OAP Travel pass for overseas stayer

toffeecoated

I'm asking this on behalf of my neighbour. She is Romanian and her husband is English. They recently had a baby and can't cope. The husband has a disability so the wife basically had to deal with the baby and their other young child. They brought her mother over from Romania and she now lives with them and helps with the children. She is 68 years old and can't contribute anything moneywise as her Romanian pension is peanuts. So the current arrangement is they feed her and pay all her expenses and give her some pocket money. The husband went back to work full time but he doesn't earn much and i thought they may be entitled to claim something for the mother as she is basically being employed as a childminder. Could they claim anything? maybe she is entitled to an OAP travel pass as she lives here.

Poppie68

They can't claim anything for a grandmother looking after her grandchildren. As Romania is an EEA country benefit rules are slightly different, they would have to contact DWP to see if she has any entitlements. As for a bus pass they would have to speak to the local council and see if she qualifies.

toffeecoated

Thanks, That is what i expected. Although it is a bit odd that the government would be willing to pay over £200 a week towards some part time childcare but won't chip in a few pounds for someone who is on call 24 hours a day.

nannytone_2

she is a family member. by your reasoning, all parents should be paid to look agter their own kids as they do it 24/7?

and they 'government' only pay for registered childcare.
people that have had training and been approved.

Poppie68

toffeecoated wrote: »

Thanks, That is what i expected. Although it is a bit odd that the government would be willing to pay over £200 a week towards some part time childcare but won't chip in a few pounds for someone who is on call 24 hours a day.

Im sorry i dont find it odd at all. She is a mother living with and helping her daughter and grandchildren.
She is getting the benefit of a free roof over her head and food an expenses paid for her, as well as a small pension from romania.

If they are on a low income and the husband is disabled chances are he is claiming tax credits, help with housing costs and council tax plus child benefits and maybe DLA.