OLDER people and the disabled in the Warrington area are being urged to watch out for Switchover Help Scheme information packs that explain how they can get extra help for the digital TV switchover in November.
Most eligible people will receive their first letter and information pack in the next few weeks. The pack outlines all of the options available to go digital with the help scheme and spells out what people need to do to get the help.
The Winter Hill transmitter group serving the Warrington will begin to switch on November 4.
Eligible people are aged 75 or over, or have lived in a care home for six months or longer.
Also eligible are people who get, or could get, disability living allowance, or attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement.
Registered blind or partially sighted people can also receive help.
For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people will be offered easy-to-use equipment to convert one television set, installation of the equipment, an aerial check and upgrade if necessary, a demonstration of how it works and someone to call for help while they are getting used to it.
The standard offer for eligible people is for a Freeview set-top box installed on one TV. The equipment will give people access to more than 20 channels including all the public service channels.
For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance, the offer free.
Eligible people need to respond to get the help. Completed information pack forms can be returned by post to the Help Scheme, or, to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can also choose to call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 906.
Local Help Scheme spokesperson, Martin Plenderleith said: “The message we want to give eligible people is that there is no need to worry because help is available. All you need to do once you receive your information pack is to either give us a call or return your completed form.”
