Desparate

jennystarpepper

Ring the CAB and make an appointment to see them, they will make an assessment for benefits for you.  

Try to ring the PIP people to 0800 917 2222, as you maybe able to make a claim, the CAB will fill in any claim forms if you ask them, this would be Attendance Allowance if you are over SP age, 0800 731 0122. 

You can go online via your local council, you might be able to get a blue badge, you would be able to get a free bus pass if you get a badge.

Durban

Alan 

Sorry , I have no advice but possibly as you can see from my username I understand only too well what you must be going through. 

 I am fortunate and left when I was much younger and had time on my side to start all over again but I have family members who are your age back there although they did carry on paying NI contributions and are in a better position 

I wish you luck and wish I could give advice.

Marcon

Alan_Fisburn said:

Hi Guys. 
Thank you so much to all the people who replied constructively.....
To the people advising me of towns where I might find cheaper rent: many thanks. I will continue my search there..
I was advised before I left SA that I would get >£1000. This is liveable, just. Unfortunately it was not the case.
My spelling is actually ok. It was a typo which I saw as soon as I had hit the send button. I have never been on this site before and if there was a way to retrieve and edit the post I couldn't find it. I have kept the erroneous spelling for continuity.
I neglected to mention however that we had 3 small dogs and this was also an obstacle to getting a place to rent. This is no longer an issue. 
I would like to work but I can't walk very far (after a bum double knee replacement over there) and my heart is only pumping at 35%. But I am looking for something suitable.
I won't dignify the snide replies with any answers except to say that you had better hope to God that this doesn't happen to you through some miscalculation and circumstances  beyond your control. I could never have imagined that this would happen to me.
Any other constructive advice would be appreciated.

I have relatives in SA who are trying to 'escape', so your post certainly chimed with me. Sadly far too many people on this forum love to give you the 'benefit' of their options and views, rather than just sticking to answering the question(s) actually asked. They then fall over backwards to point the finger at 'trolls' who are relishing creating a furore, which of course would never happen if people just stuck to the point. Why post an answer at all if you've got nothing of value to say?

Have you considered being a house sitter through an agency such as trustedhousesitters.com? Some people are looking for longer term 'guardians', and as accommodation is your biggest expense, it must surely be worth investigating?

The unhappy alternative is that you may need to accept you can't afford your own place and will have share, or settle for a tiny (albeit private) flat.

Pollycat

I posted this on your earlier thread. Have you checked?

Have you checked that you are receiving all the benefits that you are entitled to?
Try putting your details into one of these benefit checkers:
Benefits calculators - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Who advised you of this?

Alan_Fisburn said:

Hi Guys. 

I was advised before I left SA that I would get >£1000. 

A number of posters on your earlier thread asked how old your wife was - assumed to be under state pension age as you were claiming Universal Credit.
Isn't she able to work?

Just curious why you re-posted on the Pensions board when you were advised on page 1 of your earlier thread:

I think if you post on the benefits board with some more details of how your UC is made up, they may be able to check the accuracy of the UC.

Flugelhorn

Maybe not very forum savvy? Doesn't come back with any constructive info to inform advice and only posts at the beginning of the thread. 

yes benefits board would be more helpful 

Pollycat

OP
Here is the link to the Benefits board:
Benefits & tax credits — MoneySavingExpert Forum

Get help discovering which benefits you are entitled to - and how to claim them.

Pollycat

jennystarpepper said:

Ring the CAB and make an appointment to see them, they will make an assessment for benefits for you.  

Try to ring the PIP people to 0800 917 2222, as you maybe able to make a claim, the CAB will fill in any claim forms if you ask them, this would be Attendance Allowance if you are over SP age, 0800 731 0122. 

You can go online via your local council, you might be able to get a blue badge, you would be able to get a free bus pass if you get a badge.

Someone of state pension age would get a free bus pass anyway.
Apply for an older person's bus pass - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Alan_Fisburn

To all the people who have commented here I thank you. I will follow up on all this advice. To the people who said I had it wrong about snide remarks: Rwanda?  Shouldn't be eligible for UC etc? I am not blaming the British Gov. The consultancy query was about the fact that this benefits business seems so complicated (to me anyway) given that it's Govt. stuff and Council stuff which I am finding rather onerous. Anyway to the guy who had people in Zim...I feel your pain!! And their pain!!
Thanks again.. All of you..

Pollycat

Do you understand how forums work?
You have been asked questions.
Have you answered those questions?
You have been given links to various websites.
Have you looked at those links?
And you were blaming the UK government

For letting you 'starve in the gutter'."

Durban

Pollycat said:

Do you understand how forums work?
You have been asked questions.
Have you answered those questions?
You have been given links to various websites.
Have you looked at those links?
And you were blaming the UK government

For letting you 'starve in the gutter'."

Please give the chap a break 

He is 75 years old ,not in the greatest of health , has had to leave the country that he has lived in for 50 years virtually penniless.  Any asset or money that he would’ve had would have disappeared with the exchange rate. 

Like his title says , he is desperate 

It’s a horrible situation to be in and perhaps his wording was a little clumsy

I’m sure he will take a lot of the very good advice on board.