PLANNING
FOR THE FUTURE
All parents worry about
their offspring and their future, but parents whose children have
a learning disability have particular worries, want to know if it’s
possible to leave money in a will for their son or daughter, without
it affecting their future care. Will leaving money affect the benefits
people with a learning disability are entitled to, or the funding
of their housing and support.
An estimated 2% of the NI Population has some form of Learning disability
– that’s 33,000 people and it means that every day a
family in Northern Ireland finds out their child has this most common
form of life-long disability.
MAKING PROVISIONS FOR
THE FUTURE
Mencap are holding a free Planning
for the Future Information event in the Ivanhoe Inn, Saintfield
Road, Belfast on Thursday 20 May 2004. The event aims to provide
parents and carers of people with a learning disability with essential
information and advice on how to ensure the financial security of
a loved one after their lifetime. Doors will open at 7.00 pm and
everyone is invited to attend.
Every year parents and carers
of people with a learning disability contact Mencap for advice on
how to leave money in a will for their son or daughter without it
affecting their future care. Parents are concerned that money they
leave may affect the benefits people with a learning disability
are entitled to or the funding of their housing and support.
The event will cover topics
such as why having an up to date will is vital to making sure that
your wishes are followed about where, how and to whom your money
and assets are distributed. They also cover what can happen if people
pass away without a will specifying how they want their assets divided.
The event, which is free of
charge, is run by a local Mencap Information Adviser in conjunction
with a solicitor with specialist knowledge. All aspects of leaving
a legacy to people with learning disabilities are covered and information
packs to help attendees follow the content of the seminar are provided.
The Planning for the Future
information event is one of a series which will take place throughout
Northern Ireland during the week commencing 17 May. To date over
150 seminars have been held at venues throughout the UK and the
feedback from attendees has been very positive.
Encouraging people to attend,
Breda Connolly, Mencap Northern Ireland Information Adviser said
“We find worrying about the future of dependants with a learning
disability is a very common concern. The Planning for the Future
event will, we hope, provide carers and families with invaluable
advice and information.”
If you would like more information,
please contact Breda Connolly at the Mencap Office on 028 90691351.
FACT FILE
• Many people with a
learning disability live with their parents well into adulthood.
• Mencap in Northern
Ireland provides advice, information and support services to children
and adults with a learning disability and their families. It also
campaigns to challenge discrimination and assert their rights of
people with a learning disability to choice, opportunity and respect.
• A learning disability
is a life long condition which results from damage to brain before,
during or after birth, or from genetic or chromosome factors (like
Autism and Down’s Syndrome). It can result in difficulties
with learning and with communication and social skills.
• An estimated 2% of
the Northern Ireland population has some form of learning disability
amounting to over 33,000 people. Of these 8,000 have a diagnosed
learning disability and almost 4,000 have a severe or profound learning
disability.
• Every day a family
in Northern Ireland finds out their child has this most common form
of life-long disability.
Learning Disability Helpline
0808 808 1111
E mail you views or vote
on line
oyb@bbc.co.uk
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