Help for elderly friends.

Sarah69

I have friends who are quite elderly, the lady is in her early 70's awaiting a hip replacement. Her husband is almost 86 and we think he may have dementia (not diagnosed yet). I really know nothing of there finances but the fact they are struggling. Their heating is oil and last year they went through the winter with no heating as they couldn't afford the oil and the same will happen this year. I don't know if they claim any benefits. I'd like to know if there is any help they can get for their heating?

sleepless_saver

It would be a good idea for them to have a full benefits check to make sure they are getting all the income they should be, e.g. from what you say at least one of them might be entitled to attendance allowance. You could suggest they contact AgeUK 0800 169 6565 for help. Or CAB. Either should help fill in forms etc if your friends want to do this.

Also, you don't say what part of the country they are living in, but have a look at the Energy Saving Trust website for their area to see what help they might get specifically with heating/insulation.

RAS

Did they get the heating allowance?

Have they claimed age related tax allowances?

Are they claimning any attendence allowances etc.

They really need a full chack up with somneone like AgeUK.

You can start however with https://www.turn2us.org.uk.