TEXT ONLY VERSION

1. What is Section 7?

This guidance on services for deafblind people came into force on May 2001 after a successful "Yes To Access" campaign and march organised by Sense and Deafblind UK and led by Lord Ashley of Stoke back in June 1999. The guidance is statutory which means that the law requires your local authority (Social Services) to make provisions of support for you as an Usher/deafblind person if you are assessed as needing it.

2. Does it apply to me?

The guidance applies to anyone who has a hearing and sight loss, which results in problems with communication, access to information and mobility. So even if you don’t think of yourself as deafblind, many Usher and Deaf visually impaired people can benefit.

3. What can Section 7 support do to help me?

Your support needs will be assessed. This will include the need for communicator–guides to help you with a variety of things such as:

• going shopping with you.
• going with you to the doctor's/hospital appointments.
• accompany you on holidays.
• accompany you to events such as Usher–related events.
• helping you with your volunteer work.
• supporting you with your kids.

• paying for someone to help clean your house, admin work (such as for direct payments), etc.

• And so on...

There are two service options for you to choose:

• your local authority can provide the service via an agency for you.
• you can choose to use the Direct Payments Plan (DPP) and pay those people for their support work (see 8).

4. Do I need to contact my social services about this?

Yes, you do. Tell them that you want to be assessed for Section 7 Deafblind Support and if they do not understand what Section 7 is, ask them to go to UUK website at www.usheruk.org.uk and click on the "Section 7 Support" box–link on the left which will take them directly to Sense's Section 7 webpage where they can read and download the fact sheets. Alternatively get them to contact Sense Campaigns.

5. What if they refuse to have me assessed?

Because of the law, they cannot refuse your request for an assessment (see 6) for whatever excuses they may come up with such as "We've not got enough funds." It is your right to have the assessment. If your social services still say no, then contact Sense's Campaigns for advice and they may help to make your social services realise that they cannot refuse your request.

6. What can I be assessed for Section 7 for?

You will be assessed by your social services for your needs. You need to tell them why you need Section 7 support for reasons such as already explained in (3). You need to be honest about yourself and your support needs in order to achieve the best possible assessment. Your social services advisor will explain the procedure and introduce you to Direct Payments Plan (DPP) scheme if you want to choose this option (see 8).

7. What services will I get?

This depends on the assessment as each local authority has eligibility criteria. Anyone who meets these criteria should be provided with the services they need. Your needs are assessed in four areas:

• Autonomy (your independence).
• health & safety.
• ability to manage daily routines.
• involvement in family and wider community life.

This recognises that people have a need for leisure activities and social involvement, and your health and safety do not have to be at risk before you get help.

Don’t forget that if your situation changes you may need a new assessment. This could be because your vision has changed so that you need more support. It could also be because a friend or relative who used to provide support is no longer able to do so.

8. The Direct Payments Plan – What is that?

It is a funding scheme where you can use your local authority's money to help pay for your Section 7 support needs. You will have the option of either control the money yourself and pay your support workers directly or use an agency that provides support personnel. It's up to you.

9. What if I choose to control the money?

If you choose this option, you will have the time, control and be flexible with your support needs rather than using an agency, which may work on inflexible time schedules which may not suit your needs.

Using this option, you will be required to set up a second current account with your bank/building society to keep things separate from your personal bank accounts. You will have the chequebook to pay your support personnel after receiving their invoices and your local authority's Finance Department (via your social services) will provide you with a quarterly log sheet in which you must log in for each payment.

10. Right, so who can I employ?

Anyone you like (do check with your social services about this first) such as friends, relatives, trained support workers, trained communicator/guides, BSL interpreters, (though be aware that if it is a hospital appointment, the NHS should book one and pay for it) as long as they DO NOT live in the same household as yours.

11. But I need my partner/family/friend living in the same household as mine to support me. Is this allowed?

In exceptional circumstances, if there is a "cultural" reason for this such as Deaf / BSL culture, Asian, religion, etc, then your social services may consider it. You need to give them very good reasons why you need those people in your household to work with you under Section 7.

12. OK, so how many hours and how much money will I get for my Section 7 support?

This will depend a lot on your assessment with the social services and their budget and they will determine how much time and money a week is needed to pay for your Section 7 support as it varies considerably on each local authority. Some may offer higher amount of hours and money while others will offer lower number of hours and money. If you are unhappy with what they had decided, challenge them or make an appeal.
 

13. Can I use this Section 7 DPP to pay for travel, accommodation?

Although DPP is primarily used to pay for the WAGES of your support personnel, each local authority may have different policies about whether travel and accommodation costs can be covered by the DPP. If not, you will have to pay the costs of your support personnel yourself or use your DLA or make arrangements to share the costs between you and your support personnel. It will be advisable to discuss this first with your local council social services.

14. I'm in paid employment, can I use Section 7 support to help me with work?

No. Section 7 does NOT cover support in employment. However, there is a scheme called Access To Work in which you can use to help with your access needs at work. Contact your local Employment Services (at your local Job Centre) for information and advice.

15. As I’m claiming welfare benefits, will receiving DPP affect this?

No it won't. As already explained in (13) above, DPP is only used to pay the wages for your support personnel (bear in mind that they must NOT be claiming income support).

16. Thanks and I got the basic information, so what do I do next?

Get in touch with your social services and request an assessment for Section 7 NOW!

Remember – this “Getting Started” information is only BASIC to help you to get started and you will have the opportunity to discuss this further with your local social services and it is a good idea to discuss with those who are already receiving Section 7 support.

Go to Sense’s Section 7 webpage for detailed information & factsheets

Go to Sense's Deafblind Direct (3 year Direct Payments project from April 2007)

NOTE: Your Direct Payments can pay for the premium as an associated cost, so consult your social services about it.
 

Relevant Links:
 

Department of Health Direct Payments webpage

Download DoH's Direct Payments Guidance (PDF)

© UsherLife / Nick Sturley 2005-08. All Rights Reserved.