Help to navigate benefits for elderly relatives

[mumontherunnn]

Hi all,

I'm really stuck! My Dmum has had her life turned upside down recently and I need to start applying for benefits for her. It's not something I've ever had to do so no idea where to start - any idea on how I can figure out what she is entitled too?

Thanks!

How old is your mum?

Can you explain a little more about her situation ? has she recently separated or become unwell / disabled ? Does she receive state pension ? there are benefits calculators online .

An appointment with the citizens advice bureau is a good place to start. Try and collect bank statements Work history etc so they can best advise her.

Thanks all, parents are still together however both have become very unwell, one with a long term condition, the other through stress and exhaustion with the illness.

We have managed to obtain a blue badge and hence the higher rate of pip for the mobility category. Neither work.

It's all a bit of a nightmare

If they are claiming pip, am I right in assuming they are under retirement age? Do they both claim pip? Is one a career for the other? Can they claim careers allowance? Has one or both been working and paid national insurance contributions to be entitled to contributory esa?

if on PIP prior to aged 65 then it can continue after , however I didn't think the mobility component can be increased above the age of 65 ? What other income do they have ? If they have significant savings over 20k then they are unlikely to get any means tested benefits. It's hard to advise without knowing their ages. if under state retirement age then one could claim carers allowance for the other or if over 65 the one not on PIP could claim Attendance allowance if they are struggling with things themselves. Disability benefits may affect council tax reduction or entitle them to pension credit - it all depends on their ages really.

Ok just saw your post about neither working so I'm assuming they are under pension age . They could make a joint esa claim depending on NI contributions and / or savings. if they have rent to pay then maybe housing benefit and council tax reduction or Universal credit if in a UC full service area . what are they living off at the moment? carers allowance would be a definite possibility for the one not claiming PIP and carers can be claimed alongside ESA although it would be taken off the ESA and a carers premium added.

You've probably already done this, but the Turn2us website really is helpful, as is the Citizen's Advice. If one of your parents has a specific diagnosis, contact the charity related to that. There's also SSFSA if either of your parents has any time in the forces at all.

Thanks everyone, my folks are not at retirement age but to put things in context my 90 year old grandfather is in better condition.

I have made an appointment with Citizens advice, no idea why I didn't think of this before! I blanked, didn't realisehiw bad a shape they are in financially until
Tonight, I was certain there was, there is nothing and no income. It's all a bit of a shock

That's good that you are seeing CAB - they will know if your parents area is a Universal credit full service area or not so they can advise on appropriate benefits to claim. At least they have had the PIP coming in for now.