Red Tape.....

[Jeza]

I am shrouded in it. Mic is 65 in about 6 weeks. Knowing the trouble I had in getting my pension a couple of years ago I rang the DWP. Told them the circumstances and the guy said a supervisor would ring me back. They didn't so I rang again today. How can you get a person who can barely talk to answer questions over the phone. I was about to explode. I thought I was appointee, according to the DWP they have had no communication of this. Give me strength. Will this delay his pension I asked (through gritted teeth) and if so will it be backdated from his birthday. I have no information on this was the reply. Ye gods, do different departments not talk to each other. Rant over.

[tonyav]

Jaysus, talk about banging your head up against a brick wall. Best of luck, Jeza.

[black_cat51]

public sector bodies don't often talk to each other. I am in quasi public-sector and even the two parts of our team don't talk to each other, despite the fact we're in hte same office :)
learn something new every day - i thought pension was just paid, i didn't know you had to apply

[ladybirder]

They have to pay him from the day he became entitled to it Jeza albeit late.

[Ouzel]

It seems that you have to claim it :

https://www.gov.uk/state-pension/how-to-claim

Remembering a previous post, it might be an idea to request and send in a claim form for Attendance Allowance - so that they'll have it for when Mic turns 65.

[askyourgran]

I don't envy you, you end up wanting to strangle the idiot. I was appointed to speak for my mother. There were times when they rang me at home, and wanted to speak to my mother, when she was 10 miles away at her own home! A lot of frustration there. No two departments talk to one another, if you discuss the matter in the Scottish Department they know nothing about the same person in England. I had to sign a form to say I was handling her affairs, drawing her pension etc. Mic should get his pension the same as everyone else, usually three or four weeks after his birthday.

[Jeza]

I have just typed a lengthy reply and submitted it. Where has it gone?

[Jeza]

My lengthy reply has vanished in to thin air. I'm not typing it all again. I'm a one finger typist. Suffice is to say if you have a few quid under the mattress is better than the bank. Grant you and your partner POA while you are both of sound mind otherwise it's a court job.

[Peter Pedant]

Keep on keeping on Jeza

Dont give up - the rule is appeal appeal and appeal
but you haven't got to that bit yet

[Peter Pedant]

O and by the way
with my mother in law
they used to ring her up
and try to get her to withdraw the statements I had made on her behalf....

[anneasquith]

whether wealthy or poor everyone is entitled to state pension.

[Jeza]

We are not wealthy Anne, we worked and saved hard for our retirement. We envisaged winters in the sun. If I didn't laugh I would cry.

[anneasquith]

indeed, but you have the luxury of being able to choose where mic is nursed. so maybe the well earned money is indeed going to a good cause.

[Jeza]

There I will disagree with you Anne. If we were layabouts who never worked or saved all care would be free, just like it is in Scotland.

[askyourgran]

Hope you get it sorted soon jeza. I had loads of bother being my mother's appointee. I just asked for assistance to explain attendance allowance (which you don't need to give details of your business),that was OK. But then we were dragged into pension credit. They couldn't wait to give her money, but they want to know everything about her savings etc. and I would have to inform them of any changes to her bank accounts. It drove me potty.

[anneasquith]

well, I may be mistaken but, did you not have to adapt your home before mic was allowed home, if you were a ' layabout' would you have had the cash to do that ?

[hc4361]

Support for people like you and Mic is shockingly, shamefully appalling and I really feel for you both, Jeza.

I have no practical answer except to say that Mic will definitely get all the pension he is due, even if it is late.

Have you got power of attorney?

[Peter Pedant]

.

Jeza go on with the struggle
you deserve the help you are seeking

I am with you on that.

[hc4361]

anne, grants are available where necessary and if Jeza and Mic didn't own their own home the council would have tried to rehouse them in somewhere more suitable.

They are saving the taxpayer thousands of pounds by Mic being at home.

[Jeza]

No hc, I have not applied for it and I don't want it. When I looked in to it apart from the registration fees the solicitors fees were astronomical. I can pay Mics fees. If I die before him he will get any money I have. If he dies before me I will get his money any way. Does that make sense? Appointee will do me.

Anne if I was a layabout the local authority would have done it for free.

[hc4361]

Jeza, it should cost £110 but I understand this isn't the time to discuss it.