Age gap / finance

[Misstigglewinkle]

Hello,
i wonder if anyone can offer any advice. My partner of 30 years is 68, he gets state pension of £205 pw, he still works as a HGV driver, I have been suffering since my Father died, and dave been diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica , osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and bursitis in both hips, I am really struggling to do stuff! We have three children, one has left home but the others are at home, both in full time education. My partner would like to stop work soon as he too is finding it hard , but we cannot live off his state pension, i get child benefit, and he does have a small private pension ( which he hasn’t claimed as yet ) . When I have asked if there is any financial help for us, i have been repeatedly told no! If we were both pensioners we would get pension credit but we are not!
I have worked all my life as has he, we have never claimed any benefits and it seems very unfair that we cannot get any help!
anyone know any different ?
thankyou in advance xx

It’s probably correct. We are a mixed age couple with state pension, small occupation pension (£200 a month ish) and only qualify for around £40 a month. But our UC elements are more the OPs would be due to severely disabled child and carers element.

Im 49, my children are 15 and 18, i do not claim any benefits and never have, hence the post , i have used the benefit calculators and they said we were entitled to nothing !
I stoped work in February as I was in so much pain and struggling.
my partner is currently a HGV driver ( he gets minimum wage ) and his state pension from when he turned 67, if he stops work he will get £226 a week state pension and a bit from his private pension ( which has fallen in recent weeks ) we think this will be about £2000 a year !

You need to be working OP, or assessed as being unable to work.

Could both of you work part time?

It sounds as if your DP needs to get a job that’s not as hard on him as HGV driving so that you still have a regular wage coming in to supplement his pension income. The guy who delivers our groceries used to drive HGVs and still enjoys being on the road but also now going home each night. He’s a similar age.
in the meantime, as others have suggested, you need to be assessed for PIP. Good luck.

Ypu should talk to Citizens Advice, they will be able to help you to work out how much you can claim.

Both of you getting part-time jobs does seem the best bet to tide you over. You should be building up a pension pot of your own.

If you're unable to work through illness you need to go through the process I would have thought. Otherwise you won't get anything for being unable to work.

If you are not working, you should be able to claim

Statutory sick pay from your employer or full pay

If not apply for universal credit, but you will need to declare your husbands income, due to being a mixed age (one of state pension age)

No need to go to CAB or any other agency

Just apply below

www.gov.uk/universal-credit

Op you may get moved to the LWCRA part of UC

Your husband may be eligible for pension credit

Apply here

https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit/eligibility

If you're too ill then you'll be eligible for PIP- it's not just for people who can't care for themselves.

Apply for universal credit- the LWCRA part. You'll be assessed to see if you truly can't work, or if there's a way you can be supported into getting a job (work from home roles for example, or work that could be adapted to suit your needs i.e. in an office with suitable seating options if suitable)

When you left work did you just leave or were you in discussion ? You may have been entitled to ESA contributions based or income related. But if you just left that’s not quite the same and handed in your notice it’s not quite the same. Then you are entitled to nothing as far as I’m aware tat that specific time. You may be eligible for PIP but there are lots of criteria, it’s hard claiming and they are cracking down. Not saying you shouldn’t but it’s apparently a comes process, my very disabled friend receives it.

Just do the entitled to website.

Sounds hard OP. It sounds like your partner can’t give up work. I don’t know much about benefits but sharing some meditations with you. Hope you recover your health.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vcRyofxBnFo&pp=0gcJCYQJAYcqIYzv

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=UwRKEjQ4yuo&pp=ygUXZGVlcCBoZWFsaW5nIG1lZGl0YXRpb24%3D

He won’t be. Mixed age couples have to claim UC.

Why does dh have to work beyond pension age? If both can't physically work they'll have to cut their cloth accordingly. I would look to see if you're entitled to pip OP.

Because he had a child at 53 and has a tiny pension, unfortunately it’s a difficult set up for them but giving up work when you are still raising kids isn’t realistic for most.

I agree though OP that PIP is your best bet, it’s difficult to get but worth it. If DH can try for a job a little easier on him than HGV driving that may help too.

🙄
I doubt that it is.
I imagine the 'surprise' is that the OP, who has worked all of her life, has suddenly found herself unable to work full time due to ill health at the age of only 49. I doubt that sort of thing is in anyone's 'plan'. And before any other comment - try to remember that any of us can become unable to work, at any time, best laid plans aside.

Speak to Citizens Advice and get an assessment for UC and PIP. If you can’t work and have children I can’t believe there is no help. Do you own or rent?

All the cloth cutting in the world isn’t going to support 2 adults and 2 DC on less than £1k a month.