Have your say on changes to eligibility criteria for the community alarm system

South Derbyshire District Council tenants can have their say on changes proposed by Derbyshire County Council on the eligibility criteria for the community alarm system.

A community alarm operates via a pendant or wristband worn by a person, which is connected to a telephone line through a base unit and linked to a monitoring centre. If help is needed, this is obtained by pressing the button on the pendant or wristband which triggers an alert to the monitoring centre to summon assistance.

The proposals by Derbyshire County Council are that anyone who currently receives our funded community alarm service because they are in receipt of Housing Benefit or Pension Credit will no longer be automatically eligible for the service.

Instead, everyone who only uses Derbyshire County Council's funded community alarm will be reviewed and people assessed as eligible, and only requiring a community alarm service (and not a wider package of care), will be provided with the equipment free of charge,  but will need to pay the monitoring cost.

The consultation runs until 1 May. Visit the Derbyshire County Council website to take part.