Unlocking essential benefits for patients and loved ones: Weldmar join forces with Citizens Advice

Weldmar Hospicecare has announced a new partnership with Citizens Advice in Dorset, meaning more help and support for those in our care.

Based at the hospice in Dorchester twice a week, case workers Natalie Cash and Louise Taylor will offer expert guidance to help patients and families access the benefits they are entitled to.

“We’re really excited to partner with Weldmar,” says Project Manager Clare Tonge. “Although we’ve worked with Weldmar patients and their families in the past, we’ve never had a direct link. This arrangement means that we can help inform them of the financial support that’s available to them, and help with the claims themselves.”

A previous partnership between Citizens Advice and Macmillan meant that only Weldmar patients with cancer could be referred for help, but as Jenny Wood, Weldmar’s Patient and Family Support Services Lead explains, it’s now available to all: “We provide care to patients with a breadth of different illnesses, so it’s great news that they can now all access this support. In recent years, the world’s got harder financially, so having dedicated people working with us who can help with that is a huge boost.”

“We can start with a benefit enquiry,” explains Clare, “and that will tell us what someone may and may not be entitled to. We can help navigate a claim for Universal Credit with them, or fill in Attendance Allowance or Personal Independence Payment forms. Some of which are online, and some are not. We can also help access the wide range of support on offer from Citizens Advice including housing, employment, and debt.”

Natalie says, “When someone is in the last twelve months of life, quite often these things can be fast-tracked through the system, and we can help with that. The support can continue after a patient has died. For example, they may have been in receipt of Pension Credit, Housing Benefit or Council Tax Support as a joint claim with their loved one, which will stop. We can work with their loved one to re-apply.”

Louise says, “It’s also the case that if you become entitled to one benefit, such as pension credit, it can open up other benefits or support that can become available. All of that financial ‘life admin’ is challenging enough, but when you are poorly or just been bereaved, it can seem like a mountain to climb, and it’s at those times that we can be of help.”

Natalie and Louise, whose expertise will complement the existing support provided by Weldmar’s Carer Support Coordinator and Welfare Support Officer, will be based at the hospice twice a week to answer any questions from patients or family members, and those being supported at home can be referred to them for support by their local Specialist Hospice at Home Hub.