Benefits after father's death

DaveyCee

Hi,

My father very recently passed away. I'm still in the process of dealing with his funeral and estate. We shared the same housing association tenancy. I am now the single occupant in the home and have to cover the costs alone. I have tried my best to cut some costs with the bills etc. but the monthly affordability is still out of my reach.

I was enquiring with the local council about benefit entitlement, and they said I might be able to get some reductions. I have lots of forms to fill out.

The problem I have is this......

I have savings above the £16,000 council tax benefits threshold (some are in fixed savings accounts), but....... currently I only work 16hrs per week + some overtime and earn less than £10k per year.

Is it still worth chasing this up, or will they tell me to go away get on with it?

I know at some point in the future they will ask me to to leave the tenancy and downsize, but at the moment I need to remain here in our family home.

Thanks for any advice
D

Brie

sorry for your loss.  it's always a difficult time.  

you should be able to get a single occupancy discount which I believe is 25% off the council tax.  savings shouldn't affect this.  

I would go ahead and ask about moving to a smaller/cheaper place.  These things take time and meanwhile it sounds like you have enough for the time being to give yourself time and space to get used to the current situation.  

you might like to post on the dealing with debt board for a bit of budget advice.  if you fill out the statement of account on the forum sticky that will help people know better how to direct you.

One question you're bound to be asked is why are you working so few hours.  If it was because you were looking after dad then ok.  But now that's changed can you get more hours work?  If it was for some other reason, like disability or similar have you applied for PIP?  If no one on any of these boards are able to help you you should probably go and talk to someone at citizen's advice or see if there's a benefits and budgeting adviser at one of the local food banks.

poppy12345

Sorry for your loss. With savings of more than £16,000 you're excluded from claiming all means tested benefits. (unless they are in a pension pot) The single person discount for council tax as mentioned above is the only thing you'll be entitled to.

elsien

It is one of the purposes of having savings – to be there as a safety net when Iife throws you a curveball.
Don’t begrudge using them now  that you need to - it gives you more options than having to rely on means tested benefits which for a single person are very low.