County council's guidance on benefits shake-up

The Welfare and Tax Credits system is currently going through its biggest shake-up for 60 years with many planned changes to working age benefits by the UK Government and Denbighshire County Council is making people aware of the changes and support helplines available.

Many have already happened but some of the biggest changes are due to come into force after April 2013.

Some of the important changes are listed below:

■ Most benefits and tax credits started to be increased yearly at a lower rate from April 2011 using the consumer price index. From April 2013 Local Housing Allowances (LHA) will be increased yearly in the same way.

■ People on Incapacity Benefit are being moved over to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA). ESA decisions are based mainly on face to face assessments, many of which are resulting in people being refused ESA.

■ Personal Independence Payments (PIP) will replace Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for new claims from June 2013 which will involve a face to face assessment. People already on DLA will be asked to claim PIP between October 2013 and Spring 2016, earlier if you report a change in your circumstances.

■ Bedroom Tax: From April 2013 people under 61 who rent from the Council or a Housing Association will have their rent limited to the number of bedrooms considered to be suited to them. If you have one bedroom too many, your Housing Benefit will only be calculated on 86% of your rent, 2 or more too many then your benefit will be calculated on only 75% of your rent.

■ The DWPʼs Social Fund: made up of Community Care grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis Loans will end during April 2013. A new grant scheme across Wales will be delivered by the Family Fund, based in Wrexham. This
scheme is likely to have less money.

■ The Benefits Cap: will limit benefits to the median income from April 2013. It is likely to affect out of work families who have a combination of several children and high rents.

■ Universal Credit: may be replacing the six main means tested benefits for new claims from October 2013. You will receive one monthly payment in arrears into your bank account. With this money you will have to budget to pay all your housing and living costs. For all existing working age benefit claims there will be a gradual transfer to the new schemes over a
number of years.

Information and advice on all of these changes can be obtained at:

■ DCC Welfare Rights Team
Free phone advice line: 0800 169 6625
(10am to 4pm)

■ Denbighshire Citizens Advice Bureau
Phone 01745 334568 or 814336

Labour team hit out over welfare changes

Local Labour duo Ken Skates and Susan Elan Jones have hit out at the UK Government after new figures revealed that welfare changes will cost working age people in Denbighshire £589 a year.

 

The research produced for the Financial Times also highlights that welfare cuts will cost the Denbighshire economy £34m a year.

 

The pair said the figures were shocking and highlighted the devastating impact benefit reform would have on communities in North East Wales over the next few years.

 

Clwyd South MP Ms Jones said: “These punitive welfare cuts will only serve to increase the inequality gap in our communities and will have a devastating effect on businesses and local jobs. 

 

“The Government is hurting the communities I represent in Clwyd South where one in 20 economically active people is now unemployed. My constituents are paying the price for the Tories incompetent handling of the economy over the last few years.

 

“These changes will take £34m out of the Denbighshire economy each year, sucking out much needed demand for local businesses at a time when they need it most. 

 

“It’s economic illiteracy from the government because the cuts mean less money in the local economy, only pushing the recovery further away.  Just as with the VAT rise, it will be another blow for small and medium sized businesses in our area.”

 

Clwyd South AM Ken Skates said: “The changes will cost the average working age adult in Denbighshire £589 and will have a catastrophic impact on families already struggling to make ends meet.”

 

“These figures are a sobering reminder of the how uncaring and unaware the UK Government are about the devastation welfare reform will have on our already vulnerable communities.

 

“The figures show that the changes are hitting everyone in Denbighshire, working families, those on unemployment benefits, the disabled, and children.  The only people not getting battered by this Tory Lib Dem coalition government are the millionaires who are just seeing their top rate tax cut kick in.

“This isn’t my idea of fairness.”

  

According to the research, the financial loss per working age adult, by local authority:

 

 

• Bleanau Gwent £698
• Bridgend £599
• Caerphilly £644
• Cardiff £477
• Carmarthenshire £579
• Ceredigion £432
• Conwy £558
• Denbighshire £589
• Flintshire £458
• Gwynedd £438
• Isle of Anglesey £511
• Merthyr Tydfil £722
• Monmouthshire £393
• Neath Port Talbot £696
• Newport £560
• Pembrokeshire £539
• Powys £433
• Rhondda Cynon Taf £668
• Swansea £559
• Torfaen £589
• Vale of Glamorgan £473
• Wrexham £511

Health board's £1.5M mental health investment

The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is investing nearly £1.5million over five years in Counselling services for people with common mental health problems.

 

The service, known as ‘Parabl’, which means ‘to talk or discuss’ in Welsh, became operational on 2^nd April, 2013.

 

The service is being managed by CAIS on behalf of a consortium of North Wales charities. Partners include Advance Brighter Futures, Flintshire Mind, Aberconwy Mind, CAIS, Tan y Maen, Ynys Mon and Gwynedd Mind, Vale of Clwyd Mind and Relate.

 

Referral to the service can be through a health professional, such as a GP, or individuals may refer themselves by telephone. Once a referral is received a telephone assessment is carried out to establish the most appropriate support for that individual. Support ranges from self-help resources, one-to-one counselling, through to group sessions, available in Community settings such as GP practices, leisure centres and community centres throughout North Wales.  

 

Wyn Thomas, Assistant Director, Community Partnership Development for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board,  said “We are pleased to be working with partners to offer such a comprehensive service for people throughout North Wales.  The Parabl Talking Therapies is a service to meet the needs of adults over the age of 18, who are resident in North Wales. The service is aimed at people with common mental health problems, including bereavement and relationship difficulties.”

