Help!! Ex soldier told he's not entitled to benefits. WHATTTT!!!!!!

pinkshoes

£725 a month is the equivalent of working 27 hours a week on the minimum wage, so therefore it's unlikely he's entitled to anything, as this is already a rather large income compared to some.

I would suggest he:

1) Rents a room out in his house (lodger)
2) Rents his house out and rents somewhere cheaper
3) Changes his mortgage to interest only
4) Sells the house and moves somewhere cheaper.
5) Take ANY job he can get.

When did he buy the house?

saker75

Magnolia wrote: »

Which is exactly what the lump sum is meant to be used for. If the serviceman has been living in accommodation on camp then he has neither a roof nor a pot to pi$$ in!

He has spent his lump sum wisely in bricks and mortar and used it just for the purpose it was intended.

It would be nice to have been able to put it somewhere to use as and when it was required but that is just not possible.

Back in the day the lump sum would have bought you a home but not any more - it just never kept up with inflation.

If you have never served in HMF you will have no idea just how expensive it is to join civvie street.

And yet I know several service men (Royal Navy) who used their salaries to buy houses (buy-to-let) so they wouldn't be in this position. Civvy Street is only expensive if you haven't prepared for it.

Carpi09

andygb wrote: »

Is it just me that thinks a £700 pension at the age of 43 is a pretty good deal?
I am 55 this year, unemployed (for the past year) and do not get any benefits - nil!
Why is my (or for that matter any other person's) 35 years in work, any less important than somone who has decided to join the army for 25 years?
I would say to this guy - "welcome to the real World mate, you are still young, you have £700 more each month than the majority of people, and when someone gives you a payoff, think very wisely how you spend it"

I respect your opinion but I don't think the op is saying you are less important but is annoyed at the fact he gets no support from the JC.

So the real world is not going to Afghanistan for up to 8 months at a time, seeing your colleagues die and then having to go through another 6-8 months of hell again in a years time and probably not even recovered from last time. He deserves every penny he gets from his pension.

The military are not paid enough for what they do and for people to question the pension they get, how about YOU (not specifically talking about you) go and join the forces and experience what we have to do!

mardigrasgirl

d123 wrote: »

What was his tax free lump sum and resettlement grant when he left?

Sorry, I dont have that information.

mardigrasgirl

Magnolia wrote: »

Which is exactly what the lump sum is meant to be used for. If the serviceman has been living in accommodation on camp then he has neither a roof nor a pot to pi$$ in!

He has spent his lump sum wisely in bricks and mortar and used it just for the purpose it was intended.

It would be nice to have been able to put it somewhere to use as and when it was required but that is just not possible.

Back in the day the lump sum would have bought you a home but not any more - it just never kept up with inflation.

If you have never served in HMF you will have no idea just how expensive it is to join civvie street.

Good luck OP but I am afraid there is not much can be done about it.

Get him to contact his resettlement officer and see if they have any leads for work.

Thank you so much for your reply. It is very much appreciated.

cockaleekee

saker75 wrote: »

And yet I know several service men (Royal Navy) who used their salaries to buy houses (buy-to-let) so they wouldn't be in this position. Civvy Street is only expensive if you haven't prepared for it.

You're right - they have years to plan but sadly some choose not to take advantage of their low outgoings and spend rather than planning for their future. My uncle had three BTL properties by the time he left, ensuring financial security for him and his family.

Brighton_belle

OP, tell your BiL he can earn upto £4,250 tax free by renting out bedrooms in his house.
We have to and are happy to do so to remain independent of state help/be able to eat/pay bills and we are older than him .
We also appreciate our good fortune to have our own home and to have this option. It would appear he too would have this option.

stamina9008

Crazy...

Its like the guy in the states (the Navy Seal that apparently killed Bin Laden) that reportedly cant get healthcare..

What next?

Brighton_belle

Magnolia wrote: »

He has spent his lump sum wisely in bricks and mortar and used it just for the purpose it was intended.

No, my understanding is he spent it on a car (reasonably understandable) and furnishing the home (much less understandable to spent 10,000 on 'furnishings' and not put anything aside for emergencies) not the actual bricks and mortar.

OP, don't think I am unsympathetic, it's just he hasn't made the wisest of financial choices in the past and this is his chance to learn how to protect his future better. I do hope your B-i-L finds work soon. I am sure he feels desparate. However lodgers could see him though this bad spell.

cockaleekee

stamina9008 wrote: »

Crazy...

Its like the guy in the states (the Navy Seal that apparently killed Bin Laden) that reportedly cant get healthcare..

What next?

How are the two similar? The individual in this case will have access to the NHS just as any other citizen does.