60 year old widow needs some advice to survive

princessdon

viv0147 wrote: »

I am amazed no one has mentioned pension credit from the age of 60 you qualify! Which will give you a guaranteed income of £143 a week

I don't believe OP does, it is from age 60 (as in if OP was a year or so younger it would be 60 she could get her pension), the entitlement needs a state pension - OP isn't old enough

seven-day-weekend

viv0147 wrote: »

I am amazed no one has mentioned pension credit from the age of 60 you qualify! Which will give you a guaranteed income of £143 a week

She won't qualify until she is 62.

Darlyd

OP try gum tree and advertise as a mature lady looking for small jobs, cleaning, babysitting, dog sitting even companionship etc etc.. You be surprised what responses you will get.

What about avon?

BigAunty

mrs_motivated wrote: »

Who is Andy?

He is someone who is regularly banned on MSE and comes back with new usernames all the time, such as Challfour.

He spends half of his posts complaining that his multiple and ceaseless benefit claims have been rejected and the other boasting how much his household nets in sickness, disability, carers allowance, housing benefit, council tax discount and pension credit, so much money they can barely spend it.

Despite his multiple identities, he simply always gives the game away with his manner, particularly the way he tells nearly every poster to claim DLA...

Oh, and when other posters say 'hello Andy' he gets all indignant, feigning ignorance that he's been exposed, then he threatens to report everybody. Then he gets banned...

starrystarry

I get the impression that the OP isn't interested in any of these ideas for earning extra money, she's been quite negative about all of them. I think she was hoping someone would be able to suggest a way of claiming further benefits. Hence posting on this board rather than the jobseeking or increase your income boards.

Anny_2

mrs_motivated wrote: »

Who is Andy?

Andy is a WUM who keeps changing user names and I think challfour is Andy.

Regarding the OP, I think it is appalling that at the age of 60 when you are definitely not going to find it easy to secure employment in the mainstream, that you find yourself in such a vulnerable position financially.

I also would not be happy having strangers (lodgers) in my home or moving into a shared house at the age of 60.

I strongly disagree with the way the pension age was changed and I think 40 yrs of p/time and f/time work is enough, unless a person wishes to continue to work. Both my grandmother and my mother worked into their 70's, but they did that because they wanted to not because they had to in order to survive.

dorsetlady

starrystarry wrote: »

I get the impression that the OP isn't interested in any of these ideas for earning extra money, she's been quite negative about all of them. I think she was hoping someone would be able to suggest a way of claiming further benefits. Hence posting on this board rather than the jobseeking or increase your income boards.

I expect that she's not interested in trying to earn extra as she'll lose 85% of extra earnings from her council tax and housing benefits. I know when I was on benefits I was desperate to earn but, unless I could earn a lot, it was a waste of time. Thank God I'm off benefits now and pray I'm never in a situation to need them again!

oliveoil99

Face1992 wrote: »

Lots of companies are recruiting their Xmas temps at the moment, would it be worth trying any local to you?

I never get passed the phone-call they can tell your elderly from your voice have even been asked my age and said why do you need to know that surely it's if I can do the job and then say will get back to you. Age discriminations laws are a (giraffe). You can only take so much rejection.

oliveoil99

dorsetlady wrote: »

I expect that she's not interested in trying to earn extra as she'll lose 85% of extra earnings from her council tax and housing benefits. I know when I was on benefits I was desperate to earn but, unless I could earn a lot, it was a waste of time. Thank God I'm off benefits now and pray I'm never in a situation to need them again!

Aren't you just perfect when you get off your high horse look at me. I have worked for 40yrs it's only the last 2yrs I have claimed HB so when you point the finger 4 are pointing back at you.

faerie~spangles

starrystarry wrote: »

I get the impression that the OP isn't interested in any of these ideas for earning extra money, she's been quite negative about all of them. I think she was hoping someone would be able to suggest a way of claiming further benefits. Hence posting on this board rather than the jobseeking or increase your income boards.

I think you're being a bit harsh on the OP tbh. The world can be a very frightening place when you have no money and have reached a certain age.