OAPs and savings

Marisco

The "problem" seems to be with old people is mindset. I'm afraid there is nothing that can be done about that, in the same way that the "War on Terror" will never be "won". You cannot fight a mindset. This attitude will die out, as the old people do. I don't have the same attitude to benefits as my mam and dad did. They tended to be like the op's, although not as bad I must admit, they would spend if it was "absolutely necessary"!!

Dad had never been out of work, and would think it "shameful" if he had to claim, but this was in a time of almost full employment, and people had jobs "for life". So anyone who was unemployed, was there because they "chose" to be, and were regarded as wasters and layabouts. It's incredibly difficult to explain to old people that things are not like that now, and there is no shame in claiming.

Also old people have the shadow of "the workhouse" over them. I know this sounds a bit dramatic:o but years ago if you had no money, that is where you would end up, so the very old think they have to save as much as possible, so they don't end up there!! And we are talking about people in their 80's and 90's here, so they have had a lifetime of thinking this way, they won't change now!

Mojisola

Marisco wrote: »

Also old people have the shadow of "the workhouse" over them. I know this sounds a bit dramatic:o but years ago if you had no money, that is where you would end up, so the very old think they have to save as much as possible, so they don't end up there!! And we are talking about people in their 80's and 90's here, so they have had a lifetime of thinking this way, they won't change now!

It's not just the workhouse. My Dad remembers my grandfather having to claim poor relief when rural jobs were scarce, particular over the winter when the hard weather meant a lot of outdoor workers were laid off. The men had to go over 20 miles to put their case for benefit. The first thing they were asked was "How did you get here?" Most had pushbikes because they needed them to get to work when jobs were available. They were told "Sell the bike and when that money runs out, come back to us". If there were five in a family and the household had six chairs, the sixth chair had to sold before money could be claimed. They were also left in no doubt that they were useless failures if they had to ask for poor relief.

Experiences like this make a very deep impression on people and it's understandable - though frustrating - that some are reluctant to claim benefits now.

puddy

although people in their 80s now, were born in the 30s, so while they may have heard about the workhouse, they certainly didnt live in fear of them

the mindset is not one only concerned about not claiming its also about recognising appropriate need and appropriate spending

if you're going without food and adequate floor coverings, which could be dangerous, AND you have the money coming in to do something about it, then it borders on self neglect to not spend that money properly

amistoso

Mojisola wrote: »

It's not just the workhouse. My Dad remembers my grandfather having to claim poor relief when rural jobs were scarce, particular over the winter when the hard weather meant a lot of outdoor workers were laid off. The men had to go over 20 miles to put their case for benefit. The first thing they were asked was "How did you get here?" Most had pushbikes because they needed them to get to work when jobs were available. They were told "Sell the bike and when that money runs out, come back to us". If there were five in a family and the household had six chairs, the sixth chair had to sold before money could be claimed. They were also left in no doubt that they were useless failures if they had to ask for poor relief.

Experiences like this make a very deep impression on people and it's understandable - though frustrating - that some are reluctant to claim benefits now.

I agree that there are some older people who are reluctant to claim benefits, but that doesn't seem to have been the case with the OP's grandparents, they're claiming AA and have also been claiming HB/CTB so I don't think it's that that's the issue in this instance.
Seems bizzare to me (I know others won't agree) to have the money there to be living pretty comfortably and go without purposely.
It's not because they don't want to claim benefits as they've been doing just that. As someone mentioned earlier it seems more miserly than frugal. I hope now that the family knows they have all this money saved they'll encourage them to be better to themselves as there's no need to be living as they are. But on the other hand if it's what they choose to do, they can't be forced into it