Grant

clairacluck_2

Hello i hope someone can give me some advice. my parents are nearly 70 and on a state pension and have no savings. they live in a their own home which they bought from the council years ago. i am also living with them but on high rate care dla for illness. the question is they need a new back door and it also fitting, the old one is wooden and cant be opened as it is stuck,it also leaks when it rains out. is there any charities or a grant that would pay for this, i know its a long short but we havent the money. any help would be great, we live in leighton buzzard, bedfordshire, thanks.

ILW

Why did they buy the place?

Mojisola

Try these people - https://www.foundations.uk.com/data/hia/bedford-home-improvement-team/ - if there are grants available, they will be able to help you claim them and will supervise the work.

Dunroamin

clairacluck wrote: »

Hello i hope someone can give me some advice. my parents are nearly 70 and on a state pension and have no savings. they live in a their own home which they bought from the council years ago. i am also living with them but on high rate care dla for illness. the question is they need a new back door and it also fitting, the old one is wooden and cant be opened as it is stuck,it also leaks when it rains out. is there any charities or a grant that would pay for this, i know its a long short but we havent the money. any help would be great, we live in leighton buzzard, bedfordshire, thanks.

If your parents have only the state pension and no savings, they should be claiming pension credit.

Horseunderwater

The council can also provide grants to fix things like doors for pensioners and yes they should also claim pension credit as this will give them lots of help like reduced council tax as well.

airborne_61

If they served in the Forces try here.
http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/can-we-help

BigAunty

The Turn2us website has a grant checker facility. While you are on the site, you should get them to put their figures in to see if they are entitled to pension credit, etc.

Some councils run handyman schemes for the elderly or perhaps there's a charity in your area that could offer a service to help fit a door or supply it.

You could also put on a 'wanted' ad on sites like Freecycle, Freegle, Freeshare, gumtree freebies where people give away their goods rather than them ending up in the landfill. Internal doors come up all the time on my local sites, though exterior doors less so.

concerned43

Have you looked at a community care grant?
https://www.gov.uk/community-care-grant/overview

swingaloo

ILW wrote: »

Why did they buy the place?

What on earth is the relevance in that reply!

tyllwyd

My MIL was able to get a loan from the council to cover some work on her house (new doors & windows) - she doesn't have to make any repayments at the moment but the loan is secured on the house and repayable when it is sold.

Mojisola

swingaloo wrote: »

What on earth is the relevance in that reply!

It's not helpful in this case but people do think about buying their council house without considering whether they can afford the maintenance.

Sometimes it's better to stay as tenants, knowing that any repairs and maintenance will be done for you.

You might not have an inheritance to leave but at least your home will be in good repair.