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This Winter could be hard for many people- and cost of living worries can have a big impact on health and wellbeing.
If you are worried about:
Benefits and rent, debts or bills, food or staying warm, please ring Manchester’s Cost of Living advice line on freephone 0800 023 2692 Monday to Friday, 9am–4.30pm. More information is also available at manchester.gov.uk/coladvice or text: 07860 022876.
Extra money you may be entitled to:
Check if you are eligible for Pension Credit by calling charity Independent Age for free on 0800 319 6789 Monday to Friday, 8,30am–5.30pm, or visit www.independentage.org.
Pension Credit is a very important benefit because it gives access to other benefits, such as social tariffs, the Warm House Discount, cheaper broadband, free TV licences, lower water bills, and now the Winter Fuel Payment. You need to apply for Pension Credit by 21 December.
Being a carer
Carers UK
They’re here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don’t have to care alone.
A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support. Anyone could be a carer – a 15-year-old girl looking after a parent with an alcohol problem, a 40-year-old man caring for his partner who has terminal cancer, or an 80-year-old woman looking after her husband who has Alzheimer’s disease.
If you provide unpaid care for a friend or relative, you are entitled to a free assessment of your own needs as a carer from the council. You will be entitled to an assessment regardless of the amount or type of care you provide, your financial means or your level of need for support. You don’t necessarily have to live with the person you are looking after or be caring full-time to have an assessment. You may be juggling work and care and this is having a big impact on your life.
Needs assessments are for adults (18 years of age or over) who may need help because of a disability, ill health or old age. Anyone who appears to have a need for care or support can have a needs assessment, regardless of the ‘level’ of those needs or the person’s financial resources. Even if you as the carer are providing all the care the person needs, they are still entitled to an assessment.
Carers Manchester is a group of organisations working together to improve services for Manchester’s unpaid carers. Carers can get in touch with The Contact Point who can provide advice and support.
Telephone 0161 543 8000 (Monday – Friday 10am – 4pm except bank holidays, and 10am – 6pm on Wednesdays)
Provides free community services for carers in Manchester this includes: information & advice, emotional support & practical help, community drop-ins to meet other carers, breaks & social activities and access to grants and training.
Regardless of whether you care for someone for just one hour per week or 24 hours per day, every day, Manchester Carers Forum is here to help. They can offer home visits if you would prefer to talk to someone face to face.
Trafford Carers Centre supports unpaid carers looking after someone who lives in the Trafford area, including help applying for a Carer’s Assessment by Trafford Council.
Lots of young people are carers without realising it – often for a family member such as a brother or sister, parent or an older relative. Sometimes it can be for a partner or friend who is ill, frail, has a disability, has a mental health concern or has a drug (or alcohol) addiction.
Trafford Mencap is a charity that promotes equality for people with a learning disability – helping with new opportunities, new friends, and to feel valued and safe in the community.
Being There is a small charity with support services in Manchester and Trafford providing emotional support and home-based practical help to people with cancer and other life-limiting illnesses, along with those closest to them, such as family, friends and carers.
