93 years old- fuel bill

[catchingzzzeds]

How on earth am I going to deal with this? I've been paying my grandmother's bills through my account for years because she didn't have a bank account, she would then give me the cash the following month.

She is with British Gas and her bill is going up from £86 per month to £214.
She receives help with her rent and a state pension, I really don't know how I'm going to have this conversation with her without upsetting her. I wish I could just pay it for her but I just don't have the money.
I feel sick.

I think you'll just have to be honest with her. My Mum is younger (81),
and only sees whats in the news, not newspapers/social media so I have to pass on most of what I read that I think she needs to know.

She says she just can't do without the heating. Her sleeping hours are everywhere and if she gets too cold her joints are painful - she's has heating set to 17c 24 hours a day, and just can't do without (she does wear a dressing gown on top of clothes, has really old blankets out for legs, over bedding). She's looking at cheaper ways to eat, will cut out the odd coffee out (every couple of months). She hasn't been on holiday for three years, but won't even consider now.

My Mum is with British Gas and we've checked with them that she's on the best tariff for her. Unfortunately, there isn't a better one, but got to be worth a phone call.

I find it very sad many people are struggling/having to cut back when they're in difficulty through no fault of their own or working full time on a low income.

But heating on 24/7 is inevitably going to be expensive. Wouldn't an electric blanket be ok at night?

But heating on 24/7 is inevitably going to be expensive. Wouldn't an electric blanket be ok at night?

I'm assuming she doesn't use all 3 bedrooms. Are the radiators off/on the ice symbol in all the rooms not in use and the doors firmly shut?

Definitely be honest with her and don't put your own financial security at risk by trying to shield her from the reality of the price increases.

As a pensioner she's entitled to extra financial help and possibly a cheaper tariff that's not available to customers who aren't vulnerable. You need to make sure she's receiving all this.

Then you need to help her reduce her usage without compromising wellbeing, eg closing off rooms that aren't used, blocking draughts. Does she have a heated throw she can use when sitting down?

There's quite a bit more than can be done before you just pay her bills for her and get into debt yourself in the process.

Thank you all for your advice, I thought I'd come back and update you.

I spoke to British Gas today, they said the new monthly payment was based on her winter fuel usage and they have reduced the monthly payment to £170.
They were very helpful and understanding on the phone but obviously there was little they could do due to the price hikes.
I'm hopeful the new payment will cover her usage as they said she actually uses very little electricity so once the heating goes off in the warmer weather it should be ok.

I also turned off the radiator in the back bedroom, turned the other 4 radiators down and turned the thermostat down one degree.

I have also applied for Attendance Allowance for her so thank you to those who suggested it, fingers crossed she'll be accepted as that will help hugely with the fuel bills.

You should apply for her winter fuel payment too www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment I think you’ve missed last year, but know to get it for next year. It’s about £300.

Definitely apply for attendance allowance, the higher rate is about £85 a week.

@LardyDee

Attendance Allowance, even at the lower daytime rate, is about £250 a month, it would cover her gas bill. You might have to be "creative" on the form (which is terrifyingly long) and emphasise how bad things could be for her on a very bad day rather than how they usually are. But I get the sense that for anyone of her age there is a presumption that she qualifies, and they are very unlikely to check.

And I agree with getting power of attorney for her and dealing with her finances through her own bank account, not yours. The power might come in useful if she loses capacity at some point, and it makes sense to keep her finances entirely separate from yours.

To claim Attendance allowance people need to have significant care needs for things like personal care and medical evidence to back this up. I would also second getting her a bank account. If she wants to try to claim pension credit then she will need to show proof of funds. They will ask for bank statements.

@LardyDee

Attendance Allowance, even at the lower daytime rate, is about £250 a month, it would cover her gas bill. You might have to be "creative" on the form (which is terrifyingly long) and emphasise how bad things could be for her on a very bad day rather than how they usually are. But I get the sense that for anyone of her age there is a presumption that she qualifies, and they are very unlikely to check.

And I agree with getting power of attorney for her and dealing with her finances through her own bank account, not yours. The power might come in useful if she loses capacity at some point, and it makes sense to keep her finances entirely separate from yours.

