Well folks, they have cancelled all my mum's entitlement to any pension credit whatsoever. They have stated that they made a mistake when they considered her situation on 30 October despite being in full possession of the facts that she was in a Care Home and and sold her house for £130,000. They feel they are entitled to cancel their initial decision which was made in error and impose a new one which means she doesn't even get the £11-odd she was getting before. So she is now paying full fees in the Care Home and has no pension credit at all. I am awaiting them asking for a refund of benefit over paid of about £1,000. How on earth they expect me to finance £460 a week (which let's face it isn't particularly high) with no financial help from anywhere, I do not know. Using the money from the sale of her houe will last about 7 years, goodbye. Then she will be "fully funded" which is a laugh cos it means she will be funded up to the figure the Local Authority agree to, which is currently £100 a week short of the Care Home fees, and those have to be paid by us. Hands up everyone who has £5,200 a year spare to top up the fees of their relative, and also pay for incidental expenses, which mount up more than you think. 2 boxes of Cranberry juice a week, contstant replacement of missing soap, boxes of tissues (she has a constantly running nose), a bed throw cos she is cold in bed, tights which go missing at every wash (nowhere to put a name in tights), £800 for new teeth, £200 for new glasses, oh I am fed up with it all.
I am so furious I don't know what to think or do. The DWP made the decision, I made plans accordingly. Now another 10 hours is needed on the spreadsheet to re-jig transfers in and out of accounts.
The laugh is that they say she will earn £280 a week from her lump sum of £140,000. I wish! That is at least £100 a week higher than reality. Plus they have refused to accept that the investment we have made into a Care Home Fees plan should be disregarded as their is no cash benefit at all until the plan kicks in in three years time. One of you kind readers told me it would be disregarded - well, not so.
I am in despair now.
And not least cos mum said today "I can't stay here much longer, I hate it". "Why mum?", "I want to be back in my own home and I am going to do it". What do I say? I cried all the way home. Yeah I know, you all go through it, it is a constant battle, but I am not sure I am strong enough to deal with it.
ADvice gratefully received.
Margaret
I am so furious I don't know what to think or do. The DWP made the decision, I made plans accordingly. Now another 10 hours is needed on the spreadsheet to re-jig transfers in and out of accounts.
The laugh is that they say she will earn £280 a week from her lump sum of £140,000. I wish! That is at least £100 a week higher than reality. Plus they have refused to accept that the investment we have made into a Care Home Fees plan should be disregarded as their is no cash benefit at all until the plan kicks in in three years time. One of you kind readers told me it would be disregarded - well, not so.
I am in despair now.
And not least cos mum said today "I can't stay here much longer, I hate it". "Why mum?", "I want to be back in my own home and I am going to do it". What do I say? I cried all the way home. Yeah I know, you all go through it, it is a constant battle, but I am not sure I am strong enough to deal with it.
ADvice gratefully received.
Margaret