Aspire and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) have signed a landmark Partnership Agreement to provide a Benefits Advice Service to spinal cord injured patients in Spinal Centres.

Aspire was contacted by the staff at the Stoke Mandeville Spinal Injury Centre after they identified a need for such a service to be made available to their patients to allow them to access the benefits they are entitled to. Aspire approached the DWP and they agreed to set up a pilot service.

Having the Benefits Advice Service come to you is especially important to spinal injury patients. When you are in the Spinal Injury Centre your focus is on recovery. There is so much to take in when you are newly injured and it can be a bit overwhelming. Some patients may be on bed rest for long periods of time or have limited access to a telephone or computer so will not be able to access benefit information online or have forms filled in for them over the telephone. Having the service come to them ensures that they are not missing out on any of the benefits they are eligible for.

After a review period and an overwhelmingly positive response, Aspire and the DWP are committed to bringing the service to every Spinal Centre that would like it and have formally recognised this commitment with their Partnership Agreement.