Very concerned

[Minkytink]

Short version of this conundrum Elderly aunt recently widowed, no children lives 70 miles from me. Over the last year I’ve been visiting at least once a month, and help where I can.
I’ve just found out that a very “helpful” neighbour has been giving her a story about being strapped for cash. So my aunt paid her to do cleaning/shopping etc .. to be honest it was a weight off me, she is coming to live with us in the very near future.

Anyway neighbour is in her 40’s single mum of a 3yr old, works 12hrs a week and lives in a council house (no father on the scene) child goes to a nursery 3 days a week.

Somehow she’s convinced my aunt that she gets no help from benefits, can this be right? She can’t be paying her rent/bills/car/nursery and bills on 12 hrs a week.
Aunt is giving way to much to cover what she does for her, she says she feels sorry for her as they are sitting in the cold with no food!
i’m just trying to get informed before I decide what to do.

anybody help?

She's financially abusing a vulnerable elderly lady. Her personal circumstances are irrelevant.

Can you do POA for your aunt?

I’d be contacting the police.

I think you are right to be suspicious. Universal credit isn't affected by the number of hours you work, and presumably she is receiving child benefit. That's not to say that she isn't struggling financially - many people are - but she might well be exaggerating in order to take advantage of your Aunt's generosity.

This site provides a useful summary of benefits and impact of hours worked:

https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/working-hours-benefits-rules/how-are-benefits-affected-by-hours-worked

Depending on exactly how much money is changing hands, if the move is happening soon, at least you know there is an end in sight.

If your Aunt agrees for you to have power of attorney for her finances you could pay this lady a fair rate for the agreed hours and work that she does.

Your Aunt does sound like she is pretty savvy though and knows she is paying this woman too much so she could say that her neice is overseeing her finances and she is not "allowed" to pay more than £15 an hour (or whatever) if she wants an excuse to reign it in.

She could suggest that the lady visits citizens advice for help with benefits, looks at the entitledto website and for debt contacts Stepchange or Christians Against Poverty.

How much is your aunt paying this woman and for what?

Your aunt is vulnerable. This sounds like an adult safeguarding issue. Her local authority has a duty of care. Google 'Adult safeguarding' + her Local Authority and then report to Adult Social Services.

Financial abuse - it needs reporting. Thank god your aunt has you to keep an eye out for her.

GP can also do safeguarding referral.

She will ramp it up if she knows she's leaving. I'd tell her I'm onto her and stop her coming to your Aunts.

Have you been to her house, seen that its cold and there's no food, she's a chancer, ask auntie to give you poa or 3rd party access to her bank account and add your nane so no money can come out without your approval. Arrange online shopping and a cleaner. Refer to social services and her GP.

Thank you all for replies…. We’ve decided to get her here sooner, we are going to swap the schedule of works around so her annexe gets done asap .. end of Feb fingers crossed.

I went on the benefits calculator and was astonished at what she could be getting .. which confirms for me that she isn’t desperate. I don’t want to cause my Aunt any stress so won’t be making official complaint but I will be having a quiet word with neighbour next week when I go to visit .. Thanks again

The only reason the neighbour would not be able to claim Universal credit in these circumstances is if she had savings over 16k. I suspect she is lying to your aunt and also taking cash in hand.

Is your aunt paying her cash, does she get a bill and a receipt.