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What's New
- Reminder about call for evidence from DWP concerning support for mortgage interest for low income pensioners (deadline 27th Feb)
DWP currently offer low income households limited support for mortgage interest on loans taken out to on certain loans for some essential home repairs (although the level of interest paid by DWP is often less than the actual rate of interest).
DWP are now proposing that where a claimant is disabled or retired, DWP would put a charge on the property to recoup long-term payment of support for mortgage interest plus an additional sum for interest plus an administration fee. Such a charge would be in addition to the charge placed on the property for the capital repayment of the loan.
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/support-for-mortgage-interest-call-for-evidence.pdf
It has major implications for older and disabled low income home owners. Help with such interest has been a major ‘selling point’ to encourage low income, low equity home owners to take out loans for crucial repairs instead of expecting grants. Another group who could be particularly badly affected are older right to buy leaseholders who, when faced with large bills for external block works carried out under the decent homes programme, have had to take out loans to meet their liabilities.
We would encourage anyone with evidence about potential impact of such changes to respond to this consultation by the deadline (27th February).
Care & Repair is also collecting evidence and would welcome any case studies or local data to include in a response – please send by email to Care & Repair England
[January 2012]
-
National Evaluation of the Handyperson Programme
The final report of an independent evaluation of the Department for Communities and Local Government's handyperson programme has been published. Undertaken by the University of York, the evaluation reports on value for money and the success of the programme in meeting service users' needs.
View the report here
http://www.communities.gov.uk/publications/housing/
evaluationhandypersonprog
[January 2012]
- Housing and Older People: Beware Distractions of Fringe Schemes
Care & Repair England has welcomed Housing Minister Grant Shapps’ comments about older people being in control of where they live, whilst cautioning against promoting headline grabbing initiatives with limited wider applicability.
View press release here
[January 2012]
- Additional DFG Allocations published
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published details of the additional allocations to local authorities for DFGs in 2011-2012. Nationally an extra £20 million has been provided by the Department of Health as part of their programme to assist with hospital discharge.
View announcement here. Details of individual allocations are available
here.
[January 2012]
- Councils should help older people live at home for longer
Housing Minister Grant Shapps has called on councils to use every opportunity under the New Deal for Older People to give elderly people more choice and control over where they live, so they are not pressured to sell their home or move into residential care.
View statement here.
[January 2012]
- Extra Money for DFGs and Faster Hospital Discharge
The Department of Health has announced an extra £150m to 'enable local services to discharge patients from hospital more quickly and provide effective ongoing support for people in their own homes'.
In addition, an extra £20m is being provided by DH to pay for Disabled Facilities Grants which also support this aim.
The £150m is being paid out to PCTs "for immediate transfer to local authorities for investment in social care services which also benefit the heath system."
The £20m for DFG is being given to DCLG who will in turn pay this out to Local Authorities (mechanism for this is not yet announced).
See DH letter for more details, or weblink to DH site which also includes a list of the individual PCT allocations.
"http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Lettersandcirculars/
Dearcolleagueletters/DH_132040
Providers of help with adaptations, as well services such as handyperson or hospital discharge, would be well advised to raise the content of this letter with their PCT and Social Services Directors as soon as possible if they have proposals for rapid delivery of solutions which meet the funding objective.
It is worth noting that there has been some confusion arising from a related announcement by Housing Minister Grant Shapps.
http://www.communities.gov.uk/newsstories/housing/2060020
This includes the statement that "Mr Shapps has given £51 million towards Home Improvement Agencies..."
Note that this is NOT an announcement about new monies, but to the revenue funding already being received by HIAs
The extra £20m for DFG he also mentions is the DH money noted above.
[January 2012]
- DCLG Minister and DH Professor Make the Connection
At a packed event held in the House of Lords, leading Government figures agreed that there is a ‘Golden Link’ between housing, health, social care and older age.
