Hi all,
My parents applied for pension credit 7 weeks ago after a visit from a money advice lady (from dwp). My mum was advised to retire and put in for pension credit as they would be better off if they both retired. So my mum gave up work and applied. The last 7 weeks they have had no money coming in except £80 a month for my dads pension and they just can not afford to live on that, its not even covering their gas/electric. My mum has been on the phone every day to them bt they refuse to tell her how much longer they will need to wait, just saying, but it will all be back dated. Now thats all well and good, but it doesnt help the fact they can not afford to live now. Is there any way of speeding them up/finding out about their claim?? The lady my mums spoke to just keeps telling her to stop ringing as she is been too impatient.....shes not the one sat in a freezing house with no food!
The only way they have managed at the moment is because ive been buying them bits of food with my shopping and ive been putting £15 gas and £10 electric a week....now dont get me wrong i dont begrudge it at all, and wouldnt not do it for them....but im on income support myself with 3 kids, and in all fairness i just cant afford to run two houses.
They was awarded a crisis loan 2 weeks ago for £124, but as you can imagine after 7 weeks with no money, it doesnt go far, they still have bills to pay (which they are now in debt with)
Ive just been round now and they are both in bed, fully clothes with dressing gowns and coats on to keep warm! (they wont ask me for money so didnt tell me the gas had gone) It just makes me so mad that they can be left for so long with no money and no one seams bothered :(
Sorry for such a long rant and thank you
My parents applied for pension credit 7 weeks ago after a visit from a money advice lady (from dwp). My mum was advised to retire and put in for pension credit as they would be better off if they both retired. So my mum gave up work and applied. The last 7 weeks they have had no money coming in except £80 a month for my dads pension and they just can not afford to live on that, its not even covering their gas/electric. My mum has been on the phone every day to them bt they refuse to tell her how much longer they will need to wait, just saying, but it will all be back dated. Now thats all well and good, but it doesnt help the fact they can not afford to live now. Is there any way of speeding them up/finding out about their claim?? The lady my mums spoke to just keeps telling her to stop ringing as she is been too impatient.....shes not the one sat in a freezing house with no food!
The only way they have managed at the moment is because ive been buying them bits of food with my shopping and ive been putting £15 gas and £10 electric a week....now dont get me wrong i dont begrudge it at all, and wouldnt not do it for them....but im on income support myself with 3 kids, and in all fairness i just cant afford to run two houses.
They was awarded a crisis loan 2 weeks ago for £124, but as you can imagine after 7 weeks with no money, it doesnt go far, they still have bills to pay (which they are now in debt with)
Ive just been round now and they are both in bed, fully clothes with dressing gowns and coats on to keep warm! (they wont ask me for money so didnt tell me the gas had gone) It just makes me so mad that they can be left for so long with no money and no one seams bothered :(
Sorry for such a long rant and thank you