Decision - Discretionary Decorating and Gardening Schemes

(1)      That the following recommendations be approved to come into effect on 1 April 2015:

i) That the criteria, for those applying to both the discretionary schemes, be changed to age 70+ and in receipt of Housing Benefit, or on Disability Living Allowance/Personal Independence Payments or Attendance Allowance and in receipt of Housing Benefit.

           Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) are non means tested benefits for people under 65 years of age who have personal care and/or mobility needs as a result of a mental or physical disability. PIP is gradually replacing DLA.  Attendance Allowance (AA) is a non means tested benefit for people aged 65 and over that helps with the extra costs of long-term illness or disability, which can be either physical and/or mental.

ii)  That the decorating vouchers are removed and replaced with decorating packs.

iii) That, for the discretionary decorating scheme, successful applicants are restricted to applying every other year.