Professor David Oliver, National Clinical Director for Older People at the Department of Health and a representative for Baroness Hanham, Parliamentary under Secretary of State at the Department for Communities and Local
Government, were speaking at a profile raising event on 6th December 2011 organised by Care & Repair England. Both said that the importance of housing in maintaining health and independence in later life was recognised by their respective Departments.
Care & Repair England, which has been a strong advocate of joining up housing and health policy and practice since its inception in the 1980s, is calling for cross departmental action to ensure healthy, independent living for older people. It believes that Public Health and Well Being Boards could play a key local role in joint planning and commissioning by health, social care and housing of initiatives such as ‘home repairs on prescription’ to tackle the root causes of many falls, chronic health conditions and hospital admissions.
Click here for News Release here
[December 2011]
- The Golden Link: Health, Housing and Ageing:
Care & Repair England has launched a new ‘Golden Link’ brochure highlighting the connection between housing, health, social care and ageing. It summarises some of the main challenges arising from the combined factors of increased life expectancy and the predominance of home ownership amongst lower income groups. Nearly a million older people live in private homes which are in a state of disrepair and poor housing in England is costing the National Health Service in excess of £600 million a year.
Click here for Brochure here
[December 2011]
- Keeping Our Own Front Doors: Care & Repair England Annual Review 2011 Published
Care & Repair England's latest annual review is now available here
[September 2011]
- National Planning Policy Framework Briefing
· Care & Repair England's Briefing: Potential to create better homes and neighbourhoods for older people is now available here
[September 2011]
- Housing Matters Bulletin Now Available
The ‘Housing Matters Bulletin’ is a bi-annual newsletter for Older People’s Action Groups and Forums about current housing issues.
Click here for August 11 edition
[August 2011]
- Summer News and Policy Update
The Summer 2011 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key recent developments in the housing and related health and social care sectors which particularly impact on older people.
[July 2011]
- Summer Supplement
Want a more detailed (but not too long) summary and analysis from a housing perspective of the three of the most recent key policy documents concerning older people?
Look no further – click here for a briefing about:
- Dilnot Social Care Funding Review
- APPG (Housing and Care) Living Well at Home Parliamentary Inquiry and
- CSJ Age of Opportunity report
[July 2011]
- Living Well at Home – the All Party Parliamentary Group publishes Inquiry Findings
This timely report from the All Party Parliamentary Group (Housing and Care) highlights the critical role of housing in the debate about care and health in an ageing society and makes a series of recommendations.
Link
[July 2011]
- Future Funding of Adult Social Care: Dilnot Commission Reports
The Commission on Funding of Care and Support has put forward widely welcomed proposals for a radical shake up that could benefit low income, low equity home owners.
www.dilnotcommission.dh.gov.uk
[July 2011]
- Age of Opportunity? Centre for Social Justice ideas to reduce older people’s poverty isolation
The latest CSJ report, Age of Opportunity-Transforming the lives of older people in poverty sets out its proposals for tackling the issues identified in their 2010 report The Forgotten Age’, which detailed the problems of poverty and social isolation amongst older people and sought to broaden the ageing debate out from a focus on pensions and social care. Link
[June 2011]
- Regeneration: Where next?
Following cessation of all national government funding for private sector housing improvement, DCLG published their new strategy, 'Regeneration to Enable Growth'. The DCLG Select Committee has launched in Inquiry to consider the likely effectiveness of this new strategy.
Click here for the Submission made by Care & Repair England.
Click here to track progress of the Inquiry
[March 2011]
- Disabled Facilities Grant Allocations and Methodology
The Department for Communities and Local Government has published details of individual local authorities DFG allocations and details of the new methodology for calculating the allocations. Care & Repair England has welcomed the news that local councils are to get more money from national government to
help to meet the cost of home adaptation grants, see press release here.
Disabled Facilities Grant allocation methodology and means test: Final report
Details of individual local authority allocations available here.
Department for Communities and Local Government press release
[March 2011]
- Disabled Facilities Grants Allocations Protected
The Department for Communities and Local Government has told local councils that they will receive at least the same amount of money for disabled facilities grants in 2011-12 as for 2010-11. This news comes as a relief to many councils whose recent funding settlement resulted in larger cuts than anticipated.
