ChatterBank2 mins ago
Benefits Advice
14 Answers
My aunt receives £210 a week State Pension, after paying full national insurance all her working life, she is a widow and nearly 80. She lives in rented accommodation and gets Housing Benefit of £19.92 a week and does not have much in savings, she receives £35 a month from a private pension her husband had.
A friend recently visited her and was rattling of all the different help she receives. This friend owns a 4 bedroom house and is the same age as my aunt and she is getting another £70 a week on top of her State Pension from the Benefits Agency and only pays £40 a month Poll Tax, while my aunt is paying £72, they are also paying for a cleaner to come in twice a week, she is also applying for the Cold Weather Allowance.
With all the benefits she is receiving her income comes to more than my aunt, why is my aunt not entitled to any of these, she looked at the Cold Weather Allowance but she was not in receipt of any of the eligible benefits and her State Pension was above the limit, it does not seem fair.
A friend recently visited her and was rattling of all the different help she receives. This friend owns a 4 bedroom house and is the same age as my aunt and she is getting another £70 a week on top of her State Pension from the Benefits Agency and only pays £40 a month Poll Tax, while my aunt is paying £72, they are also paying for a cleaner to come in twice a week, she is also applying for the Cold Weather Allowance.
With all the benefits she is receiving her income comes to more than my aunt, why is my aunt not entitled to any of these, she looked at the Cold Weather Allowance but she was not in receipt of any of the eligible benefits and her State Pension was above the limit, it does not seem fair.
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No best answer has yet been selected by JG1965. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.If your aunt receives £210 a week that's already well above the state pension even if she gets full pension credit (which is unlikely given she also receives a private pension.)
She should go on this site to check on the potential benefits but I'd be surprised if she was missing out on anything significant except perhaps for single person discount on council tax
https:/ /www.go v.uk/br ...work ing/sta te-pens ion
Information on what other people get isn't always reliable
She should go on this site to check on the potential benefits but I'd be surprised if she was missing out on anything significant except perhaps for single person discount on council tax
https:/
Information on what other people get isn't always reliable
As has already been said, we don't have all the facts. Your aunt definitely needs to get a benefits check from CAB.
So far as the friend is concerned, if she is getting £70 on top of her state Pension it almost certainly means her state pension is low - probably around £72 per week. Payment for a cleaner is nothing to do with benefits - if it is being paid by anyone (other than, possibly, a local charity) it will be social services, but I'm surprised if they are actually paying for that type of thing.
So far as the friend is concerned, if she is getting £70 on top of her state Pension it almost certainly means her state pension is low - probably around £72 per week. Payment for a cleaner is nothing to do with benefits - if it is being paid by anyone (other than, possibly, a local charity) it will be social services, but I'm surprised if they are actually paying for that type of thing.
It sounds as if your aunt paid into serps and is therefore getting an earning related second pension, this added to her Company pension will take her over the income limits for any extra benefits. The size or value of the house is irrelevant as it is not taken into account.
Sounds like the friend is one of the asset rich cash poor pensioners.
Sounds like the friend is one of the asset rich cash poor pensioners.