Worried About The Future...

Popperwell

Sadly my Mother passed away last weekend. I had to go through the arranging of the funeral and identify Mum's body so a Post Mortem could be held earlier this past week. I was fortunate in that due to a serious illness(If that can be called fortunate)and the house being in my name I was entitled to DLA, Housing Benefit and Income Support because my savings were low.

I always hoped Mum would improve or the treatment she was receiving would see her return home(she was in a Nursing home for 4 weeks under an NHS care plan)so her State pension and savings were not touched.

None of that happened.

Her savings were low by many standards(£20,000)and had things changed earlier we'd have access to Attendance Allowance sooner(we managed approx 12 weeks)or I might have become officially her carer.

But she went into hospital for a week and then a Nursing Home.

Well, after paying for the funeral this will mean that I will be coming into approx £17,000. Unless my next assessment goes wrong or I am left alone until PIP comes in during 2013 and its replaced then, my DLA will continue to be paid.

My condition varies, I have bad eyes so I restrict how long I am on the computer, I have difficulty walking far and usually have to depend on a taxi if I go out so I don't go out too often.

But I also have a serious kidney condition that could mean dialysis/transplant in the future and a few other medical problems that will require fixing and probably a hospital stay.

All this on top of Mum's funeral in a weeks time.

How will I be affected regarding benefits and any help I may be entitled to?

I can see the future as a black hole and that's even with me being frugal.

It is likely that I may/should consider moving into a smaller property but I am near the shops and its a nice area. I know others have to struggle and face similar situations but I have also been here 50 years and been the name on the rent book for almost 30 years.

The new PIP replacement benefit is not guarenteed and they've reduced what that pays by 20% and they've raised the criteria so many will not manage to get it.

£17,000 won't last long even if I go carefully and just pay gas, electric, food, rent and I assume something towards the Community charge now.

I have already stopped watching the tv to save the cost of the tv licence and I have tried to keep my computers and internet going as without that I would have very little to do(and in doing a deal with a new ISP I have reduced the phone line rental by approx £4 a month and I have 6 months free internet access)and then its cheaper than the one I was using by £3 and paying up front I should still have access for the coming year wherever I am.

How low do I have to come down in savings before I might receive help? Again that may change when the new rules come in and I probably would have to find moiney to pay for bedrooms no longer used.

I hardly have the heating on as I am afraid of what the bill will be and I have loads of clothes on to try and keep warm and I go to bed to try and stay warm and even then I am still cold. Its like an ice box.

And I don;'t even think of the electric as my electric bill hasn't come through to see what that will be like now I am paying for it. I only use an electric cooker when I have to eat and a light on through the night for safety and to run my pc's(two second hand ones)and a radio.

If I move I worry where they may stick me and what I'll be offered around here like the people mentioned in the news last week who were moved from Newham I could be moved to another town I don't know.

I worry that I'll have no income coming in some time in the future and could be homeless. Good job Mum did know what would happen when she passed away.

I cannot get any advice from CAB until May 8th because of all the cuts their service has suffered lately. Any help advice would be appreciated.

Thank You...

Anubis_2

I believe the cap is at 16000 for HB in relation to savings, any amount after 16000 help is reduced by £1 per £250 over the limit. Therefore, tecnically, £4 will be deducted from any income based help you may receive for HB.

For some other benefits the cap is £6k with the same rule again - minus £1 for every £250 over.

You should have been receiving more than DLA if you had no other income?

Popperwell

Thanks Anubis,
Well I was getting help until this happened HB and Income Support, that's all changed now...

I've just purchased one of those medical certificates to get my prescriptions cheap as I won't get them for free now...but I need them and they keep me alive/stablised the condition.

