Help for a carpets

superhooper1972

BigAunty wrote: »

£80 a week towards their rent? That's a huge shortfall they need to pay between the rent and their housing benefit allowance which would swallow up perhaps a third or so of a basic state pension. Plus paying towards their council tax?

Are you sure they only have a state pension and little in the way of savings? People who have to pay large sums towards their rent and full council tax are normally in receipt of extra income, like private pensions and/or capital over 6k (investments, savings)? Alternatively, they are living in a property far higher than their HB entitlement - could they more to a cheaper property?

Do a benefit entitlement check on them (Turn2us online benefit calculator) or perhaps Age UK can help to do this.

And if they are renting in the private sector, then why isn't the landlord replacing the carpets? They don't have an infinite lifespan.

Have they looked into applying for social housing? Nationally there is a shortage of social housing but some areas are oversupplied with social housing for elders.

Another option is a Credit Union - they are designed for low income savers and can give loans out that avoid the need for loan sharks.

They are in social housing. I will look into the benefits calculator see if they are losing out anywhere. On private pensions I know my dad has one but is not a lot, he gets 60 pounds a month before tax, after tax he gets 46 pounds.

Thanks to everyone for the advice:)

BigAunty

They are in social housing with just the basic state pension, plus about a tenner a week from a private pension and are paying £80 per week towards their rent and virtually full council tax?

State pensioners are exempt from the bedroom tax (reduction in housing benefit for any unoccupied bedrooms for social housing tenants living in a property that's too large for their needs).

Something is very amiss here, either a large amount of capital that you are not aware of which has reduced their entitlement to means tested benefits like HB and CT discount.

Or profound ignorance about their true benefit entitlements which should mean that they would only have to make a modest contribution to their rent and council tax and might be around £100 a week or more better off from just filling in a few forms.

Perhaps I've misunderstood something in your posts but I doubt many pensioners in social housing reliant on state pensions have to fork out nearly half of their net income each week on rent and CT!

benniebert

BigAunty wrote: »

They are in social housing with just the basic state pension, plus about a tenner a week from a private pension and are paying £80 per week towards their rent and virtually full council tax?

State pensioners are exempt from the bedroom tax (reduction in housing benefit for any unoccupied bedrooms for social housing tenants living in a property that's too large for their needs).

Something is very amiss here, either a large amount of capital that you are not aware of which has reduced their entitlement to means tested benefits like HB and CT discount.

Or profound ignorance about their true benefit entitlements which should mean that they would only have to make a modest contribution to their rent and council tax and might be around £100 a week or more better off from just filling in a few forms.

Perhaps I've misunderstood something in your posts but I doubt many pensioners in social housing reliant on state pensions have to fork out nearly half of their net income each week on rent and CT!

My view entirely as quoted in post 4.


Something is very wrong based on what has so far been disclosed.

superhooper1972

Yep something is amiss. I will look into this as I feel they are not getting what they are entitled to.

Would not call it ignorance more not understanding the system. we are talking about 2 people who worked all their lives, and never until recent years have they had any dealings with the benefit system.

benniebert

superhooper1972 wrote: »

Yep something is amiss. I will look into this as I feel they are not getting what they are entitled to.

Would not call it ignorance more not understanding the system. we are talking about 2 people who worked all their lives, and never until recent years have they had any dealings with the benefit system.

Unfortunately that seems to be the general case. Those that know what to claim, how to claim it and generally maximise their benefit entitlement tend to be those that have made a living out of it. In most cases where claims are not made, it's not knowing how to claim,, but more a case of simply not knowing that these benefits actually exist. The DWP have no compassion for the latter as their argument is always 'it is your responsibility to seek out information that will enable a claim to be made' Quite difficult if you don't know anything about the benefit culture and do you really feel like asking a stranger 'Do you know of any benefit we can get as we are a bit brasic and could do with a little bit more wedge for the pot?'

Pollycat

superhooper1972 wrote: »

Yep something is amiss. I will look into this as I feel they are not getting what they are entitled to.

Do let us know how you get on.

Mojisola

Some organisations like AgeUK will do a 'benefit check' - go through everything, see what they can claim and help fill in the forms.

If either of your parents were in the forces (even if it was only National Service), SSAFA will do the same. SSAFA can also give grants for things like household necessities.

superhooper1972

Pollycat wrote: »

Do let us know how you get on.

They have an appointment with someone down the civic centre on Wednesday who is going to go through everything with them, so hopefully they can get more help with TC and HB.

Will update soon as I know.