Money and Legal Matters 10 - Further help

Alzheimer Scotland

National Office, 22 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7RN.
Office: 0131 243 1453, website: www.alzscot.org, e-mail: alzheimer@alzscot.org

24 hour Dementia Helpline 0808 808 3000 - freephone
Provides specialist information and support for people with dementia and their carers in Scotland and works on their behalf to improve public policies and services. The organisation also runs the 24 hour Dementia Helpline and community care services around Scotland offering day and evening care, home care, support groups and other services. Publications list available. Information pack free to carers and people with dementia - call the Dementia Helpline. Calls to the Dementia Helpline are free (except calls from certain mobile phone networks).

Welfare Rights Service
81 Oxford Street, Glasgow, G5 9EP; 0141 418 3936; e-mail: welfare@alzscot.org
Undertakes casework for people with dementia and their carers in the Glasgow and East Dunbartonshire area: including information and advice about social security benefits; help with completing claim forms and corresponding with the Department for Work and Pensions; help with challenging decisions; representation at appeals tribunals; information and assistance with local authority financial assessments and charging policies. Also provides advice and information by telephone and email to people outwith those areas, as well as talks to groups and training for colleagues and staff of other organisations working with people who have dementia.

Alzheimer’s Society

Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London, SW1P 1PH; office: 020 7306 0606;
Helpline: 0845 300 0336, 8.30am – 6.30pm, Mon-Fri, calls charged at local rate; website: www.alzheimers.org.uk; e-mail: enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk
Provides information and support for people with dementia and their carers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Publications list available.

Age Concern Scotland

Causewayside House, 160 Causewayside, Edinburgh, EH9 1PR; office: 0845 833 0200; website: www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk; e-mail: enquiries@acscot.org.uk
Provides information and publications to meet the needs of older people living in the community and to disseminate best practice for those working with older people, to publicise issues relevant to older people, and to inform them of their rights. Runs the Scottish Helpline for Older People: 0845 125 9732, 10am – 4pm, Mon-Fri, calls charged at local rate.

Age Concern England

Astral House, 1268 London Road, London, SW16 4ER; office: 020 8765 7200; website: www.ageconcern.org.uk
Age Concern England aims to improve services for all older people and campaigns on their behalf, and supports local groups which run practical services including day centres, visiting schemes and information. Publication list available.
Runs Freephone Information Line: 0800 00 99 66, 8am – 7pm, every day.

Care Commission

Headquarters: Compass House, 11 Riverside Drive, Dundee DD1 2NY; office: 01382 207100, 0845 603 0890 (local rate); website: www.carecommission.com; plus regional offices across Scotland.
The Care Commission regulates care services and oversees standards of care. It registers and inspects all care homes.

Citizens Advice Bureau

Address in your local phone book or from Citizen’s Advice Scotland, 0131 550 1000; website: www.cas.org.uk
CABs can advise you on welfare benefits and help with application forms. They can also help you find specialist help such as a solicitor.

Department for Work and Pensions

Benefits are administered by the DWP. The Pension Service is responsible for pensions and benefits for older people, while Jobcentre Plus deals with people of working age. For details of your local office, check in the phone book under Jobcentre Plus, social security office, Pension Service or Benefits Agency.
Benefit Enquiry Line for People with Disabilities: 0800 88 22 00 or, for textphone users only, 0800 24 33 55. Calls are free except from certain mobile phone networks.
Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance Helpline: 0845 7 12 34 56 – advice on existing claims.
Pension Credit Application Line: 0800 99 1234 – to find out if you are eligible for Pension Credit and make a claim.
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

ENABLE

6th floor, 7 Buchanan Street, Glasgow, G1 3HL, 0141 226 4541;
website: www.enable.org.uk; e-mail: enable@enable.org.uk
Represents the interests of people with learning disabilities.

Legal Services Agency

Mental Health Legal Representation Project (Strathclyde)3rd floor, Fleming House, 134 Renfrew Street, Glasgow G3 6ST; 0141 353 3354 (Tuesdays only 11am – 1pm); website: www.lsa.org.uk

Mental Health Legal Representation Project (Edinburgh & Lothians)
3rd Floor, Princes House , 5 Shandwick Place , Edinburgh EH2 4RG; 0131 228 9993 (Tuesdays and Thursdays 11am – 1pm), website: www.lsa.org.uk
Qualified solicitors give free and confidential advice on all aspects of the law relating to dementia. Legal representation is also available; there may be a charge for this, but you may be able to get Legal Aid.

Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland

K Floor, Argyle House, 3 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh, EH3 9SH.
Office: 0131 222 6111; User and Carer Adviceline 0800 389 6809;website: www.mwcscot.org.uk; e-mail: enquiries@mwcscot.org.uk
The Commission safeguards the rights and welfare of people with mental illness and learning disability both in hospital and living in the community. The Commission has specific duties under the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003 and the Adults with Incapacity Act. These are mainly in relation to personal welfare rather than financial issues. It is required to investigate complaints about the use of welfare powers if the local authority has not done so or if it is not satisfied with the local authority enquiry. The Mental Welfare Commission publishes a range of leaflets; see Further Reading for details.

NHS Health Scotland (formerly the Health Education Board for Scotland)

Woodburn House, Canaan Lane, Edinburgh, EH10 4SG; 0131 536 5500, website: www.hebs.scot.nhs.uk
Publishes health information, available through local Health Promotion Departments. Find local addresses in your phone book under the local NHS Board or from NHS Health Scotland.

Public Guardian

Office of the Public Guardian, Hadrian House, Callendar Business Park, Callendar Road, Falkirk, FK1 1XR; 01324 678300; fax: 01324 678301; www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk; e-mail: opg@scotcourts.gov.uk
The Public Guardian registers continuing and welfare powers of attorney, authorisations to access funds, guardianship orders and intervention orders. He or she supervises guardians and people granted an intervention order and will investigate any complaints regarding the exercise of functions relating to the property or financial affairs of an adult relating to any of these, or any circumstances in which the property or financial affairs of an adult appear to be at risk. The Office of the Public Guardian also provides information and advice to guardians, attorneys or other authorised persons about the performance of functions in terms of the Act.

Scottish Association for Mental Health

Cumbrae House, 15 Carlton Court, Glasgow, G5 9JP. Tel: 0141 568 7000; fax 0141 568 7001; website: www.samh.org.uk; e-mail: enquire@samh.org.uk
Provides services and campaigns for improvements in how society responds to people with mental health problems.

Scottish Executive

For Adults with Incapacity Act codes of practice and forms:
Justice Department, Civil Law Division, Floor 2 West (Rear), St Andrews House, Regent Road, Edinburgh, EH1 3DG. 0131 244 4212 or 0131 244 2193; website: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Justice/Civil/16360/4927 ; e-mail: adultsincapacity@scotland.gov.uk

Scottish Independent Advocacy Alliance

138 Slateford Road, Edinburgh, EH14 1LR; 0131 455 8183; fax: 0131 455 8184; website: www.siaa.org.uk; e-mail: enquiry@siaa.org.uk
The SIAA is devoted to the promotion, support and defence of Independent Advocacy in Scotland. It is a membership organisation that has the overall aim of ensuring that Independent advocacy is available to any vulnerable person in Scotland.

Scottish Legal Aid Board

44 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, EH3 7SW. 0131 226 7061; website: www.slab.org.uk; e-mail: general@slab.org.uk
Legal aid allows people who would not otherwise be able to afford it to get help for their legal problems. The Scottish Legal Aid Board is responsible for managing legal aid in Scotland.

Seniorline

0808 800 65 65, 9am – 4pm, Monday to Friday.
Calls are free except from certain mobile phone networks.
Welfare rights advice and information line run by Help the Aged.

Social Work Department

This is the part of your local authority which deals with community care services. They also assess the need for guardianship and other legal provisions. In some councils, it may be called something else, such as the Community Services Department. The address is in your phone book under the local authority. For England and Wales the local authority Social Services Department is the equivalent.

Solicitors

Many solicitors offer a free first interview service. A charge will be made for any further advice or work. Legal Aid may be available depending on the circumstances.
The Dementia Helpline (0808 808 3000) can send you a list of solicitors in your area who have an interest in mental health matters. You may also get a list from the Law Society of Scotland (0131 226 7411); website: www.lawscot.org.uk

Welfare Rights Office

Run by the social work department to provide advice and help with benefits. Ask the social work department for the address and telephone number.

Dementia - Money and Legal Matters: index page