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Main Content: Help switching to digital TV
Between now and 2012, television in the UK is changing to digital and the older, analogue TV signal will be switched off by ITV region. Those who don’t have digital TV by the time of switchover will lose their TV service but help could be available for the person you care for.
The Switchover Help Scheme, run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government, will help eligible people convert one of their TV sets to digital in the run up to switchover in their area.
The person you care for will be eligible to receive help if they are aged 75 years or over; registered blind or partially sighted; get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance or if they have lived in a care home for six months or more.
For £40 (or free for those on income related benefits), eligible people will get easy-to-use equipment, installation, a demonstration of how it works and 12 months aftercare. Help is available for a second set even if they have already converted a TV by themselves.
The Help Scheme write to all eligible people prior to switchover in each area but people must respond to receive the help.
This autumn, the Granada TV region and the north area of the Wales TV region will switch. The south area of the Wales TV region switches in early 2010, followed by the West TV region in spring and the STV North region in the summer/autumn. You can check when your region is switching via www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker.
The Help Scheme becomes active in each TV region around seven months before digital switchover. Therefore if the person you care for is eligible to get help, it may be some time until they receive their letter. Please remind the person you look after that they must respond to receive help from the Switchover Help Scheme.
The Help Scheme
has received feedback from carers suggesting that some people they look after may
find digital equipment choices confusing. The Help Scheme has therefore
designed a new leaflet specifically to help carers explain the choices available
ensuring that the people they look after make the right decision.
Please contact the Help Scheme on 0800 40 85 900 or info@helpscheme.co.uk if you would like a copy.