My Appeal to Richmond Council

My appeal at London Borough of Richmond decision –

·     “To take my central Government Attendance Allowance award as part of their care package after 20 years. The care recommended, after extensive treatment and tests, by professional medics, Doctors, PT, OT, District Nursing Team and many visits to Kingston Hospital throughout 2010/11 was costed out at £1596 per month (in round figures) a monthly  increase over my 2007 award of £386 to pay for the extra care I now needed.

·     My new revised award, in 2011 is all at a flat rate of £9, instead of the higher rate for weekend working, representing the first cut by administrators of £145,  Taking away my Attendance Allowance of £186 makes another cut leaving only a difference of only £281 for all the extra care, it was agreed, I now need.”

On early retirement from my printing business and sub postmaster in Hampton  hill  in  1980,  I  retired  to  my  weekend  cottage  in  Pewsey Wiltshire. Became licensee of a small Hotel in the mid 80’s. It was whilst here I suffered a major stroke, boxing day 1989, spending the next 9 months in Hospital and stroke units. After 2 more years of treatment and Occupational  Therapy,  I  was  registered  as  ‘Indefinitely  Disabled’  and came back to Teddington under the Government mobility of housing scheme.

I was awarded mobility and attendance allowance; I could still drive my automatic car but could only walk on two wrist crutches very slowly and with pain. Where ever I drove to I needed help or be stuck in a car park, unable to get to a toilet and the attendance this allowance was for.

For the next 18 years I was able to get the attendance  and help I needed to attend all normal functions, help far outside the £9 an hour the council want to pay. I.e. A trip to visit old friends in Pewsey/Swindon,

9/10 hour day, and a trip to the coast 10 hour day, my carer was quite happy to attend me as long as I paid expenses, lunch tea, snacks etc.

 from the allowance. He attends me and helps me on this basis for many   hours more than the carers pay would allow; now I am wheelchair bound and do not drive.

Further Hospitalisation with cellulitis left me completely wheelchair, bound physically deteriorating and needing much more care throughout the home. My carer, living only in the next road, often calls any time day and night outside his paid hours when I ‘phone if I need any small help or when I fall. Tasks not measurable with stop a watch and calculator, thus saving the ‘Help Line’ calling out the Ambulance service.

In 2007 I opted, on being asked by the Council, for direct payment to replace ‘home help’ etc. As well as my attendance allowance. This worked very well and I could lead a near as possible to normal life style taking part and continuing in my lifetime activity in the local community.

When I was awarded my Attendance Allowance by the Government, some 20 years ago, I could still walk on crutches, drive, cook my own meals shower etc but cannot do any of these things, very incontinent with a permanent catheter now, one of the reason for my increased care.

The  support  plan  review  dated  May  2011  was  based  on  OT, Doctors and Hospital visits throughout 2010 when my physical condition rapidly deteriorated and continues to do so. I agreed to my   support   plan  as  being  adequate   whilst  I  was  receiving Attendance Allowance. Now this is being included in the plan, this is clearly not enough.

By  taking  my  Attendance  Allowance  as  care,   the  Council  are depriving me of a basic human right, the right to play my part, participate  and make my own contribution  to the community,  (I have always been a member of local groups, committees and discussion groups) attending local art shows, exhibitions, riverside walks and our boroughs parklands.

The  council’s  use  of  the  attendance  allowance  as  care  is  not obligatory, and different people have different needs. The Council attitude seems to be ‘one size fits all’. Some people at 76 are ready and happy to accept a way of life to sit in and be taken once a week to a day centre for bingo and a ‘sing song’. I am not, and far from that stage yet, with an active and absorbing mind and brain. In fact

40 years ago I helped to run those sessions for Teddington People.

When I had my first direct payment, after working out a plan with

Jackie Wade of ‘Ruils’ this included 45 hours for weekend working at

£13 an hour. The new revised award, in 2011 was all at the flat rate of £9, representing the first cut of £145, which I accepted. The original assessment did not include the extra jobs my carer now does, i.e. putting on my compression stockings attending to my catheter thus saving extra calls by the District Nursing Team.                

Taking my Attendance Allowance £186 makes another cut leaving only a difference of only £281 for all the extra care, it was agreed, I now need.

The care recommended by, Doctors, OT, District Nursing Team and many visits to Kingston  Hospital throughout  2010/11  was costed out at £1596 per month, an increase over my 2007 of £386 to pay for the extra care I now needed.

Bullet points

·      The  council’s  use  of  the  attendance  allowance  as  care  is  not obligatory, and different people have different needs.

·         The Council administrators attitude seems to be ‘one size fits all’

·          The  Council  are depriving me of a basic human right, the right to play my part, participate  and make my own contribution  to the community,  

·         I agreed to my  support  plan as being adequate  whilst  I was  receiving central government Attendance Allowance.

·         My award in 2007 included 34 hours at £13 for weekend working, 2011 award all at the rate of £9 making a loss of£136 per month. This was accepted by juggling round the hours and my carer’s family kindly supplying me a roast Sunday lunch.

