Help Scheme is at hand for you to switch to digital TV

Older and disabled people living in the North of Scotland are being offered help to switch to digital with the Switchover Help Scheme.

The Switchover Help Scheme has been set up to help eligible older and disabled people to make the change to digital on one of their TV sets in their home.

People are eligible if:                                                 
They are aged 75 or over,
or they have lived in a care home for six months or more,
or they get (or could get) disability living allowance,
or attendance or constant attendance allowance,
or mobility supplement, or they are registered blind or partially sighted.

What’s on offer? 
For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people will be offered:
* easy-to-use digital equipment to convert one television set in their home;
* home delivery and installation if you wish;
* an aerial check and replacement if needed, where we can; a helpline and retuning advice;
* a 12 month digital TV aftercare service.

Eligible people will be written to directly and will get help in plenty of time before switchover. The letters will explain how they can get extra help to convert one TV in their home to digital. Details about how to apply, an explanation of all of the available options and prices are clearly set out in the pack.

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard offer of help. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support, income based jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance, it’s free.

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC and has been designed around the needs of older and disabled people. Equipment has been chosen to be easy to use, and contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people.

All installers are vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.
In the meantime, if you want more information for yourself or someone you know, please call the dedicated Help Scheme number on 0800 40 85 900. You won't have to pay for the call, and the friendly staff will be delighted to help.

Alternatively, visit www.helpscheme.co.uk; or to find out when your area switches, go to www.digitaluk.co.uk/postcodechecker


If you’d like to talk to someone face-to-face about the digital Switchover Help Scheme, come along to the Ledgowan Lodge Hotel on the 17 October, or 27 November, where Jackie Campbell will be on hand to answer all your questions. Jackie can be emailed at: jacqueline.campbell@eaga.com