Useful Information

Care Needs

If you have Care Needs and would benefit from Carers visiting you to help you with washing, dressing, etc then you are entitled to request a Needs Assessment from your local County Council.

So for this area that would be East Sussex County Council: Needs Assessment. Social Services will also be able to advise whether or not you would be entitled to funded Personal Care, or if due to your income and savings you would need to fully fund or contribute to having Carers.

Do you need Carer Support to remain living in your own home? See here for costs and a funding calculator at East Sussex County Council.

There are many Care Agencies that can arrange for Carers to visit you and provide personal care and or domestic services such as cleaning and shopping.

CEA Card - apply for one here. This gives easy access for a Carer to accompany a disabled person who has paid for a ticket to the cinema for free. Many companies have similar schemes and you just click for Carer ticket when you book ie theme parks, zoos, castles, etc, and you need to take confirmation of benefit with you to confirm need, however the CEA card means you have already provided evidence of disability in advance as card has been approved and issued, so no further evidence required.

Carers

Care for the Carers https://www.cftc.org.uk for advice and support and discounts via their Carer Card.

Carers are also entitled to a Carer Assessment by East Sussex County Council and also see their Carer Checklist

CEA Card - the person receiving disability benefit can apply for one here. This gives easy access for a Carer to accompany a disabled person who has paid for a ticket to the cinema for free. Many companies have similar schemes and you just click for Carer ticket when you book ie theme parks, zoos, castles, etc, and you need to take confirmation of benefit with you to confirm need, however the CEA card means you have already provided evidence of disability in advance as card has been approved and issued, so no further evidence required.

Disabled Facilities Grants and Care Alarms

These are grants to help you to remain safe in you own home, such as stairlifts and Flush Floor Showers, etc

See East Sussex County Council for more information or the GOV.UK site.
If you are not eligible for a Grant then the Council has a Supplier Directory.

Please note: You do not need to pay VAT on items purchased for your disability ie if you redo a bathroom such as removing a bath and installing a Flush Floor Shower then no VAT is payable on : the equipment to do this or the installation costs (even if installer is VAT registered) does not need to charge you VAT for the fitting out the bathroom.

Technology Aids such as Lifeline alarms, Medicine Reminders and Key Safe's, etc, can be obtained via East Sussex County Council - fees do apply, but may also be covered depending on circumstances. Please see link here.

NHS Funded Continuing Healthcare & NHS Funded Nursing Care

We all age and in doing so may experience difficulties with 'daily living tasks' which is considered a 'normal' part of ageing. However, if those difficulties are not due to age alone, but due to a disease, then you may be eligible for Continuing NHS Funding to cover the costs.

See GOV.UK here for more information. In addition there are a range of private companies that can assist with claims.

Just type in Continuing Funded Healthcare into a Search Engine such as Google to find them, as private companies they charge a range of fees for this service.

For an easy to use guide see Age UK guide here.

Patient Transport

Do you need NHS Patient Transport to access Hospital Visits etc, if so click here for more information.

For non-emergency patient transport in East Sussex click here for more information.

Radar Key

A Radar key is like a skeleton key - it opens all disabled toilet doors, whether at a train or bus station, a pub, a supermarket, public toilets, etc.

Designed for disabled people to enable them to access a toilet that is higher (often described as a comfort toilet), with support rails and with more space for those that may need assistance to wash and change, etc, to maintain hygiene and dignity.

Where to obtain a Radar Key - At any shop that sells Disability Aids or online from Disability Rights.org

Please note: You do not need to pay VAT on items purchased for your disability.

Railcards

There are a range of Railcards available, but the following are for the most useful for State Pensioners, see this Railcard link for full details and prices. Save money on your trips, whether for health appointments, or just a day out.

Social Tariffs

As an older person if you are on a low income contact your Utility suppliers such as Water, Gas, Electric and Broadband to ask if you can apply for their Social Tariff.

If you have a disability ask to also to be added to their Priority List - ie if your water supply is cut off this ensures bottled water is delivered to you at your home address.

South East Water Priority Service Register or call: 0800 952 4000

Veterans

RBL and SSAFA can provide free help for a wide range of issues, such as applying for Benefits for free, if you have any 'need' then just give them a call to see if it is something they can assist with:

RBL: https://www.britishlegion.org.uk

or call 0808 802 8080

SSAFA: https://www.ssafa.org.uk/get-help/

or call 0800 260 6780