I may on the other hand be allowed to stay put but struggle, small properties are few and recently in a free sheet a letter appeared where a person came home to look after his Mum and they gave him a two bedroom house or bungalow and he was happy but then with the new idea that you pay for each bedroom you don't use being introduced by this Government next year, he's worried if he can afford to stay but they can't offer an alternative.

bitsandpieces

Sorry to hear about your mum. Try not to panic. Can you speak to a CAB or a benefits adviser elsewhere about your situation? I don't know if you are likely to be able to work again in future? DLA isn't means-tested, so won't be affected by your savings (or if you start earning money, for that matter). If you aren't likely to be able to work again, though (and don't get another lump sum from elsewhere or move in with a partner who's earning) what's likely to happen is that - through living on the savings - you will soon-ish reduce them below £16,000. You will then become eligible for means-tested benefits. The benefits will be reduced due to the savings - and likely won't be enough to live on - so you will have to supplement your income by drawing on the savings. Eventually, the savings will fall below £6,000 and you will receive full means-tested benefits again. These obviously won't give you a fortune to live off - but you will still have £5999 as a bit of a cushion.

In other words, your financial situation is likely to be slightly better than it would have been had you not inherited the money. In the meantime, don't risk affecting your health by not turning on the heating etc. You are quite entitled to use these savings to live on, and should be eligible for benefits again when your savings are lower. If you were to blow the money on a holiday, jewellery or other luxuries then there might be an issue with something called 'deprivation of capital', but paying for essentials like food, light and heat won't be an issue (and nor should paying for a TV license).

If your current home is larger than you need - it's a council home? - it may be worth seeing what else the council can offer you at some point. Perhaps you could discuss this with CAB? You'll have been knocked by the death of your mum, and this shouldn't be a decision you'll need to make in a hurry. It might be that the council can offer you somewhere nice in order to encourage you to free up a larger property and that you can reduce expenses by living in a smaller place - but you can leave these decisions until you're feeling a bit better.

By the way, even without a TV license you're allowed to what TV through BBC Iplayer or 4OD - so long as it's not live. This is what I do myself.

Popperwell

Thanks bitsand pieces, I had a feeling this might be the way to go but as you say I hope for a little bit of time to grieve and then decide which way to go. I hate the thought of losing a lot of my possesions. I hope I can run and keep using my pc's/internet and radio's as they are main interests now. And without them I'd be lost.

I would probably have to give up furniture and books and have only a few basics like a washer, cooker, bed depending on how small a property I am offered. I hope I can keep my CD's, I may never be able to buy any ever again. Life in 21st century England, not much to look forward to.

And look what happens next year...benefits are reduced or taken away and if you are single you are capped at £350. I do wonder what you may receive. So many people are going to be worried.

bitsandpieces

I know it must be hard, but try not to be too negative. You've managed on means-tested benefits before, and managed? You may have to depend on them again, but you also have £17,000 of savings to draw on.

People on benefits do afford to pay for things like radios, computers and broadband. You will be able to buy CDs in future - you could buy one now, if you wanted, assuming we're not talking about a hugely expensive rarity I'm not keen on the coming changes to benefits - and they may or may not cause you problems - but don't simply assume the worst.

If you move to a smaller place, you'll likely need less furniture - hard to get rid of stuff, but you probably wouldn't want to cram the furniture from a larger home into a small place. Aside from that, you can keep a lot of books in a small-ish flat if you want (I've got a fair number here ). You can keep a reasonable amount of stuff in a small place, if you want to do so - don't assume that you'll have to throw everything out (unless you want the minimalist look...)

mwd

mogsman wrote: »

17000 WILL NOT LAST LONG? SO YOU WANT BENEFIT AND A LARGE BANK ACCOUNT ??? SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A REAL TRAUMA FOR YOU--OH DEAR YOU COULD ALWAYS REFUSE THE 17000 OR GIVE IT TO SOME NEEDY CAUSE !!:mad: WORRIED ABOUT A £350 CAP?? I WORK 50 HOURS AND DON'T GET THAT

Another Idiot who has stumbled into these forums.

McKneff

mogsman wrote: »

17000 WILL NOT LAST LONG? SO YOU WANT BENEFIT AND A LARGE BANK ACCOUNT ??? SOUNDS TO ME LIKE A REAL TRAUMA FOR YOU--OH DEAR YOU COULD ALWAYS REFUSE THE 17000 OR GIVE IT TO SOME NEEDY CAUSE !!:mad: WORRIED ABOUT A £350 CAP?? I WORK 50 HOURS AND DON'T GET THAT

Cant help? don't post. You idiot.

