I just spent a few days in Worthing hospital after a bout of falling off toilet seat and various other matters. My age always seems to but the only difference I and these lovely guys have.
So We start chatting, and one guy says 'Im 75, I am alone at home, I hurt myself and am unable to cope. Also I dont receive a penny of support for me. I pay £60 a month on Council Tax, and the list went on.
This dear old man, who had battled in Egypt did not KNOW there are a plethora or grants/ benefits he is qualified to claim. These folk are Proud, they grew up in a humane, hard working society.
It turned out that NOT ONE of the 5 Have OAP Healh costs, They dont know what Motability or mobility is. They dont know what DLA, EPS, ICB, Severe Disability, oh heck I spent 4 hours going through with these guys, how scared they are, they cant pay bills. I mention Southern Electrics Endangered person grant, noone hear of it, hell thats £240 a year.
My Illness and prognosis means I dont have the energy to help these people, but it is WRONG.
I dont know what happens as they hit pension age, Im not trained to know, so I made sure I didnt raise hopes, but....
I searched for the Citz Adv and rang them with them on their first form. Already EVERYBODY of them should be on 1 or more benefits.
Im not trying to throw money at them, or embarrass them, but when the guy cant eat more than a 86p ready meal, and hell he shares that with his cat.
These benefits are here to Help these poor, proud people.
It takes a 5 min interview, or the care homes being better informed
Why is this happening? Each Council has a pot of money to spend, it does them NO Good to tell everyone what they have a right to, and should be publicized, not locked away in about the 4th web page I came to to even scent the start of their trials,
Its wrong. I cant help, please, someone can
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Catel
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19 Replies
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What a caring, thoughtful post. Hope your efforts are rewarded in helping those proud people get a better quality of life. Joyce
Oh Catel, just spent 40 mins replying to you and lost it in a flash! Need to sleep now but will try again later. Hope you are recovering from your recent inadverent richocheting manoevres! Libby x
My elderly aunt had a similar problem, she was trying to live on a tiny pension, paying full council tax, and had no idea that there was so much help out there until she was taken ill and social services got involved.
I only found out that my mother could claim Attendance Allowance by accident, the CAB were very helpful with the claim.
Sites like this can bring awareness,and a Breathe Easy meeting where pensions were discussed helped me access the Pension Service.
Could there not be more advertising in the press or on TV, so that people could be helped who are really in need.
Trouble is most of these things are for working age people; to get motability you need to be under 60 - it continues after 60 if you already have it, but fall ill a few months after your 60th birthday - forget it. Carers allowance can be paid to someone of pensionable age, but for every pound of that they receive they lose a pound of pension. Attendance Allowance is about the only thing you can get , along with pension credit and if you are on your own then a reduction in council tax (although I believe that is under threat). I believe housing benefit may also be available if you are on a very low income (pension credit will trigger it). You are right - someone should be the advocate for these people, and most of all they need to feel that it is not charity. They are in need, and will suffer in silence - it's the way they were brought up !
I cant add much to what already has been said, Catel, but just to say that I admire your concerns for the people you met. Very caring and why were they so uninformed.
I agree Catel how bad things are but now these people you have spoken to have a better idea of what is available but will need help to get that to which they are entitled. You are a very caring person and I cannot help but think how easy it would be to just have a leaflet printed listing all the benefits and give them to people like those you mention with guidance from someone as to how to claim. It is very wrong that vulnerable people do not get what they should get. I think I will email our MP now and mention your concerns. Take care. xxxx
It is disgraceful. Many struggle on just because they do not know what is out there. At least you made some people aware. Well done. x
How lovely to know there are some caring people out there,like yourself.Its seems terrible,decent people out there,have to suffer,not knowing what they're entitled to.
So glad you were able to help out a few people,just hope the rest of society,will be as helpful as you were,bless you,
My council, had a stall a few years ago when I helped make the tea at a 'flu session at the local town hall. On it were leaflets about Attendance Allowance and other benefits...it would be a good idea if they did this at other venues too.
Some councils have a nil council tax for people with severe disabilities and some give a reduction, I think.
I really hope you are on the mend catel, I think it was so kind of you to help all those other folk. Wishing you well
How terribly sad that certain people who obviously are in need of help haven't had any assistance from those purporting to be looking after their best interests. Well done for trying to do something about that Catel, hopefully due to your input some of them will indeed be able to claim exactly what they are entitled to. xx
What a lovely caring man you are. It's so sad quite a bit of benefit goes unclaimed because people either don't know or are too proud. I would have thought it would not be difficult for those concerned with their discharge to have a chat about whether they need a referal to an expert body in banenfits.
cx
Well done helping those people Catel It was a great thing to do. My dad was just the same. I spent ages trying to persuade him to apply for attendance allowance and he insisted he wouldn't qualify even though his mobility was extremely limited. He said you only get that if you are confined to bed! He was the same with his glasses. He expected to pay even when I told him (he only wanted the basic glasses) that he didn't need to. I rescued him from a Boots saleswoman who had tried to sweet talk him into spending his money. I asked him what the money was for and he was trying desperately to give it to her. The saleswoman just stood there smirking! I sorted him out and took him to optician over the road. Then I went back in and gave the staff a rollicking for trying to take advantage of an old man. So don't let your old folk loose in Boots opticians!
Hi Catel, just to update you. I did email my local MP (Nick Herbert) and received a reply to phone a lady in his office. I have done as requested but she is not at her desk so am waiting for a call from her. I will keep you informed. xxx
Just had a phone call from MP's office and was told that they cannot bring in legislation as older people are very proud and often do not want help. I did point out that people need to know they can receive help and where to get such help. The lady was pleased I had pointed this out but would need to know of individual cases. Thank you for your post Catel as I can keep an eye on this especially if Pete goes into hospital. Hope you are doing better now and wishing you well. xxxxx
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