100 year old grannioe being asked to repay £17k

dmg24

boozzie wrote: »

£1 a month would be fine, they want 1/3 of her money every week

If she does not go out her outgoings must be pretty minimal. Surely she can afford more than £1 a week, if not as much as they are asking for?

boozzie

DMG 24

the money they would leave her with would be pretty tight.
after paying the normal
water
electric
Gas
rates
food
service charges
papers
milk bills
and all the other running costs for a small flat

I guess after 100 years she could cut out her milk and not read the papers

viktory

boozzie wrote: »

£1 a month would be fine, they want 1/3 of her money every week

Personally, given the age of the OP's Grannie, if is found that she has been paid this money and was not entitled to it, I think a charge should be put the on property. Once Grannie has passed away the family can sell the property. The DWP (tax payer) get their money back, with a little interest.

dmg24

boozzie wrote: »

DMG 24

the money they would leave her with would be pretty tight.
after paying the normal
water
electric
Gas
rates
food
service charges
papers
milk bills
and all the other running costs for a small flat

I guess after 100 years she could cut out her milk and not read the papers

What income does she have? I assume uncle contributes to the above also? Does she rent or own the flat?

boozzie

She receives state pension plus pension credit plus she did get severe disability, which they have now stopped so just state pension and pension credit.

she has no other income.

Savings are £4000 for her funeral plus £500 very very old insurance policy.

she receives no help with the bills. The flat is in her own name.Not rented.

My uncle pays no bills, as he only stops here to care for her monday to wednesday although he uses it for a correspondence address.

dmg24

boozzie wrote: »

She receives state pension plus pension credit plus she did get severe disability, which they have now stopped so just state pension and pension credit.

she has no other income.

Savings are £4000 for her funeral plus £500 very very old insurance policy.

she receives no help with the bills. The flat is in her own name.Not rented.

My uncle pays no bills, as he only stops here to care for her monday to wednesday although he uses it for a correspondence address.

So how much does she actually receive each week, both now and before the SDP was removed? Seems to be a fair amount! Does she not receive Attendance Allowance?

Sounds like your uncle has the life of riley!

viktory

boozzie wrote: »

She receives state pension plus pension credit plus she did get severe disability, which they have now stopped so just state pension and pension credit.

she has no other income.

Savings are £4000 for her funeral plus £500 very very old insurance policy.

she receives no help with the bills. The flat is in her own name.Not rented.

My uncle pays no bills, as he only stops here to care for her monday to wednesday although he uses it for a correspondence address.

So ask if the DWP would consider putting a charge on the property. I absolutely do not think that Grannie's advanced age should mean she is exempt from repaying monies that she was not entitled to claim. However, her advanced years do mean it is likely that she will struggle to fully repay the debt. Ergo, a charge is the best option.

boozzie

viktory wrote: »

So ask if the DWP would consider putting a charge on the property.

what does that mean??

could they make her sell the flat while she is still alive??
she has no where else to go

is it irrelevant that they only stopped there to care for her at nights?

viktory

boozzie wrote: »

what does that mean??

could they make her sell the flat while she is still alive??
she has no where else to go

is it irrelevant that they only stopped there to care for her at nights?

A charge basically means that the property cannot be sold until the debt has been paid (it is usually paid with the proceeds of the sale). However, given your Granny's advanced years it is highly likely the DWP will be happy to wait until she has passed on. Then the property would have to be sold (or the debt paid and the charge removed). A charge does incur interest - where I work it is 8% daily.

Legal advice would need to be sought before considering this course of action - and the DWP might refuse anyway. It is an option to take the pressure off Granny.

dmg24

viktory wrote: »

A charge basically means that the property cannot be sold until the debt has been paid (it is usually paid with the proceeds of the sale). However, given your Granny's advanced years it is highly likely the DWP will be happy to wait until she has passed on. Then the property would have to be sold (or the debt paid and the charge removed). A charge does incur interest - where I work it is 8% daily.

Legal advice would need to be sought before considering this course of action - and the DWP might refuse anyway. It is an option to take the pressure off Granny.

It does sound ideal, and I imagine an option that the Pension Service in particular consider often - less hassle for everyone?