In a letter to all Chief Executives, DCLG explain that the extra £11million available nationally will be allocated to councils using a new formula developed by the Building Research Establishment. Those councils who would have received less money based on the new weighted index will be protected from a cut by having their allocation pegged to last years' level. View letter here
[February 2011]
- Evidence of Cost Benefit of Handyperson Services: Official Report from DCLG
Handyperson services are helping local authorities and the NHS to achieve considerable savings through low level preventative interventions, with £1.70 saved for every £1 spent. This is the conclusion in an interim report published by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) as part of the evaluation being undertaken by the University of York. Published on 9th February 2010: Click here for full report.
There is mounting pressures on home improvement agencies and handyperson services as council’s across the country cut spending. Both this evidence and the inclusion of specifically identified money from DCLG in the financial settlement to local councils (albeit it non-ringfenced) are arguments that local providers can try to use in negotiations. Handyperson money is called ‘Housing Strategy for Older People’ because this is the programme under which the funding was originally made available (*linked to Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods).
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/localgovernment/pdf/1745945.pdf (see table, page 1 of Annex
www.local.communities.gov.uk/finance/1112/tabs1112.htm#ilb (Handyperson money is listed in Table 8)
[February 2011]
- Cuts to private sector housing funding condemned by Care & Repair England
An article by Peter Archer, Chair of Care & Repair England, exposes the contradictions between government's stated aim of 'protecting the most vulnerable' and cutting private sector housing funding, which will impact most on the poorest in society. Click here for article.
[January 2011]
- News and Policy Update Winter 2010
The Winter 2010 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments during the past quarter in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[December 2010]
- Reform of Disability Living Allowance
A consultation paper on reform of Disability Living Allowance has been published by the Department of Work and pensions. Included in the consultation is the question how the proposed Personal Independence Payment should take greater account of aids and adaptations in a way that reflects how they are used and paid for.
The consultation document can be viewed here. The deadline for comments is 14th February 2001.
[December 2010]
- Social Security Benefits Uprating 2011
Details of revised social security benefit rates have now been published. The uprating, available here, takes effect from 11th April 2001.
[December 2010]
- Right to Control Pilot Scheme Regulations
The Right to Control (Pilot Scheme) (England) Regulations 2010 have now been published. The amendments to Disabled Facilities Grants legislation for participating authorities are set out in Regulation 23 and Schedule 2. The Regulations are available here.
[December 2010]
- A Perfect Storm
An ageing population, low income home
ownership, and decay of older housing The new Care & Repair England report about ageing population, low income home
ownership, and decay of older housing is now available.
click here for full report
NOTE: This report is available as a download only.
[November 2010]
- Disabled Facilities Grants Prescribed Form Regulations to be revoked
A new statutory instrument has been published to revoke the DFG Prescribed Form and Particulars Regulations. From 31st October 2010 local authorities will be responsible for producing their own forms. The new provision makes no change to the requirements for a valid application for grant. The Housing Renewal Grants (Prescribed Form and Particulars) (Revocation) (England) Regulations 2010
[October 2010]
- Provision for Disabled Facilities Grants to rise with inflation but ring fence removed
One of the early anouncements in today's Spending Review 2010 was that central government provision for Disabled Facilities Grants would rise with inflation. However, in a letter to local authorities in England, Eric Pickles, the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, explains that the funding will no longer be ring-fenced. There appears to be no capital allocation for any private sector housing expenditure. Whilst the continuation of funding for disabled facilities grants is very welcome, the ending of the ring fence seriously jeopardises the use of funding solely for private sector home adaptations when councils face increasing funding pressures. More details
[October 2010]
- Spending Review 2010 Key benefits for older people
As part of today's Sopending Review the Government has announced that it is preserving key benefits for older and vulnerable people, including Winter
Fuel Payments, free eye tests, prescriptions and TV licences. In addition, make permanent the temporary increases to Cold Weather Payments, so that eligible households receive £25 for each
seven day cold spell recorded or forecast where they live and maintain concessionary bus travel.
