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Press Releases
Holbeach Home Visit Press Release 2019
Citizens Advice helps Holbeach residents to access more disability
benefit entitlements through a new service that includes home visits.
A new home visiting service to residents of Holbeach and the
surrounding villages has been running for just under six months now,
and already it has helped a number of people to obtain a variety of
disability benefits. The support includes help with both new claims and
renewals as well as reconsiderations and appeals if the claimant feels
they should be receiving a higher level of support.
Christine Gratton is the advisor in charge of this new service, generously
funded by Holbeach United Charities, and explained that any benefit
connected to disabilities can be sought through this service.
‘I can help people to claim for disability benefits including Personal
Independence Payment if they struggle to manage their mobility or
personal care. “ said Christine. “The money awarded can be used in a
way which benefits them as an individual e.g. if they are no longer able
to use the bus service due to mobility difficulties and require a taxi
instead, or if they require help around the home as they can no longer
manage themselves.’
“Other benefits which I can help with are Attendance Allowance,
Disability Living Allowance including for children, Employment & Support
Allowance and the disability part of Universal Credit, which can all be
accessed through this service. Anyone of state pension age can also be
assessed to see if they are eligible for Pension Credit.”
Since the start of the service 17 people local to Holbeach have been
helped. The service is not limited to Holbeach, in fact residents in any of
the surrounding villages, providing they have Holbeach in the name, can
ask for help accessing disability benefits, or with appeals. Clients include
completely new claimants, or those with renewals of existing benefits.
People of all ages with both physical and/or mental health issues may be
eligible to benefits and support in claiming them.
Anybody who feels they are eligible can talk to Christine by phoning
her on 07399 693372 and leaving a message, Christine will get back to
them and have an initial conversation, following which, if she feels a
claim or appeal can be made, she will be able to make the home visit.
Fundraising Activities
In November, Citizens Advice ran a musical evening in Grantham to increase its local fundraising. Research and Campaigns volunteer Vonnie Townsend, put her skills as a classical musician, and her network of musical colleagues together, to organise a concert at the ballroom in the Grantham Guildhall, to raise funds for Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire. Titled “Musical All Sorts", the concert included a varied mix of jazz, plus popular and classical music to appeal to all tastes. Groups involved included Tetravox, jazz quintet The Sharp Five, featuring Becca Mahoney, and Grantham U3A Ukulele Group. Vonnie herself included a prelude and Waltz from Shostakovich. Tom Simmonds, of Simmonds Music Shop in Grantham, generously sponsored the cost of the venue, so around £300 was raised towards the local Citizens Advice operation.
Last year, Citizens Advice in South Lincs dealt with 13992 enquiries, helping clients to gain £2.42m in unclaimed benefits, and manage £10.37 million in debt. The organisation constantly seeks to widen sources of income through fundraising efforts, and thanks everyone in the Grantham area who supported the concert.