[Help] Claiming benefits

[lost in london]

Hi All

My neighbour is a disadvantaged guy in his fifties, his dad has died and his mum is in a care home with dementia. He has never worked and is a quite shy, unconfident person. He has never claimed any benefits of any sort and to be honest I doubt other than council tax he is really in the system at all. He keeps himself to himself, goes for a daily walk but other than that lives a solitary life. A few neighbours and I are concerned about him as he gets older and may need to move / get some support. Does anyone know how to get someone into the system? Not necessarily solely to claim benefits, but for care and support, making sure he’s not overpaying on council tax and so on. I’m fortunate enough not to have had to get involved with any of this myself so don’t really know where to start. If anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

There is stuff on line

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/

https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits

and others if you can use Mr Google.

Otherwise it might need somebody to point towards his local council and Adult Social Care, but that might depend how much help he needs.

 

[PILTDOWN MAN]

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/

Could be a start

 

[Chicken Run]

Hi All

My neighbour is a disadvantaged guy in his fifties, his dad has died and his mum is in a care home with dementia. He has never worked and is a quite shy, unconfident person. He has never claimed any benefits of any sort and to be honest I doubt other than council tax he is really in the system at all. He keeps himself to himself, goes for a daily walk but other than that lives a solitary life. A few neighbours and I are concerned about him as he gets older and may need to move / get some support. Does anyone know how to get someone into the system? Not necessarily solely to claim benefits, but for care and support, making sure he’s not overpaying on council tax and so on. I’m fortunate enough not to have had to get involved with any of this myself so don’t really know where to start. If anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

It’s great that this guy has lovely neighbours like , will he be receptive to help?


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[The Wookiee]

Hi All

My neighbour is a disadvantaged guy in his fifties, his dad has died and his mum is in a care home with dementia. He has never worked and is a quite shy, unconfident person. He has never claimed any benefits of any sort and to be honest I doubt other than council tax he is really in the system at all. He keeps himself to himself, goes for a daily walk but other than that lives a solitary life. A few neighbours and I are concerned about him as he gets older and may need to move / get some support. Does anyone know how to get someone into the system? Not necessarily solely to claim benefits, but for care and support, making sure he’s not overpaying on council tax and so on. I’m fortunate enough not to have had to get involved with any of this myself so don’t really know where to start. If anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

Where does he get his money from ?
Also is there any reason can’t get a job ? Surely that would be a better option than claiming benefits?

 

[Norman Potting]

C.A.B would be a good starting point - He clearly has good neighbours.

 

[Emily's Mum]

I think the first thing to do is to inform your local council’s social services department. Of course the individual concerned may not want to engage with any support, but you will have done your best to assist.


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[Cheshire Cat]

Where does he get his money from ?
Also is there any reason can’t get a job ? Surely that would be a better option than claiming benefits?

Probably, but try finding one at the moment. Everywhere is shut.

 

[Deanbha]

Entitled too. The website calculates what he may be able to receive.

 

[lost in london]

It’s great that this guy has lovely neighbours like , will he be receptive to help?


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A couple of years ago, no, but he’s really come out of his shell recently and an elderly neighbour (who used to work in social services) has worked wonders with him getting him involved with stuff and getting him running errands and helping in her garden. He’s got much more to offer than he initially shows.

 

[lost in london]

Where does he get his money from ?
Also is there any reason can’t get a job ? Surely that would be a better option than claiming benefits?

Physically, no reason he couldn’t have a job, but the reality is he’s never worked (reclusive parents apparently who ran a forge and owned some property and had a bit of money) and never been mentally mature enough to work. I’m told his dad tried a bit but never got anywhere. I get the feeling he’s just one of those people who was written off as child / young adult in the days that anyone a bit different was either locked up or forgotten.

 

[lost in london]

C.A.B would be a good starting point - He clearly has good neighbours.

Thanks. I’ve never used them but will try and gen up a bit on what we should be asking them and will try and line up a call with me and the neighbour and CAB.

 

[AmexRuislip]

Hi All

My neighbour is a disadvantaged guy in his fifties, his dad has died and his mum is in a care home with dementia. He has never worked and is a quite shy, unconfident person. He has never claimed any benefits of any sort and to be honest I doubt other than council tax he is really in the system at all. He keeps himself to himself, goes for a daily walk but other than that lives a solitary life. A few neighbours and I are concerned about him as he gets older and may need to move / get some support. Does anyone know how to get someone into the system? Not necessarily solely to claim benefits, but for care and support, making sure he’s not overpaying on council tax and so on. I’m fortunate enough not to have had to get involved with any of this myself so don’t really know where to start. If anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

Are you allowed to say what Borough you're in

 

[lost in london]

Entitled too. The website calculates what he may be able to receive.

Thanks, hadn't heard of that website before.

 

[southstandandy]

Hi All

My neighbour is a disadvantaged guy in his fifties, his dad has died and his mum is in a care home with dementia. He has never worked and is a quite shy, unconfident person. He has never claimed any benefits of any sort and to be honest I doubt other than council tax he is really in the system at all. He keeps himself to himself, goes for a daily walk but other than that lives a solitary life. A few neighbours and I are concerned about him as he gets older and may need to move / get some support. Does anyone know how to get someone into the system? Not necessarily solely to claim benefits, but for care and support, making sure he’s not overpaying on council tax and so on. I’m fortunate enough not to have had to get involved with any of this myself so don’t really know where to start. If anyone has any pointers I’d be grateful.

I'm glad you asked the question. Two thoughts :

For your neighbour living alone :

From the sounds of it, your neighbour should at least in his own right get the 25% singles person Council Tax discount and possibly if no direct income then presumably be able to make a claim for Universal Credit (unless personal savings exceed £20k). Also depending upon health its vital to be registered with a GP as all sorts of other support is available from home visits to help with finances, care, and there is a Proactive care team that can be really useful too.



In relation to your neighbours mum now in a home :

Watching the Martin Lewis programme before Christmas he mentioned that a person registered as having dementia can claim an exemption from Council Tax. He or she needed to be in receipt of one form of benefit (such as Attendnce Allowance for example). For my father and largely full time carer I filled out the simple Adur Council claim forms dating back to June 2018 (when he was first diagnosed) and got the GP surgery to stamp and sign 'Part B' of the form. Hey ho, last week my dad got a refund of nearly £5000 dating back to June 2018, and he no longer has to pay his £180 per month Council Tax. My dad didn't want me to make a fuss and nearly stopped me from making a claim but now having had this refund we can use this money saved to help pay for a little more private care for him in his bungalow. As I have power of attorney it was really simple, but it's possible too that your neighbour's mother might be able to make a retrospective Council Tax exemption claim or ny someone acting on her behalf, even if she now is in a care home. Who knows any retrospective refund could be useful to her in the care home.