welfare

The UK possesses one of the most enviable welfare states in the world. But, trying to understand this area can sometimes be confusing and daunting. In the first of our new series of regular articles designed for the professional in modern social care, welfare rights expert Neil Bateman corrects some of the most commonly held misconceptions


Over the years, myths develop about social security entitlement. Sometimes these arise out of simple misunderstandings about the rules, sometimes they are caused by poor staff training in the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). And as with all myths, they can take on a life of their own and be treated as sound legal statements.
Here are some of the myths one comes across

“If you receive Attendance Allowance, you must spend it on your care costs.”
Not sure where this one came from, but it may be linked to a misunderstanding about charges for community care services. People are free to spend (or save) their Attendance Allowance (a ben...