The qualifying age for State Retirement Pension for women will increase sooner than previously planned to 65 years old by November 2018. State Retirement pension age will then increase for both men and women from 65 to 66 between December 2018 and December 2020. More details
[October 2010]
- Home Sweet Home: Care & Repair England Annual Review 2010 Published
· Care & Repair England's latest annual review is now available here
[October 2010]
- News and Policy Update Autumn 2010
The Autumn 2010 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments during the past quarter in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[September 2010]
- Housing and Ageing Brochure: The Big Issue - Living independently in a home
of their own choosing
This new brochure , produced by the Housing and Ageing Alliance, outlines the case for action by national and
local government.
For a copy of the report click here
[September 2010]
- National Consortium calls for government commitment to continue help with home adaptations
A high profile consortium of national organisations has called upon the government to make a commitment to continuing support for home adaptations for disabled people. The group has published a short paper summarising key points about home adaptations in response to the nine Key Questions posed by the Treasury in the run up to the Comprehensive Spending Review.
For a copy of the report click here
For a news release click here
[September 2010]
- Director honoured for services to older people’s housing
Sue Adams, Director of Care & Repair England, has been awarded an OBE in the 2010 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to older people’s housing.
Click here for News Release
[June 2010]
- News and Policy Update Spring 2010
The Spring 2010 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments during the past quarter in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[March 2010]
- Beyond Decent Homes: Communities and Local Government Select Committee focus on private sector disrepair
The report of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry into housing standards, Beyond Decent Homes, has been published. Its main conclusion is that whilst the Decent Homes programme has been a major success in terms of improving social rented housing standards, it has failed to address private sector disrepair. The Committee have recommended that a target should be set to bring all private sector housing up to a decent standard.
For Care & Repair England's News Release click here.
Beyond Decent Homes is available from: http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmcomloc/60/6002.htm
[March 2010]
- New promotional brochure about the importance of home adaptations launched
Care & Repair England has worked with the wide range of organisations that make up the Disabled Facilities Grant Consortium (including College of Occupational Therapists, Royal British Legion, Chartered Institute of Environmental Health and many others) to produce a promotional brochure about adaptations.
It is particularly aimed at people who make decisions about budgets and policy, such as MPs, local councillors and directors, and sets out key issues and recommendations.
Electronic copy available HERE or email us for enquiries about availability of paper copies.
[March 2010]
- Extra training dates added
New dates for the 'Advising Older People about their Housing Choices in Later Life'and 'Time to Adapt – The Changing Face Of Disabled Facilities Grants' courses are now available. See the Events section for more details.
[February 2010]
- News and Policy Update Winter 09
The Winter 09 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments during the past quarter in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[December 2009]
- New training dates for the New Year
New dates are available for:
- Advising Older People about their Housing Choices in Later Life
- Difficult Case or Older Person in Need? Offering better housing related support for older people with a learning disability
- Time to Adapt – The Changing Face Of Disabled Facilities Grants
See Events page for more details.
[December 2009]
- Time to Adapt
Home adaptations for older people: The increase in need and future of state provision
This report sets out the key policy and practice issues that are arising as a consequence of an increasing older population, rising disability levels, the growth in owner occupation (particularly amongst lower income groups) and the availability of statutory help with home adaptations.
It analyses key demographic, health, disability and housing trends and estimates possible future need for adaptations and related financial help.
Emerging practice and policy issues are discussed and the challenge ahead set out.
click here for full report
click here for summary
NOTE: This report is available as a download only.
[September 2009]
- “A Housing Manifesto: Key messages from older people” published by Care & Repair England
Care & Repair England has asked older people across the country what is important to them about housing in older age. The leaflet summarising older people’s key messages to decision makers has now been published, click here.
