A hospice is celebrating the work of its benefits advisors, who have helped raise more than £1.5 million for patients and families.
The milestone amount was reached by Citizens Advice Bureaux (CAB) Advisers working in the Family Support Team at St Richard’s Hospice. The sum has been raised since 2009.
The advisors work across all clinical areas of the hospice to help secure important, financial support for patients living with serious, progressive illnesses and their loved ones.
Sarah Popplestone-Helm, Head of Family Support, said: “We are proud to host a CAB Adviser service within St Richard’s.
“Our advisers provide guidance on benefits to our patients and families during what can be a difficult and challenging time in their lives. They support people with great skill and expertise.”
The advisers provide on-going support to their clients throughout the process – from the initial referral, through to advice if a patient is concerned with the outcome of a benefit decision.
While a large part of their work involves advising patients and families on benefits – from checking entitlement, to helping people apply for benefits and challenging decisions where necessary – the advisers also offer guidance on a wide range of issues including housing, debt, employment and family matters.
The team is supported by Citizens Advice Worcester to offer specialist advice.
The main benefits applied for at St Richard’s include: Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support, Carers Allowance, Universal Credit, Bereavement Benefits and Pension Credit. However, the list of benefits and premiums/components is vast.
To find out more about the hospice’s Family Support Team visit www.strichards.org.uk/supporting-the-family