Umm, fraud comes to mind . . .

The cap has gone up 50%, but fixed rates expiring now were much lower than the old cap.

My fix expired mid March and my electricity has doubled, gas tripled.

OP you may find it worth contacting her local council to see if she is entitled to any reductions on her Council Tax that she isn't already claiming, in addition to the Winter Fuel Payment and the Attendance Allowance.

Get an electric over blanket.
Got my mum one and she loves it

www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08HCQ3W9G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?psc=1&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&ie=UTF8

@Clovacloud

You should apply for her winter fuel payment too www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment I think you’ve missed last year, but know to get it for next year. It’s about £300.

It’s £200 and you don’t have to apply. It’s paid automatically in November.

She does now have a bank account, we had to do this when they made changes to how the state pension is paid.

I was truthful on the Attendance Allowance forms so I'm not worried about that. I think the fact that she refuses to see the GP ever will be the problem as there is no evidence to back up the information on the form.

I can't get her a heated blanket as she's likely to fall over it/leave it turned on/be too intimidated to use it. But when I get paid I will get her some warmer pyjamas and cardigans.

@catchingzzzeds

She does now have a bank account, we had to do this when they made changes to how the state pension is paid.

I was truthful on the Attendance Allowance forms so I'm not worried about that. I think the fact that she refuses to see the GP ever will be the problem as there is no evidence to back up the information on the form.

I can't get her a heated blanket as she's likely to fall over it/leave it turned on/be too intimidated to use it. But when I get paid I will get her some warmer pyjamas and cardigans.

It sounds like she needs supervision with things and you give her enough support for her to get AA, so hopefully that will be awarded. If she only gets basic state pension then once AA is awarded that will likely increase the likelihood of her receiving pension credit so definitely get a benefit check done with Age Uk or similar.

Do they qualify for warm home discount?

www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/debt-savings/energy/

Have a look here at the help with heating costs section

Forgot to say she already receives the winter fuel allowance and pension credit.

It comes down to the fact that she just feels the cold due to her age and lack of mobility so her heating is in quite high 24/7.
The central heating was put in a few years using a government grant which allowed her 5 radiators; she has one in the hall, lounge, kitchen, landing and back bedroom. So the 5 radiators have to work quite hard to heat her draughty 1900 terrace.

Can you log on and change the DD amount? SSE tried putting mine up to 140 from 80 and I thought stuff that and was able to change it back.

@Babyroobs I'm really hoping so.

Thank you @PizzaPalaver yes she receives that already

@catchingzzzeds

Forgot to say she already receives the winter fuel allowance and pension credit.

It comes down to the fact that she just feels the cold due to her age and lack of mobility so her heating is in quite high 24/7.
The central heating was put in a few years using a government grant which allowed her 5 radiators; she has one in the hall, lounge, kitchen, landing and back bedroom. So the 5 radiators have to work quite hard to heat her draughty 1900 terrace.

If she receives Pension credit and is awarded AA, then do let Pension credit know. If she lives alone and no-one will be claiming carers allowance for her then if AA is awarded she would be eligible for a severe disability premium which would increase her pension credit significantly.

@Kddie I'd be too worried about building up a debt!

@Babyroobs thank you that's helpful to know

[quote catchingzzzeds]@Kddie I'd be too worried about building up a debt![/quote]
Thing is when I swapped mine back, it still said what it said before, that I would be in credit by £15 at end of year!

I spoke to British Gas today, they said the new monthly payment was based on her winter fuel usage and they have reduced the monthly payment to £170.

Hmmmmmmm. So were British Gas:
A. Unaware of how the calendar and seasons work;
B. Clueless as to their millions of customers' regular fuel usage patterns;
C. Lacking the most basic arithmetic-based computer software;
D. Deliberately deciding to take advantage of a very elderly lady in the hope that she wouldn't have the wherewithal to realise what they were up to or challenge them?

It's so good that she has you to advocate for her, OP, but elderly and vulnerable customers really shouldn't be left in that position in the first place. What about the very old folk who don't have family who are able/willing to help them?

We all hate the scum rogue traders who see the elderly as ripe for the plucking, but it appears that they aren't the only ones making their own opportunities.