My ex-wife does not seem able to get any benefits

rogermunns

My ex-wife and I divorced in 2002. At that time I was 56 and he was 51.

We both remarried in 2003.

Her new husband died in 2005, I think he was 58 when he died. She is desperately short of money and can't seem to get any benefits. She does not work and cannot drive. Our son lives with her and they just about manage.

She has never worked (after age 20) and so has no 'stamps'. She will not get pension until Sept 2011, when she will be nearly 61y.o.

Are there any benefits at all that she should be able to get?

rogermunns

ooops!.....................(she was 51)

healy

rogermunns wrote: »

My ex-wife and I divorced in 2002. At that time I was 56 and he was 51.

We both remarried in 2003.

Her new husband died in 2005, I think he was 58 when he died. She is desperately short of money and can't seem to get any benefits. She does not work and cannot drive. Our son lives with her and they just about manage.

She has never worked (after age 20) and so has no 'stamps'. She will not get pension until Sept 2011, when she will be nearly 61y.o.

Are there any benefits at all that she should be able to get?

Depending on her savings and income she should be able to claim JSA and HB/LHA and CTB.

dookar

healy wrote: »

Depending on her savings and income she should be able to claim JSA and HB/LHA and CTB.

Indeed. But I have a niggle.

There's some really obscure rule that allows entitlement to IS as opposed to JSA, something to do with being in your 50s, not having worked for the last ten years and having claimed bereavement benefit. I have no idea what search terms to use in google, but I'm going to try

OP, did she claim BB? when did it end?

EDIT: I see he died in '05, not relevant. Sorry

seven-day-weekend

I assume she would be able to apply for Income-based Jobseekers' Allowance, assuming she is looking for a job and does not have too much in savings.

Also, after she is 60, I think she can claim Pension Credit (Income Support for over 60s).

Has she tried to get any Benefits and been refused? If so, what reason was given?

anmarj

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

Also, after she is 60, I think she can claim Pension Credit (Income Support for over 60s).

age limit for claiming PC is rising with woman state pension age so may not be able to claim until she is classed as SP age which is Sept 2011

seven-day-weekend

Ah right, of course, senior moment, sorry.

rogermunns

Yes, dookar, she did get BB but i don't know how mjch and for how long. I think it was for one year.
{all information comes second hand through son or daughter}
I do understand JSA but what are HB/LHA and CTB?
Since she lives miles out in the sticks and does not drive she is reluctant to try for JSA with all the conditions. Can she apply but not have to go there every week / whatever?
ps I live in France now and so can only get info about UK allowances etc. from the internet, so any help here is very much appreciated.

seven-day-weekend

HB/LHA = Housing Benefit/Local Housing Allowance (Help to pay the rent if she rents)
CTB = Council Tax Benefit (Help with Council Tax)

These are means-tested Benefits.

As far as I can see the only other Benefit available to her is Jobseekers' Allowance, (means-tested) but she would have to fulfil the criteria of actually signing on and looking for a job.

If she does not wish to look for a job then I don't think there is anything else she would be entitled to until she reaches retirement age, unless she has a disability.

sparklymessygirl

Hi Roger,

HB = Housing Benefit
CTB = Council Tax Benefit ?
LHA = Local Housing Allowance (I just googled that one so not sure myself)

People on here seem to recommend entitledto.co.uk

I'm clueless myself but thought I would try and provide details of the acronyms!

Bonne Chance!
Sparkly

Edited: got beaten to it!

rogermunns

I understand she has no savings and only support is from son (single, 34, lives with her), who only just scrapes by anyway and is laden with CC debt. He is self-employed.
If it appears thatshe might be entitled to something, how does she go about getting it?
Sorry to ask such basic questions, but I never had to look into anything like this while in UK.