Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP) is calling on advisers to add their voices to a campaign to clarify the relationship between equity release and state benefits. The aim of this campaign is to clarify exactly what impact equity release may have on state benefits and to make sure that the regulator and Government are aware of the issues facing advisers and customers.

A questionnaire has been launched to gather as much information as possible from advisers on their opinions and experiences.

Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. As a thank you for taking part, your details will be entered into a prize draw to win £100. The questionnaire will be live until the end of May and the results will be announced in mid-June.

To access the questionnaire - please use the following link

http://www.logiforms.com/formdata/user_forms/14397_8940992/76483/

SHIP wants to see clear, definitive guidelines published for all, including DWP staff, advisers and the FSA. The results will be analysed by a working group led by SHIP, Baroness Hollis, and other key stakeholders.

To see the full press release - please click here

The Society's joint chair, Tish Hanifan, is to speak at this year's SIFA Conference - being held at DeVere Wokefield Park, Reading, on 13 and 14 May 2010.

The theme this year will be "Planning for the professional financial advice market of the future"

To view the programme, visit http://www.sifa.co.uk/conference/flyer_10.pdf 

The main evening conference is now fully booked, but if you would like to attend the Workshops on Day 1, or be placed on the waiting list for a space - please call 01372 721 172.

Click here to download the response to the Big Care Debate Consultation - drafted by our Joint Chair Tish Hanifan and Jane Finnerty on behalf of the Society of Later Life Advisers.

SOLLA is encouraged that this long awaited paper on reform of the care and support system recognizes both the perceived unfairness and the weaknesses of the current system and envisages a new National Care Service which is fair, simple and affordable for everyone.

SOLLA supports the principle set out in the paper that people should "find their way through the care and support system easily" and emphasises that this should include access to specialist financial advice to help people make the best possible choices regarding the funding and delivery of their care.

Tish Hanifan, Joint Chair of SOLLA, comments "It is important that this wide ranging debate, whilst addressing many aspects of the delivery of a high standard National Care Service, should reach a clear and unequivocal consensus on the key aspect of care of funding this service."

SOLLA welcomes the opportunity to contribute to the debate by responding to the consultation and will be encouraging its members to do so.