Welfare Benefit Guides

• Claiming Attendance Allowance Guide 2010 (pdf; 395KB; opens in new window)
  An information pack for older adults age 65 or over with Mental Health issues including dementia, their Carers and Advocates.  This information pack addresses, in a practical way, the issue of poverty amongst older people who use health or social services.  It has been estimated that 65% of people eligible for Attendance Allowance, do not claim it.
• Claiming Disability Living Allowance Guide 2010 (pdf; 405KB; opens in new window)
  An information pack for adults up to age 65 using Mental Health Services, their Carers and Advocates.  This information pack addresses, in a practical way, the issue of poverty amongst people who use mental health services.  Whilst increasing numbers of people with mental health problems are claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the evidence suggests that many who could benefit from it are still not making claims.  This guide has been updated to take account of the introduction of Employment Support Allowance on 27.8.08.
• Mental Health and Incapacity for Work Guide 2010 (pdf; 370KB; opens in new window)
  An information pack for people claiming Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Severe Disablement Allowance.  This information pack has been written for people using mental health services and their advocates who are concerned to maximise benefit income.  Research has shown that the Incapacity for Work Test, brings with it complex and worrying procedures for people with mental health problems who are unable to work and who claim Incapacity Benefit, Income Support and Severe Disablement Allowance.  This guide has been updated to take account of the introduction of Employment Support Allowance on 27.8.08.

Other text resources

• Are you getting your five a day? (pdf; opens in new window)
• Bungled off Benefits (film resource)
  Produced by Suretech, a network of individuals interested in creating videos about service users' experiences of mental health.  The group who made this video, drew on their personal experience of the social security system.  It has been made to help claimants and their advisors in surviving the Personal Capability Assessment medical.
• Five Ways to Wellbeing (pdf; opens in new window)
• Guidance on Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing (pdf; 401KB; opens in new window)
• Top Ten Tips for Combating Stresss (pdf; opens in new window)
• Transforming Services: Changing Lives - a guide for action (pdf; 144KB; opens in new window)
• Two Decades of Change: Celebrating user involvement (pdf; opens in new window)
  2006 was a year when two decades of mental health survivor/service user involvement in working for change in mental health services, education and research was being celebrated throughout the UK.  At CEIMH over 60 people from across the Midlands and beyond gathered for a day of celebration in which music, poetry, stories and history was heard and applauded, good food was eaten and friendship flowed.
  
  This publication, written by Marion Clark and Tony Glynn, CEIMH's user co-ordinators at the time, captures in words and pictures some of what happened that day.  An unforgettable day for many who took part or as one participant put it:  "A very good day - innovative and creative - it inspired me!"

•  Welfare Benefits and Mental Health e-Learning Resources (pdf; 134KB; opens in new window)
  The most useful websites for obtaining and updating information in this area are listed in this document, together with a short description of what they have to offer.

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