VoiceAbility Independent Advocacy – Support for Social Security Scotland benefit applications (VoiceAbility)

Who is this for?

• People aged 18 years old and over
• Adding – Parents/Carers/Guardians accessing benefits for a child.

Description

VoiceAbility are commissioned by the Scottish Government to provide a free advocacy service to people across Scotland who identify as disabled and want to access Social Security Scotland benefits. They support people at any stage of their benefits journey. This advocacy support is a legal entitlement under the Social Security Scotland Act of 2018. An advocate will support people to make sure their voices are heard when it matters most, ensuring that more people know and understand their rights when applying for Social Security Scotland benefits.

To receive support from us, a person must be:

• • Living in Scotland
  • Self-identify as disabled.
  • Want to access benefits from Social Security Scotland.

Edinburgh Unpaid Carers:

Funded by the Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership to provide advocacy support to unpaid carers in Edinburgh. Voiceability support any unpaid adult carer who is 18 years or older. The unpaid carer does not need to be a resident of the City of Edinburgh but must be caring for an adult or child who is a resident of Edinburgh. The carer is eligible to receive support from us if they are caring for a person who meets at least one of these criteria:

• they are subject to the Adult Support and Protection Act
• they have a mental health condition, or a substance use issue
• they have a learning disability, or they are autistic
• they have a diagnosis of dementia, physical disability, sensory impairment, or an acquired brain injury
• they are a child or young person receiving services from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• VoiceAbility provides unpaid carers advocacy when the person you care for lives within the City of Edinburgh or is an in-patient in hospital in Edinburgh. Another organisation will provide this kind of advocacy if they live somewhere else.
• We do NOT support young carers at this stage

An advocate can support you and the person you care for to have your rights upheld. That might mean support with:

• Guardianships
• Mental Health Act tribunals
• Communicating with health and social care professionals, including by letter and at meetings
• Making a complaint, for example about a care provider, a care package, direct payments or healthcare
• Housing
• Resolving problems
• Signposting to other services

Group Advocacy and Events

Join online and in-person group advocacy across Scotland.

Group advocacy (also known as collective advocacy) brings people together to share their experiences in powerful ways.

Our group advocacy sessions can support you to come together in a group setting and discuss a problem or issue that affects you. With the support of an advocate, you’ll have the opportunity to have your voice heard, speak about your own personal experiences and interact with people who are facing similar challenges. How you get involved is up to you: sessions will be face to face and online.

By getting involved, you can:

• Make connections with other people with lived experience
• Raise awareness of issues which affect you
• Influence professionals who make decisions that affect everyone
• What will group advocacy sessions be about?
• Social Security Scotland benefits
• You might like to talk about the application process, re-determinations and appeals.

How do I access this?

• Self referral
• Referral by third party

Anyone can make a referral for advocacy support at voiceability.org/referral

Or if preferred, referrals can be made by calling 0300 303 1660, or email helpline.scotland@voiceability.org

Is there a cost?

Free

Location information

Telephone, online and in person