Perth

Our immigration attorney has confirmed that those on a spouse visa who are of pensionable age can apply for a bus pass. It is not considered a public fund. Here is her email to us.

Your query below is a good one: It would be my opinion that it does not constitute a public fund for immigration purposes. This is due to the fact that it is not listed under paragraph 6 of the Immigration Rules nor is it mentioned on the Home Office website (see here: https://www.gov.uk/government/public...2/public-funds). The following guidance (https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...unds_v13.0.pdf) on page 9 confirms that if the benefit is not listed under paragraph 6 then it cannot be considered a public fund for immigration purposes. The Home Office also confirmed the position in a Freedom of Information Request (see here: https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/reque...t_a_public_f_2).

michali

not2old

OP, well done for finding that, but don't hold your breath, cos it's a 'wait & see' after the June election when Ms May digs her heels in to stop not only the 'winter fuel allowance' also the 'free concessionary travel pass' and possibly an end to the free TV licence for those over age 75... anything is possible

No end to what she will do next

spouse of scouse

I'm no fan of the Conservatives or Theresa May, but let's not spread rumours hey?

The Tory manifesto says the winter fuel allowance will be means tested, not scrapped. Free bus passes, prescriptions and TV licenses will continue.

feelbritish

I for one am quite happy to give up the winter fuel if it means I can keep the last £100 000 of my savings or house value when I need care!

michali

Me too! As I see it at the moment, you either vote Tory and get less social care but a more generous inheritance tax allowance, or Labour and get possibly better social care but the threat of halving the inheritance tax allowance!

mikelincs

Don't forget, the manifestos are really only a means of testing the waters over thongs they might do, a bad response will, almost certainly, mean that the idea just falls into the abyss of forgotten manifesto promises.

robin1234

This is a new low. The swimsuit issue of the manifesto?

spouse of scouse

Thongs will always and forever be rubber footwear to me - not a 1990s media invented term for a 'garment' that consists of a string around the hips and another up the jacksie!

However, the Tory manifesto does have elements of flip-flops

robin1234

Good new word thank you! I had to go to Urban Dictionary for jacksie. But yeah Tory manifestos were always a bit that way.

Editha

On the social care issue, the papers seem to have missed the fact that May is offering little more than what is already law and due to be implemented in 2020.

The Care Act passed by the coalition raised the upper limit for capital to £118,000 and the lower limit to £17,000; i.e. above £118,000 you'd pay all of your care costs; between £17,000 and £118,000 you'd pay some.

However, the Act also introduced a £72,000 lifetime cap on care costs. May's original proposal did not include a cap, but she is flip-flopping on the issue.

Also, May's proposal that care at home should be paid for from house equity is entirely new.

So, some people who end up in residential care may be better off under May's proposal, but not many. Any home owner who needs help with care in their own home will be worse off.

Editha

What I find most objectionable about May's proposal is that it appears to have been written on the back of an envelope. There is no detail, it has not been costed, and it ignores the detailed proposals of the Dilnot report. We have a real and current crisis in social care funding which needs solving urgently, but this is just callous electioneering.

spouse of scouse

Yes Editha, that's it exactly.

I hope you're going ok and are moving closer to getting your health issue sorted.