·         By taking my Disability Allowance (after 20 years) of£196 per month making a total loss of income of £332. Not allowing me to pay for help in going out, have not been out for over 2 months.

Kenneth L. Elmes

"Workers of the World Unite ...."

The present Banker led capitalism is crumbling –“Workers of the World unite, you have nothing to lose but your chains” – is still as true today as when written in London 150 years ago. ‘Students of the World Demonstraight, you have all to gain for your future’ and a new mixed economy working for all. Can be added.

From St. Paul’s to Wall Street and many Cities across the World Hundreds of thousands of workers and students are marching and demonstraighting against the stranglehold the 1% of the population has on the Banking system that has evolved over hundreds of years.

The Arab world is in turmoil over its ‘Masters’ and dictators, wanting more control over their lives and destiny.

I have always maintained that ‘evolution’ would bring about a fairer system, for life, than the present capitalism we now endure with its greed, instability and wealth for the few. As a young man, 60 years ago, I joined the Labour Party being impatient and wanting to try and hurry this along. Far from a socialist party I saw this as a step along the way. Every family is a practicing Socialist unit, (well most) the fit and strongest looking after the young and weak until they are able to care for themselves, and then add to the community. ‘To each according to his need – from each according to his ability’

The last 50 years have been the worst we have had to endure with deregulation of the Banks, selling off public utilities’, demutualising the people’s assets and general privatisations throughout the world allowing the grip of international institutions to tighten round the throats of workers the world over. In the UK the selling of the public utilities proved to be a catasrafie, it is immoral that the basic elements of life, fire and water, should be used for profit making for the few.

‘The wicked witch of Finchley’ will have a lot to answer for when her day of reckoning comes. Starting her career in government by stopping milk in school for children then as PM her disastrous housing policy of selling council houses, and not allowing councils to spend the revenue building more, mainly the cause of today’s housing shortage.

It was the Thatcher government that brought in expenses for Members of Parliament causing the scandals of recent years. This so she could not be blamed for raising the MP’s salaries. Another ploy of the then government was to increase disability and sick pay to keep the unemployment figures down. All this at a time the city, where banks eat banks getting bigger and bigger, becoming full of directors, boards and yuppies piling riches and fortunes in obscene figures.

A new Banking system, with a mixed economy is now the only way out, instead of worldwide leaders spending months and months arguing, achieving nothing trying to patch the present failing one.

'Crises what Crises' - it's a Catasrophe!

After 10 years of steady growth and improvement in the British standard of living, under a Labour Government, the world wide banking financial crash of 2008 brought the banking chaos throughout the world. Even the pinnacle of capitalism, USA, began to crack and crumble, their house purchase/mortgage system setting off a chain reaction by offloading their debits to other international banks.

I wrote in this column at the time, a new kind of Banking was urgently needed to sort out the chaotic results of global banking. The banks were allowed to grow too big, a case of dog eats dog, dictate their own terms of business generate vast profits to pay intolerable bonuses.

In the UK this was exasperated by the extreme right wing Thatcher Government of the 1980’s by demutualising the building societies, to get the hands of her rich city friends on them to make even more money.

Before then people could get a 20/25 year mortgage according to their income, hard to pay back at first but getting easy as you progressed through your career with promotion or wage increase. Now it’s all short term mortgages so the bankers can charge even more arrangement fees each time.

Adding to the looming crises was her sell of ‘Social Housing’, council houses to you and me, and not allowing the councils to spend the revenue made on replacement housing, thus the main cause of the shortages today.

The current, Tory led, coalition (LibDemCon) government just propose tinkering around the edges of our banking system, when what is clearly needed is a radical reorganisation of banking with one of a full mixed economy. Even the bank with much public investments remaining nationalised.

The latest catch phrase used by LibDemCon ministers when they don’t know what to do or say is “We'll do whatever it takes”

In the years to come historians of the time will have a lot to say on the ‘Thatcher’ years it was she who sold off the public utilities, electricity, gas and water after the tax payer had paid for the pipe lines, electric grid and reservoirs.

It is morally wrong that a basic human need, like water supply should be sold off for profit making for share holders. It is also ridiculous that the same gas and the same electricity coming down the same pipes and cables to be sold to the consumer at different prices, to make bigger profits for share holders.

The Major government, following Thatcher, realising they would lose the next election rushed through continuation of her rail privatisation, resulting in the hotpotch of rail companies we have now. This costing as much public subsidy as British Railways did, mainly going to their share holders as profits.

Today's crises throughout the World's stock exchanges show they have become no more than the rich man’s betting shop, to gamble with the poor man’s savings and pension funds. ‘Sell’ they yell, to make a quick profit no matter the consequences to the firms, organisations and workers concerned.

A Personal Note

I have been having considerable trouble in getting my new award agreed, there appears to be to many administrators and managers passing bits of paper from one an other and desk to desk. In all the words they use they do not seem to know the two simplest words in the English language ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ in covering their backs.

