Published: Tuesday, 19th August, 2008 09:05
Campaign fights to save vital services
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I WOULD like to say a few words to people who have given up their home care, shopping delivery service or community alarm because of the charges – please ask to have them back.
These are vital services and Campaign Against Charges are fighting on to have the charges scrapped.
We are also concerned for the people who have received all the bumph from the council in regard to the assessments for home care and shopping delivery charges.
There is a great deal of confusion at the moment and people don’t realise that forms that are coming out asking for financial and other personal details do not have to be filled in and sent off within 21 days. This is something that people can opt to do voluntarily but maybe don’t realise that by doing this they could forfeit their right to a needs assessment which the law requires before a financial assessment can be done.
We’re also hearing from lots of people who have been contacted by the financial assessors but haven’t had a recent needs assessment. Needs assessments should be carried out by a social worker or a home care manager who should discuss what services you are receiving and whether you want to continue with this. It should be made clear that this is directly linked to home care charges.
Our advice is if you haven’t had this, tell the financial assessors this and refuse to let them in. If you’ve already let them in and gone through the process without a needs assessment, we suggest that you contact Stephen Moore, the head of social work at Fife Council and tell him that you want the assessment cancelled.
We’re also advising that when people receive their bills they contact Stephen Moore and ask that he use his power to exempt them from the charges.
Alongside all this, bills are going out in regard to payment for the community alarms and asking people to pay for the complete year. Again this is not necessary and people are free to pay in whatever way they want.
However, Campaign Against Charges are asking you to join with us in waging a non payment campaign in regard to all the charges.
These charges are immoral and illegal and the system will fall to bits of people refuse to pay. Already lots of people are taking this line on the community alarm bills with only 23 per cent paying so far.
The council cannot stop your service if you refuse to pay and if everybody sticks together we can defeat this policy that says disabled people receiving home care services should pay for the services of other people.
Maureen Closs,
Campaign Against Charges
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