One&All Hub’s Post

At Shared Lives Plus we know from hearing people’s stories how social care can enable people to live their best lives possible. The potential of social care is enormous, and largely unrealised. The National Insurance rise decision in the Budget puts a major barrier up against some of the very best and forward looking social care organisations, some of which provide shared lives. Let’s sort this problem, then move back to talking about what can be achieved with better social care.

Analysis from the Nuffield Trust out today shows the additional costs that will be experienced by providers of social care support for disabled adults and older people, and the likely impact. I look forward to working with Government as we head towards the next Spending Review to look at how we implement fair pay for social care workers, ensure there is ringfenced funding to ensure additional employment costs are properly covered by the fees paid to providers, and kick-off a fundamental review of how social care for disabled adults and older people is delivered and funded. Mencap's response to the Nuffield Trust analysis: Jon Sparkes OBE, chief executive at learning disability charity, Mencap said: “The impact of the national insurance contribution threshold changes on Care Providers like Mencap and the people we support is very worrying.  “We were expecting some increases in costs, but the scale of the decisions taken in the Budget will have serious consequences for people who rely on social care, as providers simply cannot absorb these monumental additional costs. “Ultimately, it will be the people who rely on care and their families who will bear the brunt of these changes by missing out on the care that they need. Care workers will also be impacted, with many ending up back on the national living wage. “People with a learning disability, and those who dedicate their lives to caring for vulnerable people in our communities deserve better.” https://lnkd.in/eyfTD7dX

A first-party special needs trust (also known as a self-settled special needs trust) is designed to hold assets belonging to an individual with a disability, allowing them to preserve eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This type of trust is unique because it holds assets that belong directly to the beneficiary, typically from sources like personal savings, an inheritance, or a personal injury settlement. The person who can create a first-party special needs trust is typically the individual with a disability themselves, but in most cases, it is created by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or court on behalf of the person with a disability. In certain circumstances, the individual with the disability may not have the capacity to establish the trust themselves, so a legal guardian or family member will need to take the lead. The trust must be established in accordance with strict federal and state rules. For instance, the trust's assets can only be used for the benefit of the disabled individual, and the funds in the trust must not be considered the individual's assets for means-tested benefits. Furthermore, the trust must contain provisions that require any remaining funds to be used to pay back Medicaid for the beneficiary's care upon their death. This type of trust is crucial for protecting the disabled individual's access to government assistance while still allowing them to benefit from other resources, like an inheritance or settlement, without losing vital benefits.

🏠💰 Invest in NDIS House & Land Packages in Victoria! 💰🏠 Looking for a smart investment opportunity in Victoria? Consider NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) house and land packages! These investments not only provide a stable income stream but also contribute to supporting individuals with disabilities in our community. Here's why you should consider investing in NDIS house and land packages in Victoria: ✅ 1. **Stable Rental Income**: Our packages offer attractive rental income starting from $155,000, providing you with a reliable source of cash flow. ✅ 2. **Growing Demand**: With the NDIS expanding its reach and more individuals seeking quality housing options, the demand for NDIS-approved properties is on the rise. Investing now positions you to benefit from this growing demand. ✅ 3. **Government Support**: The NDIS is backed by government support, which gives investors confidence in the stability of their investments. ✅ 4. Positive Social Impact: By investing in NDIS housing, you're not just making a financial investment but also contributing to improving the lives of people with disabilities. Your investment helps provide them with safe and suitable accommodation, enhancing their quality of life. This opportunity allows you to make a difference in our community. ✅ 5. Long-Term Growth Potential: Property values in Victoria have shown steady growth over the years, offering investors the potential for long-term capital appreciation. This potential for growth ensures your investment will continue to prosper in the future. ✅ At Elite Wealth Creators, we have fantastic NDIS house and land packages available in Victoria. These packages are designed to offer you excellent returns while making a positive impact on the community. ✅ Don't miss this opportunity to invest in a socially responsible and financially rewarding venture! Click the link 🌐 https://vist.ly/z9dp to see our available packages and start your journey towards a secure investment future. #NDIS #InvestmentOpportunity #VictoriaRealEstate #SocialImpactInvesting #StableIncome #PropertyInvestment

A first-party special needs trust (also known as a self-settled special needs trust) is designed to hold assets belonging to an individual with a disability, allowing them to preserve eligibility for government benefits like Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This type of trust is unique because it holds assets that belong directly to the beneficiary, typically from sources like personal savings, an inheritance, or a personal injury settlement. The person who can create a first-party special needs trust is typically the individual with a disability themselves, but in most cases, it is created by a parent, grandparent, legal guardian, or court on behalf of the person with a disability. In certain circumstances, the individual with the disability may not have the capacity to establish the trust themselves, so a legal guardian or family member will need to take the lead. The trust must be established in accordance with strict federal and state rules. For instance, the trust's assets can only be used for the benefit of the disabled individual, and the funds in the trust must not be considered the individual's assets for means-tested benefits. Furthermore, the trust must contain provisions that require any remaining funds to be used to pay back Medicaid for the beneficiary's care upon their death. This type of trust is crucial for protecting the disabled individual's access to government assistance while still allowing them to benefit from other resources, like an inheritance or settlement, without losing vital benefits.

Connecting2Ability (C2A) was founded in 1953 to provide individualized care and inclusive opportunities for people with disability in Victoria. Their community hubs offer activities and programs to build independence, increase social interaction and community engagement, and improve wellbeing. C2A’s employment programs provide skills training, personal development, and increased financial independence for people with disability and help organizations use their buying power to generate social value. 🙌 Their teams of supported employees and disability support workers provide a wide range of commercial services including grounds and garden maintenance, fleet vehicle cleaning, commercial cleaning, screen printing, assembly and packaging, recycling, secondhand shops, and timber furniture production. They use responsibly sourced local timber and donate timber scraps and dust for local reuse. 👏 C2A is a registered National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider, a Social Traders Certified Social Enterprise, and a member of Social Enterprise Network of Victoria (SENVIC). All surplus is reinvested towards their mission.❤️ Connecting2Ability Frankston, Victoria, Australia https://lnkd.in/gchNKPvh

With an increased rate of mental ill health across the nation, there is an urgent need for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) to speak to VCSE organisations, charities, and lived experience networks to get a fuller picture of the impact that taking away or reducing vital support, like Personal Independence Payments (PIP), would have. There also needs to be a focus from the government on fixing the issues that lead to and exacerbate mental ill health, including poverty and an overstretched NHS, and support and input opportunities for those whose voices too often go unheard. Find out more about the latest announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eJ2DTJt6 #MentalHealth #VCSE #PIP

This is so important

The government's original claim was that no one would be worse off under the NDIS. That is now a very-much broken promise. There are many people who now get fewer essential services from the NDIS than they got in the previous system. The NDIS's claim in this article that it "works with participants to ensure a smooth transition to alternative provider arrangements of their choice" is also shown to be false by the first part of the story. NDIA staff have reported me (personally) for raising issues like the annihilation of some quality services (especially for high needs autistic NDIS participants) that the latest NDIS changes are causing; systemic advocacy engagement with A4, the DPO (former DSS recognised DRO) for severely/profoundly autistic will be "reviewed". Things are pretty bad when the DROs and the NDS are united on an issue. The NDIA has no real accountability for its actions. As Renee says, trust is now lost.