[September 2009]
- “Unequal Ageing” – thought provoking new book from the Policy Press
This powerful book, written by leading experts in the field, provides strong evidence of the scale of current disadvantage in the UK and suggests actions that could begin to change the picture of unequal ageing. Contributors include Anna Coote, Malcolm Dean, Alan Walker and Julia Neuberger. The chapter on housing was written by Care & Repair England Director, Sue Adams.
“This is a book for our times: its wisdom and thoughtfulness will help us all adjust to life's changing patterns.”
Dame Joan Bakewell, Voice of Older People
For further information see Policy Press website http://www.policypress.co.uk/display.asp?K=9781847424112
[September 2009]
- No Place Like Home: Care & Repair England Annual Review 2009 Published
· Care & Repair England's latest annual review is now available here
[September 2009]
- The Future of Decent Homes: Government Select Committee Inquiry
Care & Repair England has submitted evidence to the Communities and Local Government Select Committee Inquiry into the future of Decent Homes. One of the key points made are the importance of taking action to address poor housing in the private sector because of the potential consequent impact on demand for health and social care services when vulnerable people are living in non-decent homes.
To read the full submission click here.
To follow the progress of the Select Committee click here.
[September 2009]
- Advising Older People about their Housing Choices in Later Life
A programme of regional training courses for advisers - Advising Older People about their Housing Choices in Later Life – are now open for booking. For more details see Housing Advice Training section
[July 2009]
- News and Policy Update Summer 09
The Summer 09 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments during the past quarter in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[July 2009]
- Changes to the DFG Test of Resources
Regulations have been published to amend the test of resources to reflect the introduction of employment and support allowance. The changes will come into effect on 5th August 2009.
The changes in the regulations include:
- Amending the definition of qualifying young person.
- Including income-related employment and support allowance as a passporting benefit.
- Increasing the personal allowance for anyone under 60 years old and on main phase employment and support allowance to £64.30.
- Making main phase contributory employment and support allowance a qualifying benefit for the disability premium.
- Making the support component of contributory employment and support allowance a qualifying benefit for the enhanced disability premium.
The Regulations, S.I. 2009 No. 1807 can be viewed here.
[July 2009]
- New Training Courses
New dates for disabled facilities grants and housing related support for older people with a learning disability are now available. For more details see the Events page.
[July 2009]
- 'Right to Control' Consultation launched
The Office for Disability Issues has launched a consultation on the 'Right to Control' to ask disabled people how to make choice and control a reality in their lives. The consulation proposes establishing further trailblazer/pilot projects to operate merged funds as 'Individual Budgets', including disabled facilities grant funding.
The consultation document, 'Making choice and control a reality for disabled people', is on the Office for Disability Issues website, http://www.officefordisability.gov.uk/docs/wor/rtc/rtc-consult-standard.pdf
[June 2009]
- Care & Repair England Director Appointed to Homes and Communities Agency Advisory Committee
Sue Adams, the Director of Care & Repair England and the person closely involved in the development of the government’s housing strategy, Lifetime Homes, Lifetime Neighbourhoods, in her capacity as co-chair of HOPDEV, has been appointed to the Homes and Communities Agency’s Advisory Group on Vulnerable and Older People. http://www.homesandcommunities.co.uk/vulnerable-and-older-people-advisory-group.htm
[June 2009]
- Department of Health Award for Care & Repair England to Develop ‘If only I had known…’ Initiative
The aim of the programme is to enable older people, their families and carers to make an informed decision about future housing, care and support either following hospital admission or where a person has a long term health condition.
The hospital element of the project was inspired by innovative work in Wales pioneered by Care & Repair Cymru, and includes helping older people to return to living independently in their own homes faster, including cases where the person has a terminal illness.
The initiative also aims to enable people with long term health problems to understand the housing implications of their condition and to plan ahead. This could include looking at how changes to their housing situation could improve their health and well-being, either through altering their current property or moving to a more manageable home prior to health decline.
Pilot areas will be shortly be selected to work with Care & Repair England to pioneer this new work.
