help for my parents..........

esmer

My dad got seriously ill last year and he is now on the mend, but he doesnt have a job and is on INCAP at the moment, mum has no income.

The debt has mounted up and mum and dad have been hiding it, and I only just got to know the full extent of their probs.

I dont even think they are getting money that they are entitled too

I went through one of the quizzes that martin provides and it says that they might be entitled to a pension credit or something, so I have filled all the form out online and got my dad to sign it. they get their rent paid and a percentage of their council tax.

Do you know if they are entitled to anything else. Dad is 61 mum is 59 we are in scotland

thanks for listening

Indie_Kid

What savings do they have?

alwaysonthego_2

Is he claiming DLA?

If he has huge debts he needs professional advice from a debt worker at the CAB. They are on a limited income so depending on the debts he would have to pay very little towards them.

They are up to date with their CT?

esmer

They have NO savings at all.

He is claiming Incapacity Benefit, that.s what the benefits office said is all he is entitled too. I dont think they know what they are doing half the time.

I dont know what CT is?

They are getting 75.00 a week to live on? this surely cant be right?

Indie_Kid

CT = council tax.

esmer

They are paying a reduced amount of council tax, rent is free. and they have all their utility bills to pay.

sleepless_saver

They should get pension credit, which they've applied for. If your father has care or mobility needs which have lasted 3 months and are likely to last at least 6 months, then he should claim disability living allowance.

They should get full council tax benefit, but will still have to pay the water and sewerage charge no matter how low their income is.

Alwaysonthego is spot on about the debts, they need proper help. Steer them away from debt companies which charge for their services, CAB should be able to help for free.

sleepless_saver

When your mother reaches state pension age, the pension credit will need to be reassessed. Is she able to work at all?

RAS

Hi

if they have debts, then they need to talk to CCCS, CAP or NDL, all of whom are more experienced than CAB. They would need a specailist CAB advisor not a general one for debt help.

CAP will go to the house to see dad which may be easier for them.

See here http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/loans/debt-help-plan#help

sleepless_saver

RAS wrote: »

Hi

if they have debts, then they need to talk to CCCS, CAP or NDL, all of whom are more experienced than CAB. They would need a specailist CAB advisor not a general one for debt help.

Thanks RAS you are quite right, I was still thinking about their benefits when I posted. Though some CABS do have specialist money advisers, it's a bit of a lottery whether you get one that does.

esmer

sleepless_saver wrote: »

When your mother reaches state pension age, the pension credit will need to be reassessed. Is she able to work at all?

She looks after my niece, after school. and she has my daughter 1.5 days a week. I pay her for that. And doing most things about the house, as my dad is not able. I was up there today, cleaning the bathroom for her, and I have got someone in to clear the garden, everything has just went a bit downhill. there is only so much I can do with time and financially, and im a single parent, so cant help as much as I would like too.