Recently widowed

Gelwid11

My husband died 18.12.10 all I am getting is £69.33 per week Bereavement Allowance. I am 58 today, so not entitled to Pension Credit, I do not get any of his state pension - and he only got it for 11 months before he died. I live in rented accommodation I have been fighting with the Council since January to get Housing benefit and Council Tax Relief. ( we got it before because he got Pension Credit) I cannot face working at this time and who would want a 58 year old anyway, I have been his carer for the last three years since we left the pub trade. I don't know where to turn, what else can I claim for?. I can't get a funeral grant from the social fund until I get another benefit I used the £2000 from the Bereavment Allowance to help pay for the funeral. The biggest problem I have got is that I inherited part of a house which is now rented out, even tho I have proved that my investments and savings are less than £16,000 the Council are still arguing. Should I go to my MP I just haven't got the fight left to argue any more, I just want to give up and crawl under a stone. Please can someone help me ?

MX5huggy

Tough times Gelwid, my sympathies.

Reading your post you say you have less than £16k but does that include share in the rental property? I think you will have to realise this asset (sell it) and live off that until you get pension.

allen35

Do you receive part of the rental income, council may be taking this into consideration.

Gelwid11

Yes I get part of the rental income after payment of the mortgage etc., My brother does not want to sell at this time due to the fall in the property market. Are there no other benefits I can get ?

allen35

I do sympathise with your predicament and unfortunately the personal allowance for someone under pension credit age is £65.45 which your income exceeds.

Have you been to an advice agency for assistance with sorting out your HB/CTB, they may be able to quicken the process through complaining.

I have known people receive financial help through the LVA and the following charity, i noticed you were previously involved in the pub trade.

Take a look at the links and maybe give them a ring to see if they can help with funeral and living costs

http://www.supportandcare.org/about_us

and this one:

http://www.licensedtradecharity.org.uk/what_we_do/support_care

McKneff

Im sorry for your loss and I know its early days but in time and when you feel like facing the world again you would be amazed how many people are newly employed at 58, Look at Morrisons, B & Q, garden centres,

You should try to help yourself before expecting anyone else to fund you, especially as you have part of a house as an asset.
Could you relative not buy you out.

Good luck to you and remember, you are still comparatively young.
Im 61, looking to redundancy shortly but i will be on the outlook for a part time job, if and when it comes.

Oldernotwiser

Did you inherit this share in the house before your husband died or since? If before, was it declared on the joint claim for HB/CTB?

If you are part owner of the property you can (and will) have to force a sale; I believe it can be ignored for means tested benefit purposes for a while if it's on the market.

bestpud

I agree you need to either find work or force the sale of the house, and you have every right to do the latter.

It's all very well keeping it to gain more profit later, but not if you can't afford to live right now.

Does your brother realise how difficult it is for you to manage while the money is tied up in the property?