[May 2009]
- News and Policy Update Spring 09
The Spring 09 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[April 2009]
- Help for Compulsive Hoarders
Coventry Care & Repair and an Occupational Therapist have together devised a new way of working with people whose homes become so cluttered they are a health hazard. Go to the ‘Learning Disability’ page for more information.
[March 2009]
- Coventry and Bristol HIA Pilots Receive Foundations Award
The Bristol and Coventry Care & Repair pilot services that are taking part in Care & Repair England’s initiative to improve housing support for older people with moderate learning disabilities – In Our Own Homes – have been jointly awarded the Foundations Award for ‘Excellence in Providing Support and Advice'. http://www.foundations.uk.com/default.aspx?id=913
[February 2009]
- Care & Repair England Director Receives Foundations Award
Sue Adams, the Director of Care & Repair England has been presented with a ‘Lifetime Achievement’ Award by Foundations, the national co-ordinating body for home improvement agencies. Click here for link http://www.foundations.uk.com/default.aspx?id=913
[February 2009]
- Healthy Homes, Healthier Lives Programme Evaluation Published
Care & Repair England has published the evaluation of its ‘Healthy Homes, Healthier Lives’ programme. It concludes that as a result of the programme in some areas working arrangements between the health sector and home improvement agencies have improved significantly. However, there is still a long way to go in other areas. Click here for full report.
- Older people facing housing crisis as a result of the credit crunch
Care & Repair England, has called on the government to help low income older home owners facing financial difficulties as a result of the housing market downturn.
News Release here
[December 08]
- Care & Repair England’s Profile Raising Event at House of Lords
Key spokespeople for the three main parties, Labour Housing Minister Baroness Andrews, Conservative lead for older people Nigel Waterson MP plus Liberal Democrat and social commentator, Baroness Julia Neuberger, gave their views on the housing situation of older people in England. They took part in an event organised by Care & Repair England and held at the House of Lords on December 9th 2008. The reception was sponsored by Baroness Greengross, Care & Repair England Patron, and supported by Hanover Housing.
[December 08]
- News and Policy Update Winter 08
The Winter 08 News and Policy Update is now available here giving a summary of key developments in the housing and related health and social care sectors which impact on older and disabled people.
[December 08]
- Test of Resources Amendment set for 31st December 2008
The Statutory Instrument to further amend the DFG Test of Resources has now been published and will apply to applications for grants which fall to be approved on or after 31st December 2008 by local housing authorities in England.
The new regulations provide for Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit to be disregarded as income and capital. The following services payments are also disregarded as income:
- Pay or a pension under the Naval, Military and Air Forces etc. (Disablement and Death) Service Pensions Order 2006(3) where the retired pay or pension is in respect of disablement the degree of which is not less than eighty per cent and
is also in receipt of constant attendance allowance.
- Any guaranteed income payment payable under the Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) Order 2005(5) where the guaranteed income payment relates to an injury that falls within any of levels 1 to 6 of the tariff set out in any of Tables 1 to 9 in Schedule 4 to that Order and any lump sum under this order will be disregarded as capaital.
The Housing Renewal Grants (Amendment) (No. 2) (England) Regulations 2008, SI 2008 No. 3104 can be viewed here
[December 08]
- Heading: Government Announces Funding Allocations for Handyperson Services
On 8th November Communities and Local Government wrote to all top tier local authority chief executives to inform them of the process for claiming their allocation of national funding to support the growth and expansion of local handyperson services.
There was also an invitation to bid for a small pot for innovative projects. All information is being posted on the SPKWEB
To read letter click here and for associated form click here.
[November 2008]
-
What Role for Housing in Health and Social Care Provision?
Sue Adams, Director of Care & Repair England, has written an article entitled What Role for Housing in Health and Social Care Provision? published in the October 08 edition of the Pavilion Journal of Integrated Care (link to Journal click here), To read the article in full click here .
[October 2008]
- News and Policy Update Autumn 08
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