I should add here that in 21 years, unfortunately, as a major stroke victim having to rely on the NHS I have nothing but praise for the medical treatment I have received over the years. I give them 10 out of 10 for all their help and consideration. As for administration both NHS and Council social workers, there are far to many and the result dismal, I give them 1 out of 10.

To Whom It May Concern

In 2007 it was suggested I took up the direct payment scheme for my personal care and quality of life. This I agreed and a method was worked out with the help of the Rowan Organisation.

I was awarded £1231.60 (varying by days in the month) This worked very well and efficient until my last admission to Hospital, despite a decrease, in real terms, of some 5/6% due to inflation and increase insurance costs. On discharge I needed help getting into and out of bed and applied for an extra 1 hour a day at the rate I paid my PA (£9.50) for this help.

Over the next 6 months or more my physical condition rapidly deteriorated with the ageing problems compounding on my stroke of 21 years, and many visits were made to my home by Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and others. Many visits to Kingston Hospital and the Distinct Nursing team continued to call twice weekly.

All these visits reporting I needed more help than that provided and I had asked extra for. Both senior Therapists reporting, in a written report, that now my right and only good arm, was causing concern and not able to be used 90 degrees (the reason for my Hospital visits throughout the last 9 months). These reports were sent to my care manager.

My balance was very bad, and I was a danger to myself trying to cook, and could not reach to get items from the cupboards or fridge. My career now has to cook my main meal each day out of the three hours a day allowed for in the original agreement and award (in fact has been doing many hours’ unpaid help)

In July 2010 I was asked, and supplied a diary over a period of three weeks to show the care my career was giving on a daily basis. Since then I recently supplied a list of the extra help I need as was suggested at the many visits to me at my home by the various agencies.

My December remittance advice shows a sum of £1598.89 an increase of £363.49 (£88.12 a week) over my payments since I first opted for direct payments. This barely covers the extra I asked for in March, and the employer NI contributions increase of £2.10 per week, leaving £19.52 for all the extra help I now need and that recommended.

I want my award looked into again, together with all the reports made into my physical condition over the last year.

To Whom It May Concern continued additions January 2011

With time to reread the above and study with old papers it appears the confusion seems to have arisen by an administration error.

The award made in 2007 for home care and quality of life living was based on the formula of –
75 hours @ £0.00p and
45 hours @ £00.0p
Total payment of £0,000.00p per month to be spent at the reciprocants discretion.

This being worked out with the help of the Rowan Organisation and agreed by the Council @ 3 hours per day for personal care and help in the home, the balance to be spent in maintaining as near a life style as possible. I.e. Attending meetings, attending monthly committee meeting, Theatre visits and participating in the local community as fully as possible as in the past.

On my discharge from hospital and deteriating physical condition I asked, in March 2010, for an extra hour per day for help in getting into and out of bed @£9.50 at the rate I was paying for personal care. All agencies now agree I need more hours than I asked for nearly a year ago now.

It appears the award made December 2010 is based on the draught of ‘My Support Plan’ by Support Broker, Jo Munday, only on the figure I paid my Carer/PA of £9.50 and not on the original hourly rates. I understand m/s Munday had not seen the Occupational Therapist’s report before draughting the plan.

I hope this helps to clarify the matter, although I am very physically affected, mentally I am still 110% fit and quite happy for my carer to bring me to any meeting at any time to meet and discuss this further.

Kenneth Elmes January 2011

The LibDemCon Government

The LibDemCon government . . .

Well!! Where do I start? - cracks of seismic proportions are appearing all over the place. The right wing conservative senior partners leading the LibDems ‘up the path’ by the nose.

David Cameron and his millionaire cabinet members (mainly Thatcher’s children) carrying on where she left off dismantling and destroying the welfare state. Thatcher saying there was no such thing as society and selling off social housing and starting the demutualising of the Building Societies to the capitalist system of her rich friends in the Banking world of dog eat dog.

Before Thatcher one could get a mortgage of 20/25 years that got easier to pay as you progressed through your working life with promotion and/or wage increases. Now it’s a case of short term mortgages with their arrangement fees, each time, to add to the bankers profits.

Cameron’s speech today (Feb. 14th. 2011) on his big idea of the “ Society” was no more that a lot of wind and hot air with no substance, a smoke screen to take away one’s mind from the pending cuts. For 55 years from my teens I have always tried to ‘do my bit’ for society with the Scout Movement, Teddington Old Peoples Welfare Committee, Rotary Club, a Borough Councillor (when councillors were unpaid) and a committee member and officer of members clubs.

The schools policy is now under fire with backing for many Councils from the courts over the cancellation of the school rebuilding programme of the previous Government to feed the cash to the new free schools.

The government Forestry sell off policy has been cancelled/postponed by public pressures.

All this, and more, after the work of a Labour Government’s 10 years of steady growth brought to an end after its struggle with the world wide financial crisis caused be greedy banks and bankers with their snouts in the trough.

I predict, that when the next election comes and the Conservatives drop the LibDens, Nick Clegg will join his millionaire friends in the Conservative Party.

To be continued. . . . .