Very old lady in need of funds....

Blue_Parrot

xylophone wrote: »

I've just found this - any help at all?
http://www.justanswer.com/european-law/78l9a-hi-i-severely-disabled-pensioner-living-germany.html
"However, since you don’t work but receive a state pension from the UK, the UK is the competent institution for your social security purposes.
Under Article 29 of EU Regulation 883/2004, sickness cash benefits (which includes attendance allowance) is to be paid by the institution of the country which is responsible for the cost of your healthcare (sickness benefits in kind).
Since you receive a pension from the UK and you do not have a right to healthcare benefits in Germany, the UK is solely responsible for your healthcare under Article 24(2)(a) of the Regulation. As a result, the UK is responsible for paying your healthcare costs and your sickness benefits in kind.
The first thing you should do is to contact the International Pension Service to obtain form S1 which confirms that the UK is responsible for your healthcare.
This is their contact details:
https://www.gov.uk/state-pension-if-you-retire-abroad
Once you have this form S1, you should write back to the UK authorities and ask them to reconsider their decision on the basis that you are entitled to claim Attendance Allowance on the basis of Articles 29 and 24(2)(a) of EU Regulation 883/2004 and enclosing a copy of Form S1 that confirms that the UK is responsible for your healthcare.
If that does not help, you should ask assistance from Your Europe Advice, the European Commission’s free on-line service, by sending in an enquiry:
http://ec.europa.eu/citizensrights/front_end/index_en.htm


Read more: Hi I am a severely disabled Pensioner now living in germany. - JustAnswer http://www.justanswer.com/european-law/78l9a-hi-i-severely-disabled-pensioner-living-germany.html#ixzz2BOYg2Zsa"

Thank you for those very informative links, which make for depressing reading.

There is a possibility that she has a small German Govmt. pension, we will ask.

Blue_Parrot

srcandas wrote: »

Blue Parrot by 'bringing it to a head' I meant assume all money has been used, ignoring the £6500. Because if the lady needs to return to the UK there will be costs and with a bit of reserve the blow may be softened. Also most help doesn't need you to spend every last penny before you receive anything.

The winter fuel allowance is not applicable to those already living overseas. It is paid to those who were receiving it in the UK prior to moving abroad. Yes it sucks but that is how I see it working for expats in Spain and cannot believe Germany is an exception (always ask though )

:beer:

Thanks for that information. I wonder why I had to find out from a forum and not from the DWP to whom we wrote months ago.

It's too late for her to return to the UK: 90 is too old to move (she'll be 90 in a few weeks). The only way of doing it would be by car because she couldn't fly, now. Even if she were moved back here, where to? She is adamant that she will not go into a care home and that stubbornness is what keeps her alive, probably.

This is all very depressing yet I thank you for the responses which have been invaluable.

I could send her my own winter fuel payment, it's only £200 but better than 2p. (Last year when it arrived, it went straight out the same day on a gas bill of over £200 - so it was spent in exactly the way it was intended.)

I also now have mounting fears of my own: that when down to her last few Euros, the German Govmt. might try to go for her son's income to support her over there. Or is that paranoia?

:shocked:

Glen_Clark

Just a thought but you might get more ideas from posting this in the Benefits and Tax Credits section of his forum?

xylophone

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/movingabroad/Pages/Livingabroad.aspx
"If you're receiving a UK state pension or long-term incapacity benefit, you may be entitled to healthcare paid for by the UK. You will need to apply for form S1 (or an E121 if you are moving to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland), which you need to present to the health authorities in your new country of residence. You will then be treated on the same basis as a resident of that country.
Once you have registered your S1 (or E121) in your new country of residence, you will be entitled to a UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), allowing you to access state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EEA countries besides the one in which you are resident, including when you return to the UK.
It is advisable to check what is covered before leaving the UK and make arrangements if necessary.
Use the country-by-country guide and select a country from the list for detailed information.
For further advice, contact the Overseas Healthcare Team (Newcastle):
International Pension Centre
Tyneview Park
Whitley Road
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE98 1BA
Phone 0191 218 1999 (Monday to Friday 8am-5pm)
Customers who receive a UK state pension can obtain an S2 (or E121) by phoning 0191 218 7777 (Monday to Friday 8am - 8pm).
Customers who receive a UK long-term incapacity benefit can obtain an S2 (or E121) by telephoning the Working Age Group Incapacity Benefit team on 0191 21 87644 (Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm).
The phone number for the Employment Support Allowance team is 0191 21 87037 (open Monday to Friday 8am - 5pm).
If at any time in the future you want to come back to the UK for planned treatment, you must consult your new authorities to find out the options available to you. However, you will be charged in the UK, unless you can provide an S2 (or E112) issued by your country of residence."

OP you mention

massive medical bills

.

See above?

Onawingandaprayer

Re Attendance Allowance, think it's worth persevering.

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/docs/dwp028.pdf

See bottom page 4, top page 5

Blue_Parrot

xylophone wrote: »

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/movingabroad/Pages/Livingabroad.aspx
..........

Thank you for those links, which I have examined. I find them confusing and contradictory, viz:

1. Living abroad: entitlement to healthcare paid by the UK

The NHS is a residence-based healthcare system. Therefore, once you have moved permanently away from the UK you are no longer entitled to medical treatment under normal NHS rules. .........
You will also no longer be entitled to use your UK-issued European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access healthcare abroad.

You will not be covered for healthcare paid by the UK if you are going to live permanently outside the UK.

I read that as a No.

2. Living in Germany If you are living in Germany and you're receiving a UK state pension, or are in receipt of long-term incapacity benefit, you may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK. You’ll need to apply for form S1 (a certificate of entitlements). Once you have registered your S1 with a health insurance company in Germany, you will be entitled to a UK-issued EHIC, allowing you to access state-funded necessary medical treatment when you visit other EEA countries besides the one in which you are resident, including when you return to the UK.

I read that as a maybe, but only for countries other than Germany including the UK. It is very ambiguously written, IMO.

Going back to the first link, the comments underneath are not very encouraging: people in Spain, France, Luxemburg, Switzerland are complaining that they can't get the form or the card or both or neither and that applications take a minimum of eight weeks..........paperwork constantly lost, files lost, contradictory statements made etc. etc. :undecided

xylophone

I think the first step must be to ring the Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999 and see whether you can obtain any guidance.

srcandas

Blue_Parrot wrote: »

Going back to the first link, the comments underneath are not very encouraging: people in Spain, France, Luxemburg, Switzerland are complaining that they can't get the form or the card or both or neither and that applications take a minimum of eight weeks..........paperwork constantly lost, files lost, contradictory statements made etc. etc. :undecided

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I've seen this on expats in spain forums. If people have something to complain about they will; again and again and again ....

The 1000 who had no issues post absolutely nothing

And generally expats IMHO love to knock the UK at every turn just to justify how clever they were

All the very best with this BP. And do let us all know how it goes. We are on the whole a caring lot, even when we fight like cats and dogs:rotfl:

xylophone

And do check out link in post 16 re exportability co-ordinator and attendance allowance.

seven-day-weekend

If you are a Pensioner, (or on UK Incapacity Benefit/ESA) the UK will cover your healthcare in an EU country. You need form S1 from the DWP. This will cover you for healthcare on the same basis as a citizen of the country you live in..

The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) covers you for healthcare emergencies OUTSIDE the country you live in.

Hope this helps.