 

“As well as providing self-help resources, including an interactive self-help programme called the Serenity Computerised Cognitive Behavioural Therapy programme, group sessions are available over 7-8 weeks to cover such subjects as Coping with Life, Stress Management and Mindfulness.  Up to 6 weekly sessions of individual counselling sessions are also available for individuals who want to discuss any challenging life events which are impacting on their mental well being.”

 

Self-referrals can be made by telephoning 0300 777 2257.

Support Buy Local day today

Don't forget that today (Friday, April 12) is Llangollen's latest Buy Local Day ...

 

Support your local shops.

Loco restoration is a family affair

 

 

 

* The Hymas family group with No.72 at Llangollen.

 

* The engine on arrival at Carrog later.

 

Three generations of an Essex family came together to celebrate the successful completion of a steam locomotive restoration project at Llangollen Railway.

 

James Hymas, 42, was joined by his partner Bobby and their eight-week-old baby son, Tristram, and father Dick to see their other pride and joy, No.72, a six wheel saddle tank steam engine, back in operation after a nine-year personal project to restore it from scrapyard condition.

 

After No.72 successfully took the 1pm train from Llangollen down the Dee Valley line to Carrog and back an ecstatic James said: "That was terrific! For the engine to be able work its first ever passenger train in its entire career was worth all the time and effort involved in its restoration."

 

Father, Dick, who now lives in Penrhyndeudraeth, and who originally bought the engine from the scrapman at South Hetton Colliery in Northumberland in 1973, said: " It is fantastic to see the engine back in working condition. When I bought the engine it had been literally run into the ground by the National Coal Board.

 

"Everything possible on it was worn out and its restoration was going to be a big challenge when I took it to the Colne Valley Railway in Essex."

 

That challenge was taken on by his son James in 2004 when he set about rebuilding the mechanical parts, renewing the smokebox and bunker and arranging for a boiler repair.

 

Seeking expert help and advice he brought the kit of parts to Llangollen in 2006. 

 

This move allowed a difficult task to be brought to a successful conclusion earlier this week when the locomotive in a smart black NCB livery as No.72  had a steam test and then ran with a service train.

 

James said: "The engine is the last known example of the wartime Austerity type built at the Vulcan Foundry, Newton-le-Willows in 1945, as part of an order for the British Army and was delivered to the Longmoor Military Railway in Hampshire.

 

"However, it was sold on to the National Coal Board for work hauling heavy coal trains in the Northumbrian coal field, a task for which it was well suited."

 

Dave Owen, chief engineer at Llangollen Railway, said: "No.72 is a powerful locomotive and performed well on its two trips down the line. 

 

"It is always satisfying to see a steam locomotive come back into service after a long restoration job and we are pleased to have played a part in ensuring that the ambitions of Dick and James have been finally fulfilled here at Llangollen."

 

George Jones, press officer for Llangollen Railway,  said: "During the trip down the line the steam train attracted the attention of two Army Air Corps helicopters on low level flying exercises.

 

"They came past for a close look and it seems incredible that they unwittingly acknowledged the special occasion for a former British Army locomotive!

 

"Their interest in the occasion was enjoyed by all."

Statement on measles outbreak

Public Health Wales has issued the following statement about the current measles outbreak:

"You may be aware that there is a very large outbreak of measles in Swansea that is spreading across Wales.

The illness spreads very quickly through schools if many of the pupils have not been protected by having two Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccine injections.

There have been 38 children admitted to hospital during this outbreak as a result of their measles infection.

We are likely to see cases of measles in North Wales and it is possible that we will have a school outbreak soon, as MMR uptake is not high enough to stop measles circulating.

If your child/teenager has not had MMR vaccine/s or you think they might have missed a vaccination you should contact your GP, health visitor or practice nurse now to get them protected.

Children who are allergic to eggs can receive the vaccine as normal. If your household or close family contains young babies, pregnant women or family members with serious immune conditions who cannot have the MMR vaccine, please make sure that all children and teenagers in the house are fully vaccinated. This will help protect these vulnerable individuals.

Measles is highly infectious and is spread from person to person by coughs and sneezes. Early symptoms include a high temperature, cough, cold and conjunctivitis (painful, red eyes).

A red, blotchy rash appears 3 to 7 days later which usually begins on the face and spreads down over the rest of the body. The person is usually quite ill and often prefers to lie quietly in a darkened room. Serious complications can occur.

Any child who develops symptoms of measles should not attend school for four days after the start of the rash.

If your child is not fully protected please act now to protect them and those around them. You can get more information on measles on the Public Health Wales website: 
http://www.publichealthwales.org/measles

* For further information about measles or MMR please contact NHS Direct on 0845 46 47."

Denbighshire backs North Wales prison plan

Councillors in Denbighshire have supported calls by the North Wales Regional Leadership Board to have a prison built in the region.

Representatives of the Board, made up of Leaders from the six North Wales Councils, the Police and Crime Commissioner, the North Wales Police,The North Wales Fire and Rescue Authority and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board  have lobbied the Ministry of Justice for over five years.

Their campaign was backed by Denbighshire members meeting at County Hall, Ruthin today (Tuesday).

Councillor Hugh Evans, Leader of Denbighshire County Council said: "It is great news that North Wales is on the shortlist of regions to be considered for a new prison and councillors in Denbighshire unanimously supported the proposal.

"We are excited about the potential of a prison being built in North Wales. It would involve a substantial investment in the region's economy and could create hundreds of new jobs.  We need the investment and the jobs but we also need to have a prison where the Welsh Language Act applies so that Welsh culture can be recognised in the prison system.

"We believe there is a strong argument for securing a prison in North Wales and the Regional Leadership Board will continue to lobby the Government. It is very early days, but we will continue with dialogue and await a decision on whether our region has been successful."