assisted living help with bills

[Auntumnsanta9]

My daughter has just moved into assisted living and I’m finding it very hard to get any help paying the bills. She shares a bungalow with another lady and the bills are in her name. My daughter qualifies for social tariff on her broadband and Water rates but I have asked who pays her bills so I can apply for both of them but no one seems to know. The other lady has no family. Also is assisted living the same as accommodation for residential care (ARC) as I have been told you can get a tv licence for £7.50. I’ve asked the care manager but she just says it’s nothing to do with her.

Thank you

[Bergersil400]

Is your daughter in receipt of PIP & Universal credit, as she should qualify for housing benefit and council tax?Supported living is different to residential, and you will need to purchase a TV licence if your daughter owns a TV.

Utilities and food are responsibility of tenant as well as activities and any other costs. If it is private rental you may have to pay monthly management charges.

Depending on if your daughter has capacity she may be able to set up direct debits for these.

If your an appointee, you should be able to do this.

Sadly the care staff won't give much help, as it isn't their responsibility, and we had a stressful 5 months before everything was in place.

She is still having £48 per month taken from her UC to pay back money which she accrued during this period. It will be February before we are debt free.

Try contacting citizens advice or a social worker if has one.

Good luck .

[Auntumnsanta9 in reply to Bergersil400]

This is very useful. I have been asking my social worker and the care manager but with no luck

Thank you

[49Twister]

How is she paying for the bills now? I believe her name should be added on as she is also a billpayer now not just the lady who was already living there. I would get in touch with the service manager or even the Ceo to discuss this as the house manager is obviously not involved in these issues. I had this issue as my son shares with another guy who was there before him. They have Sky and only allowed to have one user name on the bill. Eventually I got them the social tariff but had to have the other person present when we rang up to arrange this. These care companies are not interested in trying to reduce bills, as obviously their not paying them. When my son and his housemate used to come home at weekends the staff would leave the heating on all weekend with no-one in the house!!!!

[Auntumnsanta9 in reply to 49Twister]

Thank you. She has just set up a standing order into the lady’s account. I’m still waiting to find out how to pay the utilities bill and she has been there 4 weeks. Both ladies can’t talk but I’m sure I can get around this

Thank you for your help

[49Twister in reply to Auntumnsanta9]

I think they should have a different account set up and they both have direct debits paid into this account to cover all bills. It doesn’t feel right paying into the other ladies account