Life Events - Becoming Disabled
Useful help and advice to anyone who becomes disabled - whether a physical or sensory disability
Who do I contact if I become disabled?- What benefits may I be entitled to?
- Where can I go for information on work and becoming disabled?
- Where can I go for counselling?
- Where can I go for rehabilitation services?
- Is there any support for my carer?
- Where can I meet other disabled people?
- Are there any national organisations that might be able to help me?
- Am I entitled to help with transport?
Who do I contact if I become disabled?
If you are over 18 and become disabled, you should contact the Social Care and Health Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team
If you have a child with disabilities you should contact the Social Care and Health Children with Disabilities Team.
Staff at Social Care and Health will be able to give you information and advice and may be able to offer you services such as respite care. They will also be able to give you information on any voluntary, private, community or leisure groups and organisations that may also be able to help.
What benefits may I be entitled to?
You can get help and advice about welfare benefits from the Welfare Rights Service. They provide clear, concise, free and confidential advice and representation in matters of welfare benefits.
Alternatively you can contact the Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau on 0161 330 2156 or visit the website www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ 
They can help you with advice about benefits and other problems you may have.
Severe Disablement Allowance
If you are aged between 16 and 65 and you have been unable to work for at least 28 weeks in a row because of disability or if you have never been able to work you may be entitled to Severe Disablement Allowance. More information on Severe Disablement Allowance is available from GOV.UK
Disability Living Allowance
Disability Living Allowance (DLA) is a tax-free social security benefit intended for adults and children with a long-term illness or a disability It can be paid in addition to other benefits such as Incapacity Benefit but can also be paid if you are working.
Vaccine Damage Payment
Vaccine Damage Payment is a one-off payment if you are severely disabled as a result of a vaccination. More information on Vaccine Damage Payment is available from GOV.UK
War Disablement Pension
War Disablement Pension (WDP) is a payment made to people who have been injured or disabled as a result of any service in Her Majesty's Armed Forces. More information on War Disablement Pension is available from the Service Personnel and Veterans Agency
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance is a tax-free social security benefit intended for people with a long-term illness or a disability It can be paid in addition to other benefits such as Retirement Pension. Attendance Allowance can be paid to those who require either attention in connection with certain tasks or supervision in order to stay safe. More information about Attendance Allowance.
Where can I go for information on work and becoming disabled?
Jobcentre Plus can give you information on employment and disability. They also provide specialist services for people with disabilities.
More information about help for disabled people is available from GOV.UK or you can call in to your local jobcentre.
Adult Learning
To increase your chances in the workplace you may wish to improve your skills. Many of the local colleges and schools offer adult learning courses offering you the chance to learn at all levels.
More information on Adult Learning
Where can I go for counselling?
Becoming disabled can be a difficult time and you may want to talk with someone. Counselling is available from a number of organisations.
Talk with your GP who may be able to refer you to a counsellor.
If you have a visual impairment or are deaf, the specialist teams within Social Care and Health may be able to help.
For more information on these teams or for details of other counselling services contact the Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team.
If you wish to speak to a private counsellor you can get a list from the Libraries Information Service.
Where can I go for rehabilitation services?
Rehabilitation services include help with physiotherapy and adaptations for the home.
The Community Occupational Therapy Team can help you to find appropriate solutions for your needs.
To find out if you are eligible for services from the Community Occupational Therapy Team you should contact Tameside Social Care and Health.
There are also private organisations and specialists that may be able to help. For more information contact Libraries Information Services. The staff there will be able to help you find private providers.
Is there any support for my carer?
A carer is someone who looks after a friend, relative or neighbour who needs help because of sickness, age or disability.
Your carer may be entitled to an assessment in their own right. They should contact the Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team for more information.
Tameside Carers Centre
Tameside Carers Centre gives advice, information and support to carers on carers issues.
Where can I meet other disabled people?
There are a number of groups in Tameside for disabled people and their carers to meet. Tameside Social Care and Health will be able to put you in contact with various local groups.
You may also like to look at the Community Information Database listing Tameside groups.
Are there any national organisations that might be able to help me?
There are numerous organisations that provide help and assistance to disabled people.
View the links to national organisations.
Am I entitled to help with transport?
If you are a car user you may be entitled to join the Disabled Parking Scheme.
The disabled parking badge scheme is a national scheme for people who, are registered blind, have severe walking difficulties or regularly drive but are unable to turn the steering wheel by hand.
The scheme provides a wide range of parking benefits. For example the scheme enables badge holders to park free in most pay and display car parks and also to park on single and double yellow lines in most streets for up to three hours.
Ring and Ride are a local organisation that can provide affordable or in some cases free transport for more information you can visit the website at https://www.tfgm.com/public-transport/ring-and-ride-minibuses
View information on low fares & free travel for disabled people from Transport for Greater Manchester .