This lady has just lost her mum, where is your compassion.

Probably been flushed down the toilet, now go and do the same with your head.

OP, I am really sorry you have lost your mum, give yourself time to grieve, settle it down, you will think about her every waking moment so now is not the time to worry about benefits. You will be okay, no one starves in England nowadays.

McKneff

Mogsman, you are a newbie with 9 posts. If you want to get into double figures you have to abide by the rules, the same way the longer term posters try (hm) try to do, that is 'be nice to newbies'
it difficult if we are up againg newbies posting judgemental stuff like your are doing on this and previous threads, you really need to sit down and ask yourself what kind of a person you are and what kind of person you would like to be.

Once you start getting reported for being judgemental, you will be banned from posting.

rogerblack

McKneff wrote: »

Mogsman, you are a newbie with 9 posts. If you want to get into double figures you have to abide by the rules, the same way the longer term posters try (hm) try to do, that is 'be nice to newbies'

In addition.
Read the sticky at the top of the forum - 'It's about benefit entitlement, not policy'.

One positive thing to do with the money is to try to find reasonable expenditures that will lead to lower bills in the future.

Things like solar panels are likely to cause problems as being unjustifiable expenditure done only to make you entitled to benefit again, but there are other measures.

A very large efficient freezer can, used properly, save you lots of money on food.
Home insulation, more efficient long-lasting appliances. Improved alarms or security features, if they will reduce insurance, ...

In addition - once your savings drop through 16000, the various benefits generally restart - with 40/week taken off them.

Popperwell

Thank you for the support and trying to support me through these difficult times. Whether I can stay put or have to move...I think the poster having a go is misundertanding me(probably deliberately)until I come down to an acceptable threshold to please those who award benefits, the £350 cap would not affect me anyhow.

And until I do as I will be expected to pay full rent and most of the community charge that does not come into play as yet. I will only have the DLA payment approx £80 so I will have to keep drwing on Mum's savings.

I could do with a few things replacing but that may look as though I am trying to use the money and knock it down.

If I may have to move there is no point replacing an old sofa, tv, carpets etc...as I don't want to spend on items I may have to leave/get rid of. I can live with old carpets(Its not as if I will be entertaining)If Mum had not taken as ill suddenly we were going to replace this and that.

Mum was going to use her meagre savings but it wasn't to be. She left it too late and I had to think about caring for her and even becoming Power of Attourney on Mum's money took so long to come through it was too late.

I was never going to fiddle Mum's money, Mum knew that, We trusted and loved each other.

I find myself questioning the care Mum had in the end from Dr's and in the end the month she had in the nursing home...if I know what I do now I'd have brought Mum home she wanted to be in her own surroundings but its no good living a life of regret.

The few people who know us from taxi drivers, neighbours, District Nurse, Social Worker and so on all say that I could not have done any more as a son for my Mum's well being and I must not beat myself up.

I could've perhaps spent more time with her but I was there anything between 6 hours daily to 18 hours at a time and stayed even overnight. I fed Mum when often the staff could not but nothing will bring Mum back and we might've just been prolonging the suffering un-necessarily.

The coroner said that the Post Morten showed the Rectum Cancer had spread and the pheomonia(Sp)is common with cancer and that Mum was not dehydrated nor malnourished but at some point no matter what you try to give eventually has no effect.

Mum could not respond much in the end but I kissed her forehead said something nice, kissed her lips and she managed to give me the strongest kiss I have ever had in my life, I suspect Mum was saying farewell and letting me know how much she loved me. An hour later she had passed away.

Sorry about that I have strayed away from the topic. Its still raw...Possibly what the poster said which was not nice provoked me to say what I have...

You only get one Mum and if you are fortunate to be close(many sadly are not)it perhaps it makes things more difficult but you cannot switch off your emotions. I was never held back but it really was just the two of us, the future will be very different.