Bigead

HI, does anyone know the best option available for my mother?
My mother and father moved to Ireland 15 years ago to retire to my father’s family village. They lived in my grandmother’s house but after recently losing my father my mother wants to move back to the UK to be close to my sister and me. She is a UK citizen but has no major capital in the form of a property or savings. She is now 70 and her health is not great and I know she’d like to live out her final years here in the UK near her children and grandchildren but with no assets to sell and little savings hasn’t enough money to buy a property.

larrabee

So move her in with either yourself or your sister.

Bigead

Not very helpful! She's an old lady who's had her independance for a long time. She wants her own space! Do you not think this has been offered??!!!!

Reall...............

larrabee

No need to be rude. I am not a mind reader.

lgabriel73

Maybe contact the local council and see if she is eligible for elder housing benefits to help pay her rent. They will be able to tell you what benefits are available to her and what she needs to qualify.

Bigead

I would of thought you wouldn't have to be a mind reader.

Seriously..............

michali

Larrabee's response was a sensible solution to the problem but, as you say, she does not want to live with her children. Could you all get together and pay rent for her in a small place close to you? I am not sure what benefits she would be entitled to so maybe others here could advise on that.

Bigead

That will be my next step but was just doing a little research first as I'm always weary of councils and that if you don't ask the exact right question you won't get a full answer.

rebs

Have a play about here to get an idea of what might be available...

http://www.entitledto.co.uk/

Bigead

lgabriel73 thank you for your input which is sensible and helpful. The replies I am receiving so far only go to prove my point about asking the exact right question.

Bigead

Thank you. Slightly different for mum as she doesn't reside in the UK. She does get a UK pension though as she was working up until she moved away.

Pulaski

What happened to your grandmother's house? Was your mother not paying rent, or did she not own that?

Bigead

It was owned by my grandmother and when she passed left to the children. Mum and dad remained there but it was not all theirs. House prices in Ireland are so low she'd be lucky to get 6 months rent out of her share if it was sold. It'll probably go to one of the grand children who still live over there.

Bigead

People. I am not looking to shaft the system. My mother and farther both worked all thier lives in the UK untill they retired. They paid tax and all thier stamps. I am just trying now to find out what an old lady who worked all her life is entitled to to make her final years more comfortable. I know it won't be free and my sister and I will both help out as much as we can but neither are super rich and have bills of our own to pay.

dunroving

Some councils will provide sheltered housing for older adults in this situation. I think councils differ - I know of one person who was successful in a very similar situation (moved back to the UK from many years overseas).

I really think it's worth calling the council where she wants to live to ask the question.