Anything for mum who's out of work due to disability?

Nine_Lives

Don't really want to ask in this forum, but needs must...

Basically we're (by we're, i mean my mum) now struggling. She's out of work due to disability & has been since 2003. She's 49. Up until 2003 she'd worked all her life from about 14, sometimes having more than 1 job.

My dad died at the end of Sept 2011, so we don't have his pension coming in any more to cover bills. My mum gets a fraction of his pension & due to there being 19yrs difference between them, she gets a smaller fraction still.

I looked into her accounting for her (her request) and her expenditure is more than her income. Not a good combination.

So we're having to now split ALL bills equally, whereas before we just paid a fixed board fee.


My concern is that this is only a temporary solution.

Currently, there's me & my gf. My brother & my sister & obviously my mum, living in this house.

My gf & I are looking at moving out next year .... so there's 2 contributions that's going to go.

At some point my brother & sister will likely move out. Then there's just my mum.

My mum already gets DLA & ICB. In total her earnings are at about £8000 per year now that she gets a fraction of my dads pension. I think i calculated it at about £8600 give-or-take. She has about £2000 savings.



My concern is as said, this is not a SOLUTION. Let's say she's to sell the house (which none of us want). She'll have the same problem in a different house.

What to do?

McKneff

Forget what is going to happen next year.

Work on what is happening now.

Is everyone in the house working, if so, work out all the bills and every body pay an equal share.
If you and your g/f are working there is no reason why she should subsidise you both.

You dont give ages of your siblings.

You and your g'f should be paying at least £100 a week between you.

How much is your dads pension.

What benefits does your mother receive, ESA, DLA etc.

So are there 5 people earning in the house.

Broke_n_Broken

Sorry, I don't see the problem. So you all have to chip in with the bills, it's still cheaper than being independent.
If your mom kicked you all out the bills would drop sharply, food, utilities, council tax and she could claim housing and council tax benefits (even on a mortgage).
I take it that by ICB you mean incapacity benefit (IB), if not then your mom should claim ESA (which IB has now become).

Dunroamin

With 4 independent children living in the house, your mother should be very comfortable with her benefits, pension and your contributions (I do hope that you're all paying rather more than just splitting the bills!).

As you don't mention a mortgage, I assume that the house is paid for in which case the answer is simple in that your mother should sell what must be a sizeable house and move into a smaller house/flat that she can afford and realise some of the capital to help with living costs.

When she's on her own there'll be no need for a house that's large enough to house 5 adults but, whilst 2 or 4 of you are living there she should be doing perfectly well financially with your contributions..

BigAunty

Are you in rental accommodation?

duchy

Perhaps if you had paid an economic board amount in the first place......

With four independent adults living in the house there is no way your Mum should be struggling -you should be paying her the same as if she was renting the rooms to strangers. After all why should your Mum suffer just because you happen to be related to her ? You're making it sound like you are doing her a favour splitting bills with her-unless that is ALL bills eg electric, gas, water, phone, house insurance, food etc then you're not doing her a favour so much as not paying your way. Do you all contribute by doing your share of washing, cleaning and cooking as well btw ?

Yes it's nice when adult children can live at home for almost nothing -BUT that only works when parents are willing and able to continue to support their own children -this seems to be not only still carrying her own kids financially but a couple of other people's too when she's in no position to do so. Stop making out you're doing her a favour and contribute properly instead. She's your MUM for goodness sake !!

Dunroamin

BigAunty wrote: »

Are you in rental accommodation?

From the OP's first post, "Let's say she's to sell the house (which none of us want). She'll have the same problem in a different house."

BigAunty

:beer:

K_P83 wrote: »

...



My concern is as said, this is not a SOLUTION. Let's say she's to sell the house (which none of us want). She'll have the same problem in a different house.

Is the house owned outright? If not, what is the outstanding mortgage versus the estimated valuation? If there is a mortgage, is it repayment or interest only and when is the balance due?

People who can't afford to run a property have a couple of options - to sell up and downsize or sell up and move into rented accommodation. A person can save significant money living in a smaller place - less running costs. It does look like in the future she may only require a 1 bedroom property (unless she requires an overnight carer). Is it the case that she's currently running a 4 bedroom property?

Those with disabilities will find it easier than most to secure social housing.

Nine_Lives

Exactly why I didn't really want to post in this forum - as a long time lurker I see how OP often gets their posts discredited by accusation throwers.

I suggest some here learn to discover FACTS before throwing ACCUSATIONS. Making out that I'm doing her a favour? Please stick to the facts. I can't help if you're insistent on making something up to paint me in a bad light but there's no proof of that because I'm not making out anything. I'm sticking to facts. Assumptions are worthless!!
As for I should have paid more - again don't judge before you know the full story. Ask first and THEN judge.
Unlike many 20 something's we weren't drinking or smoking or going out. We were saving for our house so as a result my mum didn't take much from us. WE EVEN OFFERED MORE <---- yeah you didn't know that did you!! Because you didn't ask!!! She wouldn't take it despite us insisting. You didn't know that either. Surprising how much you find out by asking instead of assuming & accusing.

That's the last ill spend dealing with silly accusations on this by people who can't be bothered to ask before they judge, who are more interested in accusing than helping & getting it totally wrong.

For those who've helped & haven't been more interested in throwing wild accusations, I'll answer your questions when I get to a pc tonight as I'm on my iPhone. End of the day I don't want my mum fretting over bills & despite the silliness within this thread from certain members, I do t mind paying.

Just a quick answer before I get back to work - yes we own the house outright. My gf & I also stay in a caravan in the garden as its a 2bed house.

BigAunty

I know you mentioned that you did her household accounts and determined that more was being spent than coming in.

In case you haven't done so, take a peek at the MSE budget planner and this is an excellent and comprehensive tool that may remind you of expenses that you've forgotten. It provides a great baseline for getting to grips with a budget - you'll be able to model changes there very easily than with a paper exercise.

If your mum is struggling to pay the mortgage or is at risk of this (if there is a mortgage), then look at the Shelter website that has a section for homeowners who are at risk of arrears and repossession.

McKneff

Getting a strop on because you thnk people are judging you is your fault, if they havent got all the facts, you should have put them in your first post. Thats all people can go on and as it stands every post on here is correct.

If you dont mind paying, why havent you just done so. Never mind what your mum says, just pay it.

'oh but my mum says I dont need to' Great, more money for me.


You really need to grow up sunshine, and your girlfiriend and your siblings, the reason your mum is fretting about bills is because you lot are not paying your way / freeloading off her.