Very old lady in need of funds....

Blue_Parrot

I went down to the local CAB to ask what happens to penniless UK pensioners if they have to go into care, all the while thinking that I was wasting my own time to even frame that question. (Because she couldn't physically get back here anyway....) They were closed.

No reply from German Embassy.
Have emailed Age Concern/Age UK: no reply.
Have emailed another relative who definitely Needs to Know: no reply.

Meanwhile she's sitting there aged nearly 90, wondering why she can't afford a hair-do any more, or the occasional bag of cherries.

:undecided

Tuesday_Tenor

Blue_Parrot wrote: »

Hi innovate,

There seems little point in contacting the British Embassy in Germany, since they are a part of the British Government and with whom (department of work and pensions) we spoke recently. They'd only refer us back to them, methinks.

Overseas embassies are not there for things which UK-based officials can answer, I reckon. I could be wrong, of course.

Thanks anyway.

I disagree. One of the roles of the British Embassy in Germany is to support British nationals in that country. Of which the lady in question is one. Below is from the Foreign Office website on the role of Embassies. Even if they have a greater focus on helping British visitors to Germany, they will have more local knowledge, and the languauge skills to help identify and contact the correct contacts and agencies out there:

Support British nationals overseas
Our trained, expert staff has the local knowledge that British nationals can call upon in times of distress. The work that often grabs the headlines is our crisis response. But much of the work of the FCO is assisting with individual tragedies out of the glare of media attention. We help British nationals keep themselves safe and focus our assistance on the most vulnerable in the greatest distress.

mark55man

I agree with TT above.

A phone call to the british embassy in germany is much more likely to find someone who understands the german way of doing things - also as a smaller team they may well be more reactive.

Perhaps you should also send them the letter you are going to write the daily mail !! about British Govt uncaring nature to hurry them along (but then again maybe you should save that for the second appointment)

I can only imagine how frustrated you are - but one more phone call to someone in germany who you know speaks english and who is there to represent british citizens (even 90 year old frail ones) doesn't seem like too much extra to do

xylophone

penniless UK pensioners

It is unlikely that a UK pensioner would be wholly penniless insofar as he would have some entitlement to state pension/pension credit/housing benefit/and if frail and incapacitated Attendance Allowance.

If he became incapable of looking after himself and had no assets then he would be local authority funded in a care home - as I understand it his pension/AA would be taken by the home (except for a small amount to cover personal needs). http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS10_Paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

local CAB

You need to check for the opening times - it might also be necessary to make an appointment. http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

It looks as though your next step is to try the British Embassy in Germany - at least there will be no language problem. http://ukingermany.fco.gov.uk/en/

Have emailed another relative who definitely Needs to Know: no reply.

You might have to make this a letter- possibly consider a telephone call?
It is all very frustrating and worrying for you - things might become clearer when you get out there for your Christmas visit?