How can I help them...

sovilla

"Deleted"...

Horseunderwater

Has your FIL applied for ESA yet? If not then I would suggest that he does do as soon as possible and that he adds your MIL as a joint claimant and does an income related application. This would give them the same amount as they would get with JSA - but no obligation to work - so £112.55, while your FIL was being paid the assessment rate. However he will need a GP to provide him with a FIT Note called a med3, stating why he cannot work. Try and get it for 3 months if you can. It will give them access to free prescriptions and Dental treatment and a free eye test with help towards glasses if needed. And your MIL could then leave her job and be on hand to take care of her Hubby. Here's some links: https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance/how-to-claim
http://pseudo-living.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/esa-descriptors-and-points.html these are ESA descriptors & he will need to meet at least one or more of and score 15 points initially.

pmlindyloo

sovilla wrote: »

I've posted here before about my parents in law but just wanted to double check that we're not missing something.

Basically in March this year they returned from spending 6 years living in Turkey. They had been ripped off and lost their villa and my father in law was having some health issues. They returned to the UK with about £3000. They stayed with us for a while till they found a house and paid 6 months rent in advance. Then they both registered for JSA and housing benefit. JSA was sorted for them, however one of the advisors as the job centre noticed how my father in law was having memory problems, couldn't remember his address or what year it was (this is one of his health problems) so advised him to go on ESA. At the same time my mother in law got a job and signed off JSA.

Her job was for 20 hours a week on minimum wage, she started in July and basically for July and August she has only earned around £370 as they didn't sort out her hours properly. Also as she is working my father in laws ESA is only £8.75 a week.

They just cannot live on this money. They get around £69 housing benefit but their rent is £450 a month. When their 6 months run out in October they are not going to be able to pay the rent.

My father in law turned up at our house today saying that my mother in law had completely lost it and trashed the house breaking pots and glasses and photos.

So my husband and I went over to see her and she's just completely broken. She has been off work this week as she has put her back out, she has bills piling up that she can't afford to pay, they are going to have to move back into our house, which is only 3 bedrooms and we have 5 children. And she just sat and cried, I think she is depressed and stressed from all the worry.

Before moving to turkey they both worked all their lives and paid tax and NI and now they get nothing and are entitled to nothing. I feel so sad and worried for them. My father in law is 59, he has memory loss and is currently attending the memory clinic, he is not at retirement age so can't get his pension. My mother in law is 57 and is trying to work but worries about leaving my father in law at home in case he tries to cook something and forgets or goes out for a walk and doesn't know where he is.

They are not entitled to social housing as they are not deemed a priority and all the flats and apartments are £400 to £450 a month.

I just don't know what to do to help them. I've suggested my mother in law leave work because the stress and worry over my father in law is making her ill and she was getting more when on benefits. But she will probably get sanctioned and end up with nothing.

I can see how people take their own lives in this situation

Father in law is already on ESA but it has been reduced because of his wife working.

As previously said your MIL must visit the doctor and gets some help. She must leave her job and be added on to your FIL's claim for ESA. There are no sanctions for leaving a job when going onto ESA.

This should give them access to full Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support up to their personal circumstances ( a one bed place at the local housing allowance - you can look up this amount on their local council website) They can rent a place which costs more but would be expected to 'top up' the rest themselves.

After this is sorted then your FIL could apply for PIP (again google for more information) as it sounds as if he has care needs. If he is awarded Pip then your mum could apply for Carer's Allowance. She could also earn up to £100 per week without it affecting her CA (when/if she feels better) and come off the joint claim for ESA.

It is quite complicated so I suggest a visit to CAB if you find it all too confusing.

CAB would also be able to help with debts/rent arrears.

Good luck with it all.

Horseunderwater

PIP not applicable as they have to have lived here at least 2 full years in past 3 I think it is. I looked it up earlier today.

princessdon

At 59 and worked all his life does he not have a private pension he can take at 60 (maybe 55)?

seven-day-weekend

They need to rent a one-bedroom place, when you say they have a 'house', is it bigger than that? They should get the full rent paid for a one-bedroom (as long as it is within the Local Housing Allowance price), if your M-i-l is unable to work.

As your father-in-law has medical issues, they might be eligible for a Council place, maybe sheltered housing. Have a chat to the local Housing Department at your Council. No harm in applying.

I hope they sort something out soon.

GwylimT

They need to get themselves to CAB, I think your mother in law needs to get the doctors, she is making herself ill. She may be entitled to ESA in which case she can become part of her husbands claim, this will enable her to sort herself out, and while doing this they will receive help, where housing benefit is concerned they would be able to claim the full allowance rate in their area for a one bedroom property. They are also likely to receive help towards paying their council tax

Now, I'm not sure if your father in law can apply for PIP, usually you need to be the country for x amount of time, however you would need to see if this also applied to British nationals.

If he has worked for a long time does he have a private pension? If so he may be able to start claiming it early due to ill health.

Now state pensions, you have two choices, you can either choose to have your UK state pension and Turkish state pension separately, or you can choose pro-rate where they are combined. You would need to see which of the two would be the most financially beneficial.

princessdon

OP you also need to realise that if dad is getting IR ESA then the 69 a week HB is their entitlement and won't increase when on benefits, so they will still have to find the CT and £150 pm if they move onto benefits.

Cash mum increase hours to 30? Even adding self employed like cleaning or dog walking

pmlindyloo

princessdon wrote: »

OP you also need to realise that if dad is getting IR ESA then the 69 a week HB is their entitlement and won't increase when on benefits, so they will still have to find the CT and £150 pm if they move onto benefits.

Cash mum increase hours to 30? Even adding self employed like cleaning or dog walking

May be wrong but I suspect that the £69 a week HB is because MIL's salary is being taken into account at the moment.

Would be surprised if that amount was the LHA for a one bed place.

princessdon

pmlindyloo wrote: »

May be wrong but I suspect that the £69 a week HB is because MIL's salary is being taken into account at the moment.

Would be surprised if that amount was the LHA for a one bed place.

The dad gets £8 odd ESA. If mum earns more than the law says they need to live on before they pay rent, he'd get nothing. So my logic (without figures) is that if he gets IR ESA then it's less than the law says therefore full housing.

That probably makes sense only to me, but I can't see them getting IR ESA and having a removal of any HB.

Marisco

pmlindyloo wrote: »

May be wrong but I suspect that the £69 a week HB is because MIL's salary is being taken into account at the moment.

Would be surprised if that amount was the LHA for a one bed place.

Yes, so would I!! Ours is £91 for a one bed place. check it out on here.

https://lha-direct.voa.gov.uk/Search.aspx?LocalAuthorityId=55&LHACategory=3&Month=6&Year=2012