Do You Live in Sheltered Housing?

Are You Paying Too Much for Your Support?

Supporting People in Tameside - Helping People to Live Independently

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• "Supporting People" What does it mean?
• Who Provides Support?
• What is Sheltered Housing?
• What Support is Available in Sheltered Housing?
• How Much Will I Have to Pay?
• How Do I Get Financial Assessment Under the Fairer Charging Policy?
• What Will Happen if I Apply for a Fairer Charging Assessment?
• Useful Contacts
• More Information

"Supporting People" What does it mean?

Supporting People is a Government grant that pays for the cost of support to help people live independently in the community.

Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, in Partnership with Health and Probation, manages the Supporting People Programme for the people of Tameside.

This page describes some of the types of support available to you as an older person to help you live independently in your own home.

Who Provides Support?

There are many different types of Support Provider. These can range from a large landlord, such as a Housing Association to a small support provider, delivering specific types of support to people with specific needs.

What is Sheltered Housing?

Sheltered housing schemes provide a warden or manager who is on duty during working hours and an alarm system to call for help when the manager isn't on duty. This is a long-term service to help people to live independently.

What Support is Available in Sheltered Housing?

• A Community Alarm
• Help with filling in forms to access benefits and to make the forms easier to understand
• Regular visits from the manager at least once a week
• Support and encouragement to meet new people from different community organisations
• Advice and support on repairs, home improvement work or aids and adaptations
• Help to put you in touch with other services, for example Home Care Services

How Much Will I Have to Pay?

You will not have to pay for your support costs if you get full or partial Housing Benefit. Your landlord will be able to claim the cost from the Supporting People fund; you do not have to apply for Supporting People Funding.

If you don't get any housing benefit, you may still be able to get some help towards the cost of the support. A financial assessment will be carried out - this is called a Fairer Charging Assessment.

How Do I Get Financial Assessment Under the Fairer Charging Policy?

You can ask the Supporting People Finance team by calling 0161 342 2175.

What Will Happen if I Apply for a Fairer Charging Assessment?

You will be contacted by a Financial Assessment Officer who may arrange to visit you in your own home to carry out the financial assessment. You will need to provide information about your income, capital and savings. If you prefer, you can invite a relative or friend to be present when you are assessed.

You will then receive a letter confirming whether you will get any financial help and what this means. The Financial Assessment Officer will also be able to give you advice on any welfare benefits which you may be entitled to.

Useful Contacts

Welfare Rights

Information and Advice Service, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-u-Lyne OL6 6DL
0161 342 8355
For free and confidential advice and representation in matters of welfare benefits.

Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team

Stalybridge Resource Centre, Waterloo Road, Stalybridge SK15 2AU
0161 342 2400 0161 342 2460 0161 342 2577
For advice and information on a wide range of services from help in managing your personal care in your own home, help with meals, equipment and adaptations.

Care Options for Adults ‘Choice’

206 Stamford Street, Ashton-u-Lyne OL6 7LP
0161 339 5355
Provides free, independent and confidential information on care homes, nursing homes, sheltered schemes, home support and personal care for older people in Tameside.

Age Concern

131 Katherine Street, Ashton-u-Lyne OL6 7AW
0161 308 5000
206 Stamford Street, Ashton-u-Lyne
0161 339 5355 (open Monday - Saturday: 10am-2pm)
For a wide range of advice and information including social activities, befriending scheme, counselling and support for carers.

The Department of Health

0800 555777
For a wide range of information and useful contacts relating to your health and well-being.

Pensions Service

www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
0845 6060 265 (Open Monday - Friday: 8am-8pm)
For advice and information on your pension.

Transfer Service

Tameside General Hospital, Fountain Street, Ashton-u-Lyne
0161 331 5173
For information on what help you may be able to get when you leave hospital.

Other Languages

A summary of this information can be provided in Gujurati, Bengali and Urdu. It can also be provided in large print or other formats. Please ring 0161 342 3267.

More Information

Contact Information
Send us a Message	Supporting People (Freepost) Room 3.41 Tameside MBC Council Offices Wellington Road Ashton under Lyne Lancs OL6 6DL View local map
0161 342 3267 Freephone: 08000 407013
"0161 342 2868" department