1. The DRC Who We Are and What We Do
Nicola Venning
Daniel Churchman
Disability Resource Centre 2018

2. The Disability Resource Centre
Charity set up by disabled people to be focal point for disability services for all of Bedfordshire
Independent advice
on equipment and large
range of topics
Free service for all ages,
all disabilities in
Bedfordshire and
Northamptonshire

3. Mission
The Disability Resource Centre provides a range of services empowering people of all ages who are affected by disability or health conditions to fulfill their potential and aspirations.

4. The Disability Resource Centre Poynters House Poynters Road Dunstable
Location
To Dunstable
To Houghton
Regis
We are here
Petrol
Station
Tesco’s
Superstore
Halfway House
M1 J11
To Luton
A505
Hospital
Leagrave
High St
M1 North
To the A6
and Bedford
To Bedford
The
Chequers
Poynters
Road
Humphrys Road
Retail
Park
The Disability Resource Centre
Poynters House
Poynters Road
Dunstable
Beds LU5 4TP

5. Although disability is a common theme……
We Are All Unique ….
Although disability is a common theme……
Each person is an individual with their own needs and goals, even if same condition.
There are often many different ways to achieve desired goals
The person’s individual aspirations are always at the centre of our advice

6. Benefits Advice - Help with benefits and form filling.
What We Do…
Personalisation to help manage personal budgets - Payroll & Managed Accounts, PA Register, Personal Health Budgets and Self-Funder Services.
Health Learning and Work - Training on Disability Awareness and Employability, health and wellbeing
Benefits Advice - Help with benefits and form filling.
Disability Advice Service - A large database of specialist information/advice.
Equipment – Receive independent advice and try before you buy.
Second Hand Equipment List - Updated regularly to purchase or sell used disability equipment in good condition.
Luton Confident Carer Service – supporting unpaid carers living and caring in Luton

7. Benefits Available Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
ESA offers people:
financial support if unable to work
personalised help so that people can work if able to
People can apply for ESA if you’re employed, self-employed or unemployed.
People might be transferred to ESA if they’ve been claiming other benefits like Income Support or Incapacity Benefit.
People are placed in one of 2 groups if entitled to ESA:
work-related activity group, where people have regular interviews with an adviser
support group, where people don’t have interviews

8. Benefits Available
Part of the ESA process is the Work Capability Assessment while your ESA claim is being assessed. This is to see how disability affects your ability to work. The form is known as ESA50. It is very important that people have help to complete the form because what gets recorded here will determine the next steps.

9. Benefits Available
People in the support group and on income-related ESA who qualify, are also entitled to the enhanced disability premium at £15.90 a week.
People may also qualify for the severe disability premium at £62.45 per week.
If the assessment takes longer than 13 weeks, benefit will be backdated to the 14th week of the claim.

10. Benefits Available
People aged 16 to 64 can get between £22 and £ a week by claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The amount you get depends on how the condition affects the person, not the condition itself.
People are assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help they can get. The rate is regularly reviewed to make sure people are getting the right support.
Carers could get Carer’s Allowance if they spend a substantial amount of time supporting someone in receipt of PIP.

11. Benefits Available ESA Financial support
You’ll normally get the assessment rate for 13 weeks after your claim. This will be:
up to £57.90 a week if you’re aged under 25
up to £73.10 a week if you’re aged 25 or over
After that, if you’re entitled to ESA, you’ll be placed in one of 2 groups and will receive:
•up to £73.10 a week if you’re in the work-related activity group
•up to £ a week if you’re in the support group

12. Benefits Available Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
People aged 16 to 64 you could get between £22 and £ a week by claiming Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
The amount you get depends on how the condition affects the person, not the condition itself.
People are assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help they can get. the rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure people are getting the right support.
Carers could get Carer’s Allowance if they contribute substantially to caring needs.

13. Benefits Available To qualify for PIP people need to;
have had difficulties with daily living or getting around (or both) for 3 months
expect these difficulties to continue for at least 9 months
Areas explored;
Mobility difficulties - people may get the mobility part of PIP if they need help going out or moving around.
The weekly rate for the mobility part of PIP is either £22 or £58.

14. Benefits Available Daily living difficulties;
People needing help more than half of the time with things like:
preparing or eating food
washing, bathing and using the toilet
dressing and undressing
reading and communicating
managing your medicines or treatments
making decisions about money
engaging with other people
The weekly rate for the daily living part of PIP is either £ or £83.10.

15. Benefits Available How to apply;
Make a call to DWP to ask to apply, answer a few questions then;
You’ll be sent a ‘How your disability affects you’ form. Call the PIP enquiry line if you need it in an alternative format such as braille, large print or audio CD.
Fill in the form using the notes that come with it to help you. You can also read Citizens Advice’s help on filling in the form. DRC hold group sessions to help people fill in their forms. One-to-one sessions are available but there is a longer waiting list for appointments. (It is always best to get help with completing PIP forms!)
Return the form to DWP - the address is on the form.
To assess the level of help you need, an independent health professional will either invite you to a meeting or ask your health or social care worker for information.
If you’re invited to a meeting, you’ll be asked questions about your ability to carry out activities and how your condition affects your daily life. The meeting can be either at your home or at an assessment centre, and will take about an hour.
You’ll get a letter that tells you whether you’ll get PIP. If you do, you’ll be told how much you’ll get and the date it will be reviewed so that you continue to get the right support.

16. Benefits - Declined
What to do if the application gets turned down;

17. Access to impartial information and advice Disability focussed
Information Service
Access to impartial information and advice
Disability focussed
National and local Database (approx. 6,000 entries)
Up-to-date resources – Library/Brochures
No stone unturned – information resource constantly being expanded and updated as a result
One request for information often leads to solutions for many other difficulties
Copyright: The Disability Resource Centre

18. Support groups & Services Transport Holidays
Information Topics
Advocacy
Benefits
Care & Carers
Disability Rights
Education
Employment
Grants
Housing
Insurance
Shopping
Sport & Leisure
Support groups & Services
Transport
Holidays

19. Information Handbook (also available on tape and CD) DIRECTORIES:
Publications
Information Handbook (also available on tape and CD)
DIRECTORIES:
Contacts for Carers (most popular directory)
Contacts for Stroke and associated Carers
Mental Health Directory for Luton and Bedfordshire
Contacts for Families with Disabled Children
Contacts for Sport and Leisure for people with Disabilities
Contacts for Holidays for people with Disabilities

20. Tel: 
The Disability Resource Centre
Poynters House
Poynters Road
Dunstable
Beds LU5 4TP