SARAG – Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Support Group September 2024 Newsletter.
Fundraising update from Andy Shields
On 5th and 6th July this year, Andy Shields completed his mammoth fundraising event by climbing the peaks of Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike (by night) and Snowden within 24 hours, known as the National Three Peaks Challenge.
Andy’s Dad, Steve Shields, died from Mesothelioma in March last year and Andy wanted to raise funds for us, in
appreciation of the support they received from Yorkshire & Humberside Asbestos Support Group (SARAG) after Steve’s diagnosis.
His fundraising total currently stands at over £2800 and all these donations will mean we can keep offering
support to those with asbestos-related illness in our region.
There is still time to donate if you are able to. The link to his fundraising page is:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-victims-of-mesothelioma?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
or cheques to our office address are welcome too.
THANK YOU SO MUCH ANDY! From all the team at SARAG and the people we will support as a result of your
amazing work for us.
Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit
A payment of Attendance Allowance can make a real difference to someone’s income and quality of life.
It has surprised me how many people are eligible for Pension Credit but have not claimed it.
By way of background, Attendance Allowance is a disability benefit for those over pension age and pays
either £72.65 or £108.55 per week.
It is not means-tested so eligibility is not aff ected by your income or money in the bank.
When an application for Attendance Allowance is made the DWP look at all your medical conditions which cause you difficulty including any asbestos
related disease. Despite its name, it does not have to be spent on a Carer.
You can use it however, you like – for example, something to help you live in your home, treats for yourself or your family, something that you have
wanted but could not afford or even for days out. How do you get qualify for it? For anyone with mesothelioma, it is extremely likely that if you apply
for Attendance Allowance, you will get the higher amount.
This is even if at the time you applied, you are feeling OK.
For those with other asbestos related conditions, getting the benefit will require you to show that you could do with help for example getting dressed or just for someone to keep an eye on you, say you are prone to falls.
Some pensioners who have capital and income can get an increase in the amount of other benefits received once they get Attendance Allowance.
They can become eligible for Pension Credit despite having savings. Also, they may not have to pay council tax or as much council tax or rent. This is probably best illustrated by actual examples.
Example 1. A single person on higher rate Attendance Allowance, getting State Retirement pension of £190
per week, IIDB of £66.45 per week with £20,000 in the bank will get £23.20 pension credit per week and
would not have to pay council tax at all.
Example 2. A couple both 70, living in rented accommodation where rent is £100 per week. If their total State Pensions amount to £210 per week, one getting lower rate Attendance Allowance and partner cares for the other, IIDB of £44.30 per week and
they had £40,000 in the bank, they could get £18.65 pension credit per week, and not have to pay Council
tax or rent.
Example 3. A single person who develops mesothelioma but does not recall any exposure to asbestos in employment will not be eligible for IIDB. If she gets a smaller state retirement pension, a small
company pension, Pension Credit of £9 per week and less than £10,000 in the bank, when she starts getting higher rate Attendance Allowance this could increase Pension Credit to £70.20 per week and she would not
have to pay Council tax. Please note, she is likely to get the Diffuse
Mesothelioma lump sum payment which is not counted as capital for 12 months from date received.
The latest annual Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) ‘take-up’ figures show that over a million
pensioner households are missing out on Pension Credit – around 2 in 5 (37%) of those who are entitled
to receive it.
At Yorkshire and Humberside Asbestos Victims Support Group we can help our clients by checking
how much benefit they might get so that they can decide which benefits they wish to apply for.
Ruth Davies- Benefits Adviser
An Update from our Bereavement and Family Support Worker – Deb Williams
Dear all Service Users, family members, carers, bereaved and supporters of SARAG, may I have your attention for a short paragraph or four.
As part of the ongoing development of our support services, and in particular our Bereavement Service in this instance, we are looking at having a place in our quarterly newsletter where our bereaved clients can have an ongoing voice within SARAG. A place where they can connect, feel connected, where they can continue to feel supported and continue to be a part of a caring community.
The exact format of the bereaved section has not been decided yet, and I guess it will be organic in nature, but I envisage that it will be a safe space to provide practical and emotional information and tools, allow for the freedom of expression and stories, and to bring people together in a similarly shared experience.
Here at SARAG we want our service users to know that they are not alone and that they are held and supported in every part of their journey, wherever that may take them.
If you have any thoughts about having a bereavement section in our quarterly newsletter, whether that be you feel it’s a good or not so great idea, we would very much welcome your feedback about this suggestion. Please remember to let us know why you feel the way you do, and let us know of any additional thoughts and ideas that you have that could benefit our SARAG community.
Please send your responses to me at deb@dreamy-cori.217-154-35-86.plesk.page / 07714172416
Beginnings and Endings – A message from Karen Hobson
I have great childhood memories of days spent outdoors, playing in local woods, being outside with friends. Now that I have retired from the wonderful organisation of SARAG, (and after 50 years of office work), I intend to make the most of time outside.
I feel really lucky to live near to Wentworth, Elsecar, Wortley and Derbyshire and hope to spend much time at these beautiful places, walking through the lovely countryside, visiting landmarks and gardens. Perhaps I will bump into you on my travels! I know lots of you love these places too.
I began my working career in 1974 for the National Coal Board (as it was then) processing Miners’ claims for compensation for the disease of pneumoconiosis, a nasty lung condition caused by inhaling coal dust. I’ve ended my working life helping people with claims in relation to the inhalation of asbestos fibres. It seems I’ve come full circle in a way. I’ve been so humbled by the way that people affected with these conditions manage to stay so positive. True Grit.
When I started work at SARAG almost 5 years ago, my first home visit was to a lovely gentleman called Alan Smith who was suffering from asbestosis. Just a few days before I retired, Alan sadly lost his battle with the disease and passed away. The coincidence of this was not lost on me. It really hit home to me that I should stop and reflect on the chapter of my life that I am now closing and the people I am bidding goodbye to.
So, I would like to tell you that it has been a pleasure to work with you, and for you, and to meet with you where I could. I wish you all the very best and hope to see you at some future SARAG events from time to time. Whatever is your beginning and ending, I hope the time spent in between will be happy and fulfilling.
How you can help SARAG
SARAG is only able to provide our service because of the generous
donations made from our Solicitor panel members and individual donations.
We would like to take a moment to thank all of you who have donated
or contributed to the charity over the years. Without this support the charity would cease to exist. Best wishes to you all.
If you feel you can donate to SARAG, this is how you can help:
Ways to donate:
• Donate online: Go to Local Giving – www.localgiving.org and search for SARAG
By cheque:
• Complete the form below, making a cheque payable to “Yorkshire and Humberside
Asbestos Victims Support Group” and send to: SARAG, Unit 20, Moorgate Crofts Business Centre, South Grove, Rotherham S60 2DH
Through your bank:
• Set up a regular Standing order to our bank details: Yorkshire & Humber ASBSTS VCTMS
SUPP GRP. Sort Code: 089299 / Acc. No: 65467785