The Great Yarmouth Disability Forum has just released its latest newsletter. The first issue in it concerns the changes to DLA which were highlighted here on the 14th January under the heading '20% to be cut from DLA expenditure'.
The Disability Forum is giving you the opportunity to have your say about these cuts. If you, your friends or your family are affected then please get involved.
Great Yarmouth Borough Disability Forum
c/o GYVSP
Neighbourhood Centre
143 King Street
Great Yarmouth NR30 2PQ
01493 845925
Special News January 2011
News: Meeting about the DLA Reforms
Come and put your point of view, a unique opportunity to join in the consultation that could affect you!
Welcome to this the first Newsletter of 2011, a belated Happy New Year to you all. We have a very important Meeting coming up on our normal meeting date that is Tuesday 8 February. This Special meeting will be at Christchurch in Great Yarmouth.
Disability Living Allowance is to be reformed. This will have implications on everyone who is receiving DLA and people who apply in the future. Indeed, Government have not ruled out reviewing benefits for under 16s and over 65s. Erin Kennedy, benefits adviser from DIAL, with Julie Kemmy (Team Manger at Disability Rights Norfolk) will be presenting the event. They have both been trained to help people applying for this DLA benefit.
At the meeting you will have the opportunity to join in a public discussion about the reforms and the Disability Forum will then send on items, as part of the consultation, back to DWP. It would be useful if you were able to obtain a copy prior to the meeting. Here are the details of how you could get a copy of the DLA reforms: Telephone 02074497688 consultationdlareform@dwp.gsi.gov.hk
Text phone: 18001 0207449 7688, Fax 020 7449 5467
The document is available in Large Print, CD, Cassette, Easy Read or Braille.
Our local DIAL office at 12 George Street, are able to print you a copy of the document for a small fee. DIAL are open Monday to Friday 10am until 4pm, telephone 01493 856900.
For this special DLA reform meeting we have organised accessible transport for you, telephone Door to Door on 01493 332253. Advise that you need transport for the meeting. You will then be given a price and you will need to pay the driver on the day. We would like to thank Centre 81 for providing this service for us.
Door to Door - A Community Bus service
Centre 81 runs a community door to door bus service which operates within the Great Yarmouth Borough, Monday to Friday.
You may be eligible to use the service if you are 18 or over and have a permanent disability, if you are entitled to receive a concessionary bus pass or if you are over 60 and cannot access public transport. For more details contact Centre 81 01493 332253 www.centre81.com
DIAL continues to be very busy with benefit related enquiries, especially Disability Living Allowance applications and renewals. Weekly outreach services continue to take place at the Red Cross Coastal Centre on a Friday, appointments and drop ins at Gt Yarmouth Library on a Tuesday and Herbies on a Thursday, where no appointment is necessary.
DIAL offers a Money and Debt service, anyone experiencing financial difficulties please contact Stephen or Diana at the DIAL office to arrange an appointment. DIAL has recently commenced the delivery of Disability Awareness Workshops with a few places still available, anyone wishing to attend can contact Jo Howes on 01493 856900 to book a place.
I apologise to people who have sent me items for this News, we felt that we needed to promote the DLA Meeting as soon as possible. We will return to Cobholm & Lichfield for our April Meeting.
