What can my Mother get?

McClane54

Hi All,

What can my mum get? if any help? Everyone seems to get it somthing, but not her

My father passed away last year and since then my mother has started to struggle with bills and food etc. She lives in her own mortgage free house and has her private pension and half of my dads private pension totaling £453 Monthly, that's it!

She's not at retirement age yet and still has 16months to go .. but is unable to work as he's been off for the last 8 years having had a head injury in work which changed who she was, even now she's a lot better, her head gets tired and she wouldn't be able to work full time. she tried a job at card factory for a few hours every other day but found it too much. When she becomes pension age at December 2024 she'll be fine - but she needs help from now till then

Anyone have any advice? We don't want to sell the house or take any money out of it. 

Brie

have you checked here for any entitlement?

Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable

elsien

She’s not going to get housing benefit if she’s mortgage free. She may be eligible for universal credit - has she tried putting her circumstances into one of the benefit calculator?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition
She would be expected to look for Work, unless she can get a fit note off her doctor and pass the low work capability requirement exemption. Has she seen a GP about her issues - I’m presuming so, so she would have evidence to support with this. 
Has she also applied for the single persons council tax discount, and she could also see whether her low income qualifies her for any council tax benefit - that would be a application to her local council rather than the DWP?

J63320

Has she applied for Bereavement Support Payments? How much she might get depends on how long it is since your father died, so if she hasn’t applied yet she should do so asap. 

McClane54

J63320 said:

Has she applied for Bereavement Support Payments? How much she might get depends on how long it is since your father died, so if she hasn’t applied yet she should do so asap. 

Yes we managed to get that. Dad worked from 16 at sea so had the full payments which end this month Thank you

McClane54

Brie said:

have you checked here for any entitlement?

Benefits Calculator - entitledto - independent | accurate | reliable

Yes, thank you for that. usully nothing . both parents worked all thier life and (not mum for the last few years) and never claimed a thing.

McClane54

Thank you for all the replies, we've managed to get the 25% reduction in council tax as a single person.

freesha

Did she not claim child benefit or family allowance as it was called? Everyone always says 'never claimed a penny' but in reality they did.

McClane54

elsien said:

She’s not going to get housing benefit if she’s mortgage free. She may be eligible for universal credit - has she tried putting her circumstances into one of the benefit calculator?
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-quick-guide/universal-credit-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition
She would be expected to look for Work, unless she can get a fit note off her doctor and pass the low work capability requirement exemption. Has she seen a GP about her issues - I’m presuming so, so she would have evidence to support with this. 
Has she also applied for the single persons council tax discount, and she could also see whether her low income qualifies her for any council tax benefit - that would be a application to her local council rather than the DWP?

Thank you. I think the only option would be to go down the route of a fit note from the doctor. We managed to get the council tax reduction. i think we will try for the council tax benifit next too . thank you

Misslayed

The work related injury may entitle her to industrial injuries benefit? Or PIP?

sheramber

Have you looked at whether your mother could claim PIP?

https://www.gov.uk/pip