Parents/carers of Autistic people Make sure you are getting all the budgets, benefits and grants your family is entitled to 16th November

Life can be hard enough as a parent or carer always trying to do the best by your amazing Autistic young person or adult. Every day can feel like a relentless battle for understanding and the right support so your loved one can live the life they want to.

But, when it comes to money, there is some great help out there to guide you about what budgets, benefits, grants and rebates you, and your Autistic loved one(s) may be entitled to.  And even compassionate, skilled help to fill in confusing forms.  

On Wednesday 16th November 10.00am – 12.00pm, the Autistic Collective* is delighted to welcome the lovely folks from the SDS Forum and MART (Money Advice & Rights Team).  The wonderful Lynsey Stewart, L-Mac Consultancy will also be joining us as both a guest speaker and facilitator extraordinaire.

We’re blessed to have some of the best dedicated and passionate teams and organisations right here on our doorstep in East Renfrewshire.

The ZOOM event is the second in our ongoing series of Autistic Collective empowerment virtual workshops for parents and carers, with topics chosen by parents and carers.  The session on the 16th will be an opportunity to hear how you can maximise your household income with a taster session and introduction to;

• Self Directed Support (SDS): Overview, the four options, how an SDS budget can be used, what to expect from a social work SDS assessment, and what support the SDS Forum team can offer
• Benefits like Universal Credit and any potential problems that can arise, Carers Allowance, DLA to CDP, PIP to ADP and a brief touch on Council tax discounts
• Independent Living Fund:  Lynsey will walk us through ILF, who’s eligible and how you can apply

There will be plenty of time to ask questions. You can do so directly to the speakers, pop it in the chat box or ask one of us to ask it on your behalf anonymously.

To register and get your ZOOM link, please email hello@autistic-collective.org.  

Can’t make it?  Don’t worry!  Please register anyway and we’ll send you a recording + slides afterwards. 

This session is open to parents/carers in East Renfrewshire 

*The Autistic Collective grew out of the Carers Collective.   A dynamic group of unpaid carers supporting loved ones with a wider range of care needs, facilitated by East Renfrewshire Carers Centre and HSCP Carers Lead.   Autistic Collective is a working group of parent/carer volunteers of Autistic and AuDHD people.   Over the past couple of years, we’re hugely grateful for the invaluable support we’ve had from ERCC and HSCP.    Sometimes as a parent we feel we’re “just mum/dad” and don’t recognise we are also a carer to our amazing, beautiful child / loved one.   There’s loads of extra advice and support available if you’re “mum/dad” AND also a carer.    For more info or just to have a chat, please phone the lovely folks at ERCC on 0141 638 4888 or email enquiries@eastrenfrewshirecarers.co.uk