ChatterBank3 mins ago
Benefits For Oap.
8 Answers
My mother is 92 and as she is nearly blind, she has been claiming financial help for the past year. Apparently, she is allowed to have up to £10,000 in savings, but after that she'll lose her benefits. She's told me she is reasonably near the limit now and she's very worried that the benefits people will find out and stop her money. She has a current account and an ISA with the same bank.
She has never claimed help in her life before this. Is there any way that she can keep her benefits and her savings? Is there any way the authorities could find out?
I know nothing about the benefit system so any help would be appreciated.
She has never claimed help in her life before this. Is there any way that she can keep her benefits and her savings? Is there any way the authorities could find out?
I know nothing about the benefit system so any help would be appreciated.
Answers
The help with her sight is probably Attendance Allowance, which is not means tested & not affected by any other benefits. If she is getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit (which is almost certainly the case) then once her savings go over £10,000 they add £1 per week to her income for each £500 or part of £500 of savings above the £10K limit....
17:36 Tue 03rd Dec 2013
You can try this calculator https:/ /www.go v.uk/pe nsion-c redit
themas- the only thing I know for sure she is getting is Pension Credit and perhaps an extra allowance to do with her sight. Sorry to be so vague.
Thank you all for your answers. I can't imagine that there is anything she would want to buy as at 92, you've more or less got it all! I am seeing her at Xmas, so will try and sort it all out then.
Thank you all for your answers. I can't imagine that there is anything she would want to buy as at 92, you've more or less got it all! I am seeing her at Xmas, so will try and sort it all out then.
The help with her sight is probably Attendance Allowance, which is not means tested & not affected by any other benefits.
If she is getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit (which is almost certainly the case) then once her savings go over £10,000 they add £1 per week to her income for each £500 or part of £500 of savings above the £10K limit. So if she has £10,100 £1 p wk is added to income & that reduces the amount of the pension credit. The credit does not stop - just goes down.
Of course, there's nothing to stop her giving some slightly generous Christmas presents so long as she doesn't go right over the top (too much & she might be thought to have deliberately deprived herself of capital).
If she is getting the guarantee credit element of pension credit (which is almost certainly the case) then once her savings go over £10,000 they add £1 per week to her income for each £500 or part of £500 of savings above the £10K limit. So if she has £10,100 £1 p wk is added to income & that reduces the amount of the pension credit. The credit does not stop - just goes down.
Of course, there's nothing to stop her giving some slightly generous Christmas presents so long as she doesn't go right over the top (too much & she might be thought to have deliberately deprived herself of capital).