Support with home improvements

Lady_H_2

My mum is a pensioner and extremely budget conscious. She has gone most of the winter barely putting the heating on to save money and yet still needs to dip into her modest savings every month to make ends meet. She has recently discovered that her roof needs to be replaced and is very stressed as the quotes she is getting means that her savings will be completely depleted following these works. I’m worried how she will continue to support herself with zero savings. I wondered if any of you knowledgable people might be able to advise on any support available to her please? I’ve had a Google but am not getting very far, she is just above the threshold for pension credit and I can’t see anything on her local council website which would help. It’s heartbreaking seeing how many sleepless nights she’s been having about her roof!

elsien

Pension credit is based on income rather than savings.  £10,000 or less in savings and investments won’t affect  Pension Credit.

If she  has  more than £10,000, every £500 over £10,000 counts as £1 income a week.

So what income does she have coming in? 

If paying for her roof brings her savings down and her income is within the pension credit limit she would then be entitled to make a claim. 

Lady_H_2

I don’t know much about pensions but she mentioned being just above the threshold so I think that must make her income around £900pm.
thank you very much for your reply @elsien

theoretica

It seems worth her seriously considering if she wants to stay in that property - that needs work and costs to heat.  What would her options be if she was open to moving?

If she is definitely staying in this home it would also be worth looking at what equity release could do for her, and perhaps consulting a knowledgable broker - allowing her to live in her house and spend some of its value.

Clowance

How did she find out the roof needs doing? Was it a reputable person with no axe to grind / gain to be made?

Flugelhorn

honestly sounds like she would be better downsizing to somewhere easier to heat and maintain

MarzipanCrumble

Might be worth you having a look at Age UK
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/

I agree with #Clowance - it might be worth you checking Which? Trusted Traders for her area - you don't need to be a Which Member to do this.  Age UK also has advice.  Get 3 quotes.
https://trustedtraders.which.co.uk/
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/care/housing-options/adapting-home/finding-tradesperson/

Downsizing has its costs though probably not as much as a new roof!

I know it can be difficult but could you start a serious conversation with your Mum saying you are seriously concerned about her and how can you help - for instance both of you accessing Age UK?  Or phoning them with her there?

Keep_pedalling

First off you need to establish if her house actually needs re-roofing, I would be vary suspicious that this was actually the case unless there was water ingress or there was visible signs of a collapse. 

I agree with others, your mother appears to be asset rich but cash poor which is not a good position to be in your laser years. There are a couple of people in our street in that position, they are sitting on an asset worth a small fortune but getting no benefit from it and living in poverty.

She would be better of downsizing to something smaller and more energy efficient or selling and moving to sheltered housing or assisted living.

If she is not up for that and she really does need roof repairs then equity release is an option.

elsien

Does she have any care and support needs and might she qualify for attendance allowance? This is not means tested and she doesn't need to be having paid carers coming in to be eligible. 

Albermarle

Clowance said:

How did she find out the roof needs doing? Was it a reputable person with no axe to grind / gain to be made?

As above, has she had a second ( or third) opinion ?