Will the state help my PIL?

[siriusmew]

My parents in law have een living in a caravan for the last 5 years. Going backwards and forward to Spain during the year. When their savings dwindled DP subsidised them for the last 2 years. Now we are no longer able to do this they are thinking of coming back to the UK full time to live in their caravan year round. However they are both over 70 and my FIL is registered disabled (problems from polio as a child) and DP doesn't think they'll last very long in a caravan in the British weather. So if they applied for sheltered accommadation or something similar would they be eligible? DP hasn't really discussed this with them as his mum is quite touchy about it. But we can't afford the £6000 it cost to keep them in Spain. Any advice?

Any ideas?

no ideas but bumping for you

i think there is housing benefit or similar for old people?

Thanks guys! Got to get DP to have a chat with them. They are very proud and stubborn!

oh i know about proud stubbon grandparents, very hard to cope with, but convince them they have been paying into the system for years and now deserve to reap the benefits.

Don't forget the small things like no tv liscence for over 75s, so register the older one. and the winter fuel allowance, plus things like carers benefit, it might be called something else now, we tried to apply for it for my nan, im sure someone will know the name!

There are a lot of benefits avaliable to older people as riven mentioned, but it might be worth trying to persuade them to discuss it with someone who really knows - perhaps CAB or IME Age Concern are brillient and have people who really know their stuff and will help fill in complicated application forms etc if needed.

I think but am not 100% certain that if you've "lived" out of the UK for a certain period of time (even ifyou've popped back and forth) that you don't get such high priority (am not 100% sure of the details so 2nd everyone elses advice of CAB/Age Concern etc).

Thamks again everyone!!! Just relayed the advice to DP and he says they want to keep going back and forth!! Don't see how they'll be able to afford it? Esp seeing as the bank of Mr. Siriusmew has gone into administration!!

Now a hijack!! Hows the move going FAQ?

getting there thanks. Just waiting on my Vicar to give the (filled in......I hope ) guarantors information form back to me, then the letting agent will pick it up on MOnday (I hope) and fax it off. Apparently they take 2/3 days for the guarantor checks, so fingers crosssed I should be signing my tenancy agreement at the end of this week.

Have started packing now too.