Widow's Pension

cavyslave

My husband died in 2007 when our son was 9 years old. Since then I have been receiving Widowed Parent's Allowance and Child Tax Credits, but he leaves full time education this year and I know the payments will stop. I'm nearly 56 years old, will I be transferred on to JSA as I'm not employed at the moment. Thank you.

Bogalot

You will need to apply for JSA.

Is there anything stopping you from seeking work now?

teddysmum

To get JSA you will have to be available for/looking for work and attend meetings; possibly go on courses.

xylophone

Is there anything stopping you from seeking work now?

Perhaps the OP doesn't need to work?

My son and myself are sole beneficiaries and I'm an also the sole executor.
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/71672260#Comment_71672260

Thank you so much everyone. He does have a sizeable amount of savings and a detached property near London so I roughly estimate his estate to be worth in the region of £750k. Obviously with a sum of this amount a sizeable chunk of IHT will be due.

cavyslave

That's correct, but probate is going to take at least a year according to the solicitor. Am I just to starve until then? Honestly you people are so rude, I ask a simple question and I have others going through my posts and digging up stuff which has nothing to do with them. Shame on you!

Oh and FYI - I've been suffering with PTSD and severe anxiety/depression since the death of my husband and my son has suffered dreadfully growing up without a dad. I just hope none of you have to go through the same things me and my son have been through over the past 10 years.

Tommo1980

Perhaps look into applying for ESA. You can start the application over the phone and once you complete the forms you will receive the equivalent of JSA until you are formally assessed.

You will need a fit note from your GP.

Tom

TELLIT01

cavyslave wrote: »

That's correct, but probate is going to take at least a year according to the solicitor. Am I just to starve until then? Honestly you people are so rude, I ask a simple question and I have others going through my posts and digging up stuff which has nothing to do with them. Shame on you!

Oh and FYI - I've been suffering with PTSD and severe anxiety/depression since the death of my husband and my son has suffered dreadfully growing up without a dad. I just hope none of you have to go through the same things me and my son have been through over the past 10 years.

All people have done is posted content which may have a bearing on what you need to do and why. There was nothing judgemental in the post which xylophone included, simply a response based on your own previous post. Nobody here knows the timescales involved in the probate of that estate.
Without the prompting of those questions and your responses we would not have been aware of your medical situation. That additional information can certainly change the advice from being to claim JSA, to one that you can potentially claim ESA.
I appreciate that you are under a lot of strain, but in order to provide meaningful advice people do need to know the full situation.

cavyslave

I understand, but why go through my previous posts and bring up about the inheritance instead of just asking me more about my situation?

Bogalot

cavyslave wrote: »

That's correct, but probate is going to take at least a year according to the solicitor. Am I just to starve until then? Honestly you people are so rude, I ask a simple question and I have others going through my posts and digging up stuff which has nothing to do with them. Shame on you!

Oh and FYI - I've been suffering with PTSD and severe anxiety/depression since the death of my husband and my son has suffered dreadfully growing up without a dad. I just hope none of you have to go through the same things me and my son have been through over the past 10 years.

I'm sorry you've been through such a difficult time, the impact of losing a loved one should never be underestimated. But nonetheless you have had ten years to plan for now. Perhaps work would be helpful to you, giving you a more constructive focus? Staying at home doesn't seem to be helping.

If your son is still struggling then some counselling might be helpful, as he'll be expected to work in a short time also.

cavyslave

Thank you Bogalot, I'm looking into counselling for my son and I already volunteer 2 days per week for a local charity so perhaps I will increase my days.

xylophone

I have others going through my posts and digging up stuff which has nothing to do with them.

You have posted on a public forum.

Information given in earlier posts is very often relevant to a current post.

Where means tested benefits may be involved, the amount of capital owned by an applicant is very relevant.

Presumably your benefits will continue up to the time your son leaves school - by end July/August probate may well be through.

Your son may find work quickly and be able to contribute to household expenses.

Am I just to starve until then?

Presumably knowing that the benefits you are receiving would end you had made some provision for any transitional period?