Couple in 80s

ConcernedNeighbour

Is there any help for a couple in my village in their late 80s?

Background
They have worked and paid taxes to the UK all their lives. Ran their own various businesses. Retired in their late 60s/early 70s as far as I can tell. They used their savings and full state pension each, to pay for themselves.

Present
Now in their late 80s. They just claim their full state pensions. Their savings have all gone and they struggle to pay the council tax and rent. They have lived at the same property for decades and I don't know how much rent they pay.

They both look after each other as they have opposite health needs. One struggles to walk but has full memory and mental health. The other has good mobilty, but has lost their short term memory (leaving on the hob etc) and has to be watched.

Is there anything they can claim? As usual with people like this, they are relucant to claim anything but they need help. It would be good to show them what they could get.

Thanks.

Cyberman60

The first thing that strikes me is that pensioners do not pay full council tax.

Also they should get extra heating allowance every year.

elsien

Attendance allowance? Do they get pension credit?

Plus possible help with rent and council tax depending on their income.
Have you put any figures into a benefits calculator?

If you point them in the direction of Ageuk, they will help them to sort out any entitlements, fill in forms etc and are well used to older people with a reluctance to accept their well earned dues. They also have a benefits calculator.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/?gclid=CKiHsZvduMECFWYTwwod_F4ApQ

ConcernedNeighbour

Cyberman60 wrote: »

Also they should get extra heating allowance every year.

I thought that came through automatically as they claim a pension?

elsien

For the winter fuel allowance it's automatic after the first claim. So if they've never claimed it, they may have been missing out.


If they're over 75, they should also get the tv licence concession if they have a tv. Again, they need to claim it, it's not automatic.
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/money-matters/claiming-benefits/television-licence-concessions/


It does sound like they could do with someone to sit down and go through everything with them. Age uk have a free helpline if there's not a branch anywhere near you.

dandelionclock30

The help they could get is
Council tax support.
Pension credit,
Winter fuel allowance and free T.V licence.
Attendance Allowance.
I'd either take them to the CAB and get a worker to help them fill in the forms etc or ring adult social services for your area and ask a social worker to come out and help them with the same thing.
It could be that the Social Services refer them to the CAB anyway.

iris

Cyberman60 wrote: »

The first thing that strikes me is that pensioners do not pay full council tax.

Also they should get extra heating allowance every year.

Pensioners do pay full council tax;)

cifpower

I always get a little irked when someone says "paid taxes all my life". It doesn't really mean anything and implies that they are deserving of something extra.

pmlindyloo

dandelionclock30 wrote: »

The help they could get is
Council tax support.
Pension credit,
Winter fuel allowance and free T.V licence.
Attendance Allowance.
I'd either take them to the CAB and get a worker to help them fill in the forms etc or ring adult social services for your area and ask a social worker to come out and help them with the same thing.
It could be that the Social Services refer them to the CAB anyway.

Once AA is obtained they can apply for Carer's Allowance. If both get AA they can each apply for CA for the other one.

They won't actually receive the allowance as the state pension and CA are overlapping benefits but they would be entitled to a Carer's premium (extra money) on any means tested benefits. This may mean if their state pensions take them over the limit for Pension Credit by a small amount then the Carer's Premium may then make them eligible.

Pension Credit automatically passports them to housing benefit and council tax benefit.

MissMoneypenny

cifpower wrote: »

I always get a little irked when someone says "paid taxes all my life". It doesn't really mean anything and implies that they are deserving of something extra.

!!!!!!. This thread is about an elderly couple who should have had help years ago. It is not about you.

Ignore posts like this OP. You seem to have been given some good advice on here from the other posters.

susanthunt

My in- laws are similar although husband has a very small private pension of £100 pm on top of state pension.
They get housing benefit and council tax support which means they don't pay either at all. They also get guaranteed pension credit.

A few months ago we helped FIL to claim attendance allowance because MIL has dementia and needs watched all the time.

I have to say the issue is probably going to be getting them to fill in paperwork, responding to letters etc - we had to fill in forms because FIL didnt want to do it.
I guess you could at least ring the council and ask how easy they could make the hb/ council tax app for them because neighbours are worried.