Help for over-nineties?

upgate

Hello. I am new to these forums. My parents are in their nineties, have been living in a small terrace house, but Mum is completely blind, has other problems, and will soon not be able to manage the stairs. Dad is fine, fit and healthy (fingers crossed). We have been on the local housing register for a year, but they've offered nothing suitable, so we have now managed to find a flat to buy for them - lift-serviced and all on one level. It's a lovely flat, but needs completely updating, or would if any of us cared about the colour of the bathroom, kitchen and appliances. Looks like it was all done with good, solid stuff back in the late 70's. Fair enough.
However, they had a grant for insulation when they moved into their current house, and our friend's parents have just told us that they have had a grant for a new boiler. Friend's parents are in Scotland, but I have looked up the Warm Front Grant, and because Mum and Dad are on Pension Credit it looks like they should be eligible for a boiler grant. This looks good, 'cause the boiler looks pretty old.
We are buying the flat, but it's costing a bit more than we have been able to raise, so we are working our socks off and eBaying, etc., If the worse comes to the worse I'll be hitting the credit cards before the sale is completed.
How long does it take to get a Warm Front grant? I wanted to get the flat checked over and cosy before we move them in, so should I just gather enough electric radiators as back up till it's sorted?
Anyone got any advice to offer? Would be appreciated, as I want to make this as good as I can for them.

rogerblack

You will absolutely not get a warm front grant with a working heating system.
Is your mum claiming DLA/AA?
As she is over 65, she can put in a new claim for AA, and she should be able to get the care component.
If this is granted at middle or higher rate, your dad would be eligible for carers allowance.

Want2makeitstretchfurther

I have recently applied for a warm front grant as we meet the criteria, they told me that it will probably be approx 6 months from when they survey the house to when it is installed, so far its been a month waiting for the survey and then it was cancelled and is now rescheduled for next week, so I wouldn't plan on warm front installing any heating in time for this winter!

anmarj

rogerblack wrote: »

You will absolutely not get a warm front grant with a working heating system.
Is your mum claiming DLA/AA?
As she is over 65, she can put in a new claim for AA, and she should be able to get the care component.
If this is granted at middle or higher rate, your dad would be eligible for carers allowance.

only lower or high rate on AA! you getting it mixed up with DLA

upgate

Thanks for the replies.
Mum is 90 and receives State Pension, higher rate Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit. Dad receives State Pension. They are both ninety. I don't know until they move in how well the heating system works, so it looks as though collecting electric radiators for back-up might be a good idea.

Mojisola

upgate wrote: »

Thanks for the replies.
Mum is 90 and receives State Pension, higher rate Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit. Dad receives State Pension. They are both ninety. I don't know until they move in how well the heating system works, so it looks as though collecting electric radiators for back-up might be a good idea.

Does he claim Carer's Allowance? As he's on a pension, he could get the underlying entitlement to CA which will bring in a bit more a week.

upgate

Mojisola wrote: »

Does he claim Carer's Allowance? As he's on a pension, he could get the underlying entitlement to CA which will bring in a bit more a week.

Thank you. I'll look into that. I didn't know about it.

Dunroamin

Do your parents own or rent the terrace house they currently live in - it isn't clear from your first post.

upgate

Dunroamin wrote: »

Do your parents own or rent the terrace house they currently live in - it isn't clear from your first post.

They own it.

SandraScarlett

I recently helped a neighbour with their Pension Credit forms, and I believe they received about £30-ish a week extra for the Carer element.

Good luck and I hope everything goes well for your parents in their new home.

xx

pmlindyloo

upgate wrote: »

They own it.

I hope you won't think I am being nosy but if your parents own their present home what is going to happen to it?


Trying to give you a 'heads up' in case anything affects their benefits.