make do and mend for tougher times

smileyt_2

grandma247 wrote: »

I have a question. My bil is learning disabled and now getting pension credits. He lives in a bedsit/flat with meters for his gas and electric that were put in by his previous landlord and emptied by him regularly. The buildings were sold and the woman who owns the place now has told him that the money he is supposed to get from the electric company for this rebate thing (for people on low incomes) should go straight to her. Surely it is for him to put in his meter?

I would have thought it's for him. Oh, but there are some greedy, grasping and unscrupulous people in this world :mad:. What about contacting Mencap and asking them? I bet they have other people in this situation. Or the CAB. Or even phoning the energy company themselves, they might have someone whose job it is to deal with vulnerable people. Does your bil have a social worker? Maybe they can write a tactful letter to the landlady.

Big, big hugs to Molly and all the others who are being dumped on from high about their disability benefits. Molly please don't give up - that's what the government want you to do. Make sure you have representation at the tribunal if you can and have as much evidence as possible when you go. And don't try and cover up your condition to put on a brave face.

I have rampant PMS tonight so if anyone wants me to go and give a government official a tongue-lashing and/or a good hard slap, I could probably get away with it on the grounds of diminished responsibility .....:rotfl:

I don't know what I would do now if I had kids. When I was little we used to play out all the time on the street, the rec, in the park at the bottom of the hill, after dark in winter .... When we were teenagers we would take a picnic and go all day over the moors and down the canal, picking bilberries and climbing up rocks up the side of the valley. No mobile phones then. Sometimes my Mum could see us up on the moors from our house, as specks in the distance. She did worry but knew we were a sensible group of kids. I used to ride all over the place on my bike, visiting horses in fields ..... I look back and think how lucky we were then, compared to today's kids.

bossymoo

Not sure, but it doesn't sound right does it? Why should she get it? Unless she is paying for the power and heating?

I was a wandering child but I'm not sure what age from. With my brother and cousin we used to get up to all sorts!. My children are only 3.5 and nearly 2 so just garden for us. It's big enough for bikes and running and jumping, thankfully. We do go to the park, although its quite far, and sometimes I push DD round the street on her trike and DS follows. His friend, up the road, also 3.5 is allowed to play out, but has an older sister. I'm not sure I'd allow it, they are the second house in from a busy road. We are at the bottom of the culdesac, and I still think people drive too fast, let alone when they just swing into the street. She says they only go on the path with scooters, and only as far as the next corner. I said they can come play in my garden, we have a roundabout haha (our lawn has paving all the way round, as a mowing edge, and the kids use it as a roundabout, genius design of my own, of course!)

Anyway. I think it will be a couple of years before I can trust mine not to get distracted and run into the road after something...

Popperwell

When Mum was ill and the DN and SW kind of insisted I buy a washer and tumble drier to look after the washing of bedding etc...

Just like Pooky the fridge/freezer packed up so I ad to buy that too...all te food was wasted but no one to give it too and I couldn't be bothered to claim on the insurance...

Its these extra costs that make it hard to survive. That's why it would be great if Mum's savings were used over coming years to cushion such situations, as I said in work/out of work though it's not to be sniffed at the threshold set at £16,000 is too low these days and should be increased.

If paying full rent/ct I could spend around £6,500 annually and I haven't including paying for gas, electric or food so if they don't step in and help me at some point or allow me to apply for help and give me it, that won't last long...

grandma247

Thanks for the replies. She is not paying for his electric, he puts cash in the meter. That is why I did not understand when he told me she wanted it in her hand. I have never met her and he lives quite a distance from us. He visits every two weeks using his free pass. I must say a lot of the things he has said about her have made my blood boil.
He is quite capable of caring for himself but it is things like this that cause problems. She sounds a bit of a dragon and probably bamboozled him into thinking it was due her so he may feel he cant stand up to her. When he comes next week I will bring the subject up again.

He has not had a social worker for years and does not feel he needs one. I can't blame him they were pretty useless.

His last landlord was lovely and really looked after him. I might actually contact him if He has not moved and see if he will look into it. He is retired and looking after his wife now.

Popperwell

I'm a bit confused about the electric and gas meter payments mentioned a few posts ago too, Would age concern be able to help?

grandma247

Pops yes they probably could I did not think of them. I will see what he says. I try to be mindful that he has the right to do what he wants but I don't want to see him ripped off.

kidcat

Grandma - you say that his previous landlord used to empty the meters? If that is the case I would hazard a guess (boyfriend years ago had similar thing) that the landlord pays the bills and the meters enable the landlord to recover the cost from the flat. I am not sure that this is still actually legal and you really will have to look indepth, as it was a system exploited by unscrupulous landlords who used to set meters to charge really high rates whilst paying much lower rates on the property.

Sending hugs to all those in fear or brown envelopes.

smileyt_2

kidcat wrote: »

Grandma - you say that his previous landlord used to empty the meters? If that is the case I would hazard a guess (boyfriend years ago had similar thing) that the landlord pays the bills and the meters enable the landlord to recover the cost from the flat. I am not sure that this is still actually legal and you really will have to look indepth, as it was a system exploited by unscrupulous landlords who used to set meters to charge really high rates whilst paying much lower rates on the property.

Sending hugs to all those in fear or brown envelopes.

In which case, maybe a housing charity like Shelter may be a better bet for advice? I would definitely look into it, Grandma - why should she possibly be ripping him off through the meter and get his low income rebate too?

Popperwell

grandma247 wrote: »

Pops yes they probably could I did not think of them. I will see what he says. I try to be mindful that he has the right to do what he wants but I don't want to see him ripped off.

Respecting his right to be in charge of his destiny but as you say not wanting him to be stiched up...trying to help but without it seeming to interfere. Difficult Grandma...

ginnyknit

Sounds like the landlady is taking advantage there :mad: Hope you get it sorted x