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Access our Care

If you or someone you love may benefit from Hospice care, you can find out more using the information below. For support or advice at any time of the day or night, please visit our Help Hub.

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Our Services

We provide Hospice care & support to patients and their loved ones living in Kent and East Sussex. Discover how we can help you.

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Access our care

Complete one of these short forms and we will contact you. There is no need to wait for a referral from your GP or healthcare professional.

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Fundraise & Get Involved

We need to raise over £8 million every year to provide outstanding Hospice care to the local community. To get involved with our fundraising activities, design your own, or make a donation, use the information on this page.

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Our Events

Discover our calendar of events or sign up online right now

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Fundraise for us

Find fundraising inspiration and ideas, or download your fundraising pack

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Benefit Support

Hospice in the Weald provides Benefit Support and related guidance to patients and those important to them.
We aim to improve your quality of life and that of your family, helping you to cope with some of the most difficult aspects of your illness.

It’s important to us to know that you are getting all the help and support that you and your family may be entitled to. We are able to help relieve physical symptoms, provide emotional support and  also with more practical issues.

Finding out which benefits may apply to you and applying for them can make you feel like you are navigating through a maze – but we’re here to help you.

Our support and care is offered free of charge by our experienced and trained volunteers who have undergone safeguarding DBS checks (a DBS is a check on criminal history). Our volunteers understand the importance of confidentiality and have the empathy required when dealing with all aspects of Benefit Support.

Counsellor and client outside with cup of tea

What can we provide?

  • Information around financial support available to those living with a terminal illness
  • Guidance on how to establish eligibility and how to apply for various benefits
  • Direct support from our volunteers in your home, at our Hospice in Pembury or our Cottage Hospice in Five Ashes to discuss and complete paperwork as required
  • Face to face or virtual guidance on any aspect or concern around a wide range of support and financial issues
  • Information & Guidance involving support available from the comfort of your own home
  • Telephone support service at a time when is convenient to you

Benefits

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) - for people aged under 65 years (non means-tested)

To be considered for Personal Independence Payment

  •  You are under state pension age
  • Have difficulties with daily activities and/or mobility outdoors because of a disability or long-term physical or mental health problems.
  • PIP isn’t means-tested, so you can claim regardless of your income and savings. You can still claim even if you have work, study or caring responsibilities.
  • Live in Great Britain and have done for at least two out of the last three years.
Attendance Allowance (AA) - for people aged over 65 years (non means-tested)

To be considered for Attendance Allowance

  • You need to be over State Pension age.
  •  Have a long-term physical or mental health condition, or disability. This can include sensory conditions such as sight and hearing loss, and cognitive impairments such as dementia
  • Have needed help with personal care or regular supervision from someone else for at least six months. You can claim whether or not you actually receive this help or supervision. Personal care tasks could include things like washing and bathing, dressing and undressing, getting in or out of bed, and taking medication
  • Attendance allowance isn’t means-tested, so you can claim regardless of your income and savings. You can still claim even if you have work, study or caring responsibilities
  • Live in Great Britain and have done for at least two out of the last three years.
  • If you’re terminally ill, you can claim Attendance Allowance straightaway.
Blue Badge applications for Kent and East Sussex

For more information and support, get in touch.

Grant applications — a one off grant may be available to help towards unexpected costs

There are many grants available – one of which is the Macmillan Grant, as below.

To be considered for a grant, a person living with cancer must meet these criteria:

  • Be aged 18 or over.
  • They have a cancer diagnosis, or they are still affected by cancer or its treatment.
  • They are a UK resident.
  • They have no more than £6,000 in savings (for a household of one person) or £8,000 savings (for a household of two people).
  • They have a low income after paying rent, mortgage and Council Tax.
    This means a weekly income of less than £323 for a household of one person or less than £442 per week for a household of two or more people. Macmillan do not count Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Attendance Allowance (AA) in their calculations.
  • The request for the grant must demonstrate a clear link to the impact of cancer and its treatment.

There may be other benefits and information available to you, please do get in touch for more help and advice.

Sophie Counsellor on Laptop in Counselling Room

What happens next?

One of our Benefit Support team will contact you to arrange a suitable day and time to either discuss options over the telephone, via email, virtually or face to face in your home or at either one of our Hospice sites (Pembury or Five Ashes). We can meet with patients and those important to you in the most comfortable place for you to ensure we give you the best benefit support and guidance we can. We will endeavour to support, be flexible and help each family with whatever their needs.

Any benefit support and/or guidance given should not be regarded as a recommendation from Hospice in the Weald. All Information & Guidance given is protected by Professional Indemnity Insurance.

For further information:

Please contact Julie Josebury – Benefit Support Coordinator on 01892 820515 or Julie.Josebury@hospiceintheweald.org.uk