Specific information in relation to Education, Health or Social Care can be found by following the links and further information is below.
Benefits
Research indicates that in Hartlepool, over £339m is not being claimed in benefits and entitlements that could lift households above the breadline. A tool has been developed to support you to check what benefits you may be able to claim. This is free to use. The details you provide are anonymous. The tool can be accessed by clicking here.
Adult Social Care staff have received training to support you to check, if required. West View Advice and Resource Centre can support with more complex benefit claims.
Carers Allowance
Click here for more information
Direct Payments
What is a Direct Payment and what can it be used for?
Families now have the opportunity to have more control over the support their child receives. If your child is assessed as needing services from Children’s and Joint Commissioning Services at Hartlepool Borough Council, you can choose to receive the money to buy those services yourself. Using a Direct Payment gives you the flexibility to decide who is going to provide a service and to arrange how and when any service is provided.
The money is for you to use to pay for the services which will meet the needs of your child. It allows you to buy the care your child needs instead of having services organised for them. A Direct Payment can be used for:
- Getting help with your child’s personal care, for example bathing, dressing, eating or helping look after them overnight;
- Helping your child use leisure and educational facilities;
- Help with household tasks to free up your time to look after your child;
- A place at a dry nursery or after-school care.
A Direct Payment CANNOT be used for residential care.
How do I find out if I am eligible for a Direct Payment?
You must contact us via the Children’s Hub, where a discussion will take place around your child’s care needs. You may then be allocated a social worker from the Children with Disabilities Team who will carry out an assessment in order to understand your child’s needs and how best those needs can be met. If we assess that specific services are required and the needs cannot be met in any other way, then a direct payment may be offered. This would involve a support plan being agreed which outlines why support is needed, what support is required and how the support will be implemented.
The social worker will remain involved in order to continue to offer support and review the support package at least 6 monthly and re-assess need annually.
Should the assessed need of your child require a Direct Payment and no other social care intervention then support will be via our Direct Payment Pathway. This means the worker will contact you 6 monthly, one of which will be to review your child’s needs, which will be an annual event.
For further information please contact The Children’s Hub on 01429 284284 or email childrenshub@hartlepool.gov
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Click here for more information
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long-term ill-health or disability.
You could get between £23.60 and £151.40 a week if you’re aged 16 or over and have not reached state pension age.
The amount you get depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.
You’ll be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get. Your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you’re getting the right support.
Click here for more information.
Universal Credit
Click here for more information
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
You can apply for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work.
ESA gives you –
- money to help with living costs if you’re unable to work.
- Support to get back into work if you’re able to.
You can apply if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.
