Bereavement Allowance

brendanb581

Hi all

Struggling to find any answers regarding this

My mum is trying to get back into work ASAP. She is currently only receiving bereavement allowance and is really struggling to make payments on the mortgage and council tax.

She has already fell into arrears and the payment the mortgage lenders are now asking for is too much for her to afford. They are threatening to reposess

Is there any help she can get whilst she tries to get another job? She hasn't got much experience so it's taking a while

Thanks

IAmWales

Bereavement allowance would count as income for a Jobseekers claim. How much does she receive, and when are the payments due to end? A Jobseekers claim would also open up the possibility of mortgage interest support. A claim for council tax support can be made at any time on the basis of a low income.

How old is she?

brendanb581

I'm not too sure it will end but she's been getting it for a while.

She turns 60 next month

Thanks for replying

IAmWales

Is it bereavement allowance or widowed parents allowance she is receiving? The former is limited to a year.

If she's lacking in experience has she looked into voluntary work?

pmlindyloo

Is your mum living on her own?

Difficult to comment without all the details.

If her bereavement allowance is more than she would receive in JSA then she would not be entitled to the JSA.

She can apply for council tax reduction based on her low income.

No help for mortgage payments as far as I can tell so she needs advice from CAB or similar if she is threatened with repossession. Is there any equity in the property? Could she downsize? May be options.

When she turns 60 she can apply for tax credits if she is only on a low income. She would have to do a minimum of 16 hrs a week.

Based on this she should be able to find a part time job to start with - supermarket/basically anything to get some money.

She needs some advice from CAB re her mortgage. They may be able to speak to her mortgage lender on her behalf.

Cheeky_Monkey

Is there any chance that you could give her back the £5000 she gave you?

brendanb581

pmlindyloo wrote: »

Is your mum living on her own?

Difficult to comment without all the details.

If her bereavement allowance is more than she would receive in JSA then she would not be entitled to the JSA.

She can apply for council tax reduction based on her low income.

No help for mortgage payments as far as I can tell so she needs advice from CAB or similar if she is threatened with repossession. Is there any equity in the property? Could she downsize? May be options.

When she turns 60 she can apply for tax credits if she is only on a low income. She would have to do a minimum of 16 hrs a week.

Based on this she should be able to find a part time job to start with - supermarket/basically anything to get some money.

She needs some advice from CAB re her mortgage. They may be able to speak to her mortgage lender on her behalf.

Thank you for going into detail on this.. really appreciate it!

She does live on her own yes I moved out a year ago into my own mortgage. I think there is about 50k equity in the house.

Any idea what would actually happen if she were to lose the house? Would there be no help available to her? Of course she could live with me and my partner but that wouldn't be a viable option long term.

Thanks again

McKneff

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My apologies, I thought I was on another site.....

teddysmum

brendanb581 wrote: »

Thank you for going into detail on this.. really appreciate it!

She does live on her own yes I moved out a year ago into my own mortgage. I think there is about 50k equity in the house.

Any idea what would actually happen if she were to lose the house? Would there be no help available to her? Of course she could live with me and my partner but that wouldn't be a viable option long term.

Thanks again

I don't know about help if the house is repossessed, but if she moves in with you she is unlikely to be eligible for LA housing as she will have a home, so will be with you long term.

brendanb581

Okay but I can say she can't live with me though can't I? Or will they see me with a house and tell her to live here?

I'm not quite sure how it works.

brendanb581

teddysmum wrote: »

I don't know about help if the house is repossessed, but if she moves in with you she is unlikely to be eligible for LA housing as she will have a home, so will be with you long term.

Thanks, also what is LA housing?