Benefits Available To Elderly People
I am claiming a pension, but it's not very much, are there any other benefits available to me?
If you're claiming a pension, presuming that that pension is the state retirement pension, then you should probably contact the pension service and seek advice on whether you are entitled to pension credit. It will depend upon what other income is coming into the household and what savings you have. Currently, we know that there are a lot of people of pension age who are entitled to pension credit but aren't claiming it. So, contact the pension service.
I am not in good health, is there anything I can claim?
If you're not in good health and you are under 65, then you may want to look at whether or not you could be claiming disability living allowance. If you've already turned 65 then it's a very similar benefit, but it's called attendance allowance, and they're both claimed through the same department, which is the Disability Benefits Unit which is in Black Port.
My elderly relative is not coping with their money, how can I help them?
If you have an elderly relative who is not coping very well with their money, if their money is predominantly just benefits, state retirement pension, pension credit, things like that, then it's possible that you may be able to help them by just becoming their Benefit Appointee. You can contact the Department for Work and Pensions, and they will provide you with information on that. If there is all the money in vaults, such as bank accounts, then you may want to contact the Public Guardianship Office with further information, and they will provide you with details on powers of attorney.