60 year old widow needs some advice to survive

McKneff

superwoman4 wrote: »

There are some great suggestions here. I'm sure everyone sympathises with you. I will be 60 next month and do not think of myself as elderly. I can't wait to get my bus pass ! It seems unfair we have to have to wait until we are 62 to get our state pensions, but that's how it is. You have asked for help by posting here, please take on board some of the good advice. I think claiming working tax credits by doing 16 hours work and some good suggestions by valk_scot, is the best way for you to go. Good luck.

Sorry, but do you realsie that you dont get your bus pass till you actually get your state pension nowadays.

McKneff

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Oh dear, once again, the typed word is taken too literally. OP, nobody implied you were a beggar, it's a saying. Just like "too many cooks spoil the broth" - who makes broth nowadays? But we all know what that means!

Unfortunately, the written word can be misconstrued so easily, and I'm sure all the posters had your best welfare at heart, when they wrote what they did. I find these boards so helpful, and although you might not agree with every suggestion, people are trying to assist you, it's just that posts are open to misinterpretation.

If I hadn't read these boards, I wouldn't have known that, as my husband has Alzheimers, he was not counted with regard to Council Tax, and therefore I get 25% discount, which is nearly £400 a year. :j

Please keep us up to date with your job-seeking, and I wish you all the best.

xx

What a nice lady you are, very sensitive.

And I didnt realise about the Alzheimers and the council tax. :TI'm sure a lot of other people didnt either. Do you have a link to this ruling.

SandraScarlett

McKneff wrote: »

Sorry, but do you realsie that you dont get your bus pass till you actually get your state pension nowadays.

But you do get your prescriptions free and can be a member of Boots club for extra points!!!! I also think, OP, it's a shame when people are taking the time to make suggestions, and they're not thanked for doing so - don't you?

xx

pondskater_2

McKneff wrote: »

Sorry, but do you realsie that you dont get your bus pass till you actually get your state pension nowadays.

Is this true in Scotland, cause my OH has had one since he was 60 three years ago and I was looking forward to mine come my birthday in December.

SandraScarlett

McKneff wrote: »

What a nice lady you are, very sensitive.

And I didnt realise about the Alzheimers and the council tax. :TI'm sure a lot of other people didnt either. Do you have a link to this ruling.

Alas no, but if you Google "Council Tax exemption for Alzheimers", I'm sure you'll get it. It's a huge saving. I was quoted £19.48 per hour for a specialist carer at home, as we are "self-funding", so any non-means tested benefit is wonderful.:)

xx

SandraScarlett

pondskater wrote: »

Is this true in Scotland, cause my OH has had one since he was 60 three years ago and I was looking forward to mine come my birthday in December.

It all depends when you had your 60th birthday. If it was before April 2010, then you received the bus pass, but they moved the goal posts after that, and staggered the time you'd receive your pension, and that became the criteria for the bus passes.

xx

dodger1

£20 a week for gas/electric seems very high, that's £86.66 per month. I'm single and retired so spend a lot of time at home and my electric is £46 per month and there is no gas.

Bob_Bee

From all the advice given moving house seems to be a good idea.
I for one would think very carefully about moving house!
If you are happy where you are & have good neighbours then I would stay put.
I had 4 years of living hell with bad neighbours both sides of me fighting & even dogs barking day & night from underneath.
It was a council property, I am disabled & the property was not suitable for me as it was a 1st floor maisonette & I have mobility problems.
The council did nothing to help me except for the offer of a flat, which had even worse outside access.
I had tried to rent privately but had no luck.
The day I handed in the keys the council housing officer was very sarcastic & said
“Oh you managed to find somewhere else then?”
To which I replied
“Yes, but only as my poor mother died suddenly & left me her house in trust for my sons to inherit on my death. To be honest I would rather she was still with us!”

I hope you have some luck with finding some part time work.

pickpocketlocket

SandraScarlett wrote: »

Alas no, but if you Google "Council Tax exemption for Alzheimers", I'm sure you'll get it. It's a huge saving. I was quoted £19.48 per hour for a specialist carer at home, as we are "self-funding", so any non-means tested benefit is wonderful.:)

xx

The exemption is for those that have a severe mental impairment, so it may not cover everyone with Alzheimers, and it does also cover people with other impairments.

sleepless_saver

SandraScarlett wrote: »

It all depends when you had your 60th birthday. If it was before April 2010, then you received the bus pass, but they moved the goal posts after that, and staggered the time you'd receive your pension, and that became the criteria for the bus passes.

xx

It's different in Scotland, you can still get your bus pass at 60.