Not sure how to help 65 year old mum living on very little

Dunroamin

tillycat123 wrote: »

I just wanted to thank everyone for the advice given and I'm going to work through the long check list with her when she is ready.

I have got her figures though and she does have slightly to much for the guaranteed pension credit which is a real shame and this seems to be the real key for additional help.

- State pension £121 a week
- Private pension £43 a week
- Savings credit element given £9 a week

Money in the bank in total £3000.

I'm going to try and see if the warm home discount scheme for the £135 electric one off payment from the Autumn might extend to her as they seem to have some discretion from what it says the the website, if you fall outside of the list of definite people to get it, but I need to research this one a bit more before I call them to ask.

Thank you everyone again.

Really, £173 pw with no rent/mortgage/CT to pay is a pretty decent income in retirement. I do think that you need to investigate whether she has debts and, if not, help her with budgeting. If she can eventually build up her energy levels so that she could downsize that would obviously be a bonus but it doesn't look essential on the figures you've given.

margaretclare

It's the income which is too high, not the savings. So, she has £173 a week coming in, no housing costs i.e. owns house outright and exempt from council tax. This last is very valuable. Council tax can be a big chunk out of your income e.g. we pay £113 a month for ours.

It sounds as if downsizing may be her best option. I can quite understand, though, that being on her own it 'all got too much for her'.

pmlindyloo

Dunroamin wrote: »

You're assuming that she only gets the basic SRP whereas it could well be higher with SERPS/S2P included.

ETA

Which seems to be the case.

You're right, of course, but as her State Pension is £121 per month it is her private pension which is taking her over the threshold for Guarantee Pension Credit (£145.40)

In my experience it is usually the addition of a private pension that makes many people ineligible for the Guarantee part of Pensions Credit.

Of course, if she still has a low income she would qualify for HB (not relevant in the OP's case) and the Savings Pension Credit awarded gives her CT reduction.

margaretclare

pmlindyloo wrote: »

You're right, of course, but as her State Pension is £121 per month it is her private pension which is taking her over the threshold for Guarantee Pension Credit (£145.40)

In my experience it is usually the addition of a private pension that makes many people ineligible for the Guarantee part of Pensions Credit.

Of course, if she still has a low income she would qualify for HB (not relevant in the OP's case) and the Savings Pension Credit awarded gives her CT reduction.

SRP is £121 a week, not a month, surely?

zzzLazyDaisy

It is worth contacting the local council/housing associations and asking about retirement properties. Even just putting her name down would be a start and would not commit her to anything. If she can sell her house and get a retirement flat/bungalow, she will have the equity in the bank to supplement her income, her bills will be lower, and she will have none of the maintenance costs/upkeep that go with owning your own place. Yes, this would mean that she would not be entitled to any means tested benefits, but she would be relieved of money worries, and have a home that is easier for her to manage.

EDIT: as an aside, her income is quite good for someone in retirement with no housing costs, so I'd guess that there is something else underlying the phone call - debts? loneliness? feeling generally overwhelmed with managing day to day life? You will only know these things once you get there.

pmlindyloo

margaretclare wrote: »

SRP is £121 a week, not a month, surely?

Sorry!

Writing too quickly!

MissMoneypenny

zzzLazyDaisy wrote: »

EDIT: as an aside, her income is quite good for someone in retirement with no housing costs, so I'd guess that there is something else underlying the phone call - debts? loneliness? feeling generally overwhelmed with managing day to day life? You will only know these things once you get there.

£25 per day is a good income?? What about utility bills and running a car? A meal out?

I suppose the OPs mother could help at a charity shop to keep her utilty bills down and give her a social life. It might even lead to employment, which would give her more income. I repeat, 65 is not old.

Jennifer_Jane

As someone a bit older than your mother, and also on my own, I often think that I don't need someone to take over, but someone to share the responsibility with. Quite frankly, your mother seems to have done wonderfully well with getting the Council Tax exemption, so well done to her.

I think it's great that she has contacted you, and I do hope that this leads to a better relationship between you. You sound, in fact, like a super daughter.

Re her social life, can I suggest U3A (University of the 3rd Age) which runs courses, walks of all standards, and social events. I belong to Advanced French and yoga (which might help with her poorly arm). It's £10 a year plus £1 or so per session, apart from walking (other U3A's will be a bit different, but it's still cheap, and highly recommended).

Otherwise, I generally swim to keep fit and lunch on occasion with my friends.

In addition, if she's not computer-literate, the Council run free courses, and are well aware that older people don't have confidence in themselves in this respect and require a bit of patience. I find that being on Facebook, e-mailing friends and so on, keeps me in touch with the world and old friends from the comfort of my sofa. It's amazing how many older people are on Facebook, and my oldest friend is well into his 80's. I also enjoy just keeping up with technology, and not feeling that I'm falling back.

She might love coming on to this site as much as I do, and getting all the financial benefits that I have done over the years. She may even have done typing (as so many of us of her age did!) courses, which would give her quite an advantage over the aging men on her computer course!! (Who knew that when we were bashing on our Remingtons to the sounds of the William Tell overture at school?).

Re the person who was saying that her income is fine, well it's not so fine - I've just spent £3,200 on new windows and guttering, fascias, soffits. Your house needs maintenance, and especially if she wants to sell. Also, if she has garden services to maintain her garden because of her stiff arm, or cleaning help, that is costly - and for that I suggest that she contacts Age UK to see if they can help with house maintenance, cleaning, etc.

I haven't found Age UK to be terribly helpful, but that may just have been my area.

I would also check that her tax is correct, as I've found HMRC to be slovenly about this, and making an assumption (when I went on to the over 65 tax allowance) that my income was suddenly over £23,500!). I don't think she should be paying tax, though (from age 64 as she would have gone on to the over 65 tax allowance from the TAX year that she was 65. This allowance is falling away, but I'm unsure when from.)

I wish I had a daughter like you. You sound great.

PS - apologies, just seen the link to Age UK above.

margaretclare

I agree with much that JenniferJane writes. Although mid-60s is most definitely not old (I fell in love all over again at 62 and remarried at 65) it is a good time to take stock and decide 'where do I want to be when I really am old?' One of the things you don't always realise is, physiological muscle weakness. I used to be out in the garden all day and would come in tired - now I can be out there for half an hour and come in exhausted. You dare not let the garden get overgrown or the place look generally unkempt because this is an open invitation to any passing opportunist lowlife that you are vulnerable and fair game. So, you need paid help with it.

There are a huge number of opportunities still out there. I did GCSE Maths in my 70th year and am, at present, studying Old English. DH and I would be lost without our computers, but it's possible to access a computer at the local library and to get willing and friendly help there. Your 60s are - possibly - the best decade in which to up and move to somewhere more convenient, more easy-care, more affordable, while you have the energy and the motivation to do it.

LittleMissAspie

MissMoneypenny wrote: »

£25 per day is a good income?? What about utility bills and running a car? A meal out?

It's £750pcm. After I pay my mortgage and council tax, I am left with £655pcm. So she has more money than me and I am earning a full time salary.