Advice for friends

pmlindyloo

McKneff wrote: »

People who own their own houses can not claim housing benefit....

I did put HB (housing costs) meaning that they would be entitled to Support for Mortgage interest if they still had a mortgage.

Sorry for the confusion.

They really do not have to worry about the doctor signing him off. He can stop work and go straight on Pension Credit on a joint claim. He meets the criteria.

[Deleted User]

OP could i suggest a park home?much less hassle than a boat and a nice second hand one can be had for less than 50k,with low overheads and maintenance plus no kids live on 99% of the sites
http://www.parkhome-living.co.uk/

we made the move 3 years ago and have never regretted it

cattermole

Nice to hear from someone who has made the move to a residential park home and can endorse it

The other option is selling the house and looking for a split equity property with a Housing Association, which might be a quicker route than a waiting list for over 55's accommodation but achieves the same end.

s1234_2

But!!!!! They have taken holidays on narrow boats, he loves them, she definitely hates them. I keep telling her that life/living will be totally different when living on one, but I am talking to the wrong person, she agrees 100% but he has romantic ideals that boating life is what he needs and wants. He will not listen to reason having longed for this way of life for so long and he sees it as his only way out of his job.

I will tell her to look into pension credit. What we need is someone to have a sit down talk with HIM and make him see the real picture.

Savvy_Sue

s1234 wrote: »

But!!!!! They have taken holidays on narrow boats, he loves them, she definitely hates them. I keep telling her that life/living will be totally different when living on one, but I am talking to the wrong person, she agrees 100% but he has romantic ideals that boating life is what he needs and wants. He will not listen to reason having longed for this way of life for so long and he sees it as his only way out of his job.

Well, it's a start. At least one of them knows they like them ... and maybe he'd love it as a way of life.

But as she would not, she's the one who needs to put her foot down, IMO. Maybe you can support her in doing that, and in getting info to show what alternatives there are to their present situation.

I know if DH suggested it I'd just have to say No. Sorry darling, but no, I cannot do that, it will make me miserable, stressed and unhappy. I know that you are currently miserable, stressed and unhappy, please can we work together to find a way to change that which does NOT involve putting me into the same situation.

elsien

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I know if DH suggested it I'd just have to say No. Sorry darling, but no, I cannot do that, it will make me miserable, stressed and unhappy. I know that you are currently miserable, stressed and unhappy, please can we work together to find a way to change that which does NOT involve putting me into the same situation.

That.
I have a retired friend who had a boat, not to live on but for holidays. She'd also spent years hankering after a narrow boat but found it was a whole different ball game after she'd bought it. The hassle and cost of the mooring fees, finding a suitable mooring, hoiking it out for maintenance etc was far harder than she'd anticipated, and it took over two years to sell on when she finally decided to get rid. I think that for it to work, both partners would need to be fully committed to the idea and to appreciate what the lifestyle actually involves. My friend thought she knew what she was taking on, and still got it wrong.

borkid

Hi two things spring to mind, not specifically house boat related. Firstly they need to spend time together, ideally restricting themselves to just a couple of rooms, all day for several weeks. When my hubby and I retired we found we needed more space, from one person being out at work all day to then being under ones feet 24/7 is a big change. It is not like being on holiday. I used to joke with a policeman friend if we hadn't had a bigger house one of us would be inside for murder!

If he really is set on a narrow boat then this is the advice we were given when thinking about moving to France. Go and live there in the winter. It'll be quiet and cold. Also work out all the costs and take that off the amount they have to live on and see if they can manage.

In fact I wouldn't make any big changes straight after retirement you need time to get used to the new life.

Mojisola

s1234 wrote: »

He is 63 years old has tablet controlled diabetes and has recently had a minor heart attack. He hates his job, is really struggling, has heavy night sweats and is very anxious and depressed. He has a small pension of £300 which currently is paying for a car.

He says the only way out of the job is to sell the house and buy a narrow-boat to live on.

This is the same as thinking that a flick of the magic wand will solve all problems - he's not suddenly going to be cured of depression and anxiety because he lives on a boat.

We take our problems with us when we move. Sometimes a good change can be a starting point for improvements but it doesn't automatically happen. Also, there is rarely one solution for problems.

elsien and borkid make really important points.

s1234_2

Hi, in the reply to my post regarding my friend who is going to live on a narrowboat so her husband can retire. You mentioned 'pension credit'. Could my friend apply for this when husband is still working or will she need to wait?

elsien

There's a pension credit calculator if they want to run some figures. Your friend is 65 so is old enough to qualify
https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
There's some info on there about eligibility as well.