With the major changes in benefits recently announced, we’re glad to confirm that Mind Monmouthshire will continue to provide face-to-face welfare benefits advice for anyone living in Monmouthshire with mental ill-health.

We’ve made some improvements
to the appointment system

Mind Monmouthshire is holding face-to-face advice sessions by appointment:

• Every Tuesday morning, 10 am, 45b Cross Street, Abergavenny, NP7 5ER;
• Every Thursday morning, 10 am, Boverton House, Bulwark Road, Chepstow, NP16 5JE.

To make an appointment, simply phone
01873 858275 during office hours.

In the last 4 months we’ve been able to make an impact on the financial circumstances and diminished the worries of many of the people who have come to see us about benefits.

One of the changes which will affect a lot of people who have a long-standing disability is the ending of Incapacity Benefit and Severe Disability Allowance.  Current recipients will be required to apply for Employment & Support Allowance during 2011 and 2012.  It’s important that people to whom this is happening get full advice and support: failure to qualify will mean that they will be moved to Job Seeker’s Allowance.

A second change is the recently-announced revision of Disabled Living Allowance.  We don’t know the detail but making savings is the objective, so it will be more difficult to qualify.  It’s one more reason that people who may qualify under the current rules should make an application now.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us if we can assist your clients.
Chris Beer, Welfare Rights Adviser
Jonathan Whitmore, Day Services Manager

April 2011