Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

I'm a 65-year-old naturalized British Citizen living in Los Angeles. I have not lived in the UK since 1974 when I returned here with my British husband for his work. I am now divorced and my four grown children live in other US cities. I am disabled (in a wheelchair) and my only income is $860 per month in Social Security which is under threat. All my friends are dead and my children's only concern is that they not be "stuck" with me. My rent has been dramatically increased to a level that I can no longer afford. I find myself with nowhere to turn and nothing to keep me here. I am terrified of becoming homeless like so many thousands of others here.

Are there any programs to meet returning disabled OAPS to help them sort out housing etc? I would need help on arrival as I have few resources and the plane fare would exhaust those.

Thank you in advance for any suggestions.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Hello and welcome to BE.

I am sorry to hear of your situation. I will move your post over to our Moving Back To The UK forum. Hopefully someone in that forum will be able to help you.

Good luck.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Hi - I've got to go out on some errands, but there is a large charity called 'Shelter' in the UK which helps the homeless. The Citizens Advice Bureau is also a good source of help.

Here are the links:

http://www.shelter.org.uk (note that there are seperate laws for England & Wales and Scotland, click on the link for whichever part of the UK mainland you intend to move to:

Help for the disabled (England & Wales):

http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_ad...h_disabilities

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/ (advice on legal rights)

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/MoneyTax...le/DG_10011925

I think I read somewhere that councils are not obliged to help someone who 'intentionally' became homeless eg. voluntarily gave up their home to move to the UK, but I'm pretty sure that they are mandated to help people with disabilities.

Hope this helps!

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Contact this organization at Heathrow Airport.

http://www.heathrowtravelcare.co.uk/

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Thank you all so much for the valuable advice.

If I am understanding it correctly, it could take several months before I qualified for benefits (which is only fair as I am asking a lot of UK taxpayers), if ever, leaving me homeless in the meantime. I am facing homelessness here soon too, but I might eventually get help in the UK if I went there, if I could justify my existence.

I have come to the conclusion, in agreement with others, that I have become too burdensome and therefore do not deserve help. Older, disabled people should be assisted in ending their lives with dignity when their value to anyone is at an end.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Please don't let anyone tell you that you are burdensome, your life is very valuable and you deserve to be taken care of. You didn't ask to be disabled. Btw 65 isn't 'old' at all, you just need a fresh start, even though it may take a little while.

I'm sure you'll be doing fine once you get back to the UK, there's many more good memories for you to make with new friends. :D

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Your post made me cry and I just had to reach out to you. First off, please please don't let anyone make you think you don't matter or you're too burdensome!
You remind me a lot of my mom to be honest- she died 8 years ago :(- and I just have this strong need to let you know you DO matter and need to try to find a way to understand this. Are there any relatives you could stay with? I understand you are a naturalized British citizen, so you wouldn't have any family in the UK, correct? How about old friends, or even relatives of your ex-husband that you got on with well? If it's a matter of just a few months before any aid in the UK came through for you, then surely someone would be able to help you out for the time being?

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Those two comments are so sad, you may not want sympathy but you have mine. :( 65 is most definitely not old, not by any stretch of the imagination but I know that when you get a mindset and are only talking with negative people, it's very hard to get out of that mindset. You must.

I can't help you with the questions you have, just want to wish you well and if/when you get to the UK that you find yourself a new zest for life. :fingerscrossed:

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

I am so sorry for your situation and agree with everyone else that you are far from old and without value!

If it's any consolation at all, I don't think your social security is truly under threat. Those who claim to want to get rid of it won't have the balls once push comes to shove and they're staring at the reality of voter anger. Plus, even they don't want to get rid of it for anyone already over 55.

I hope you get help and I wish you the best of luck.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

Not sure what you mean by under threat. But if it is recovery for unpaid tax or debts then US social security can be attached only to the extent of 15% of the monthly payment to recover such debts. Unfortunately this rule does not apply to past overpayment of Social Security if that is the problem.

$860/month is about £121/week. Generally British means tested benefits will bring you up to at least £142/week. Plus of course various free stuff that is paid-for stateside.

I suspect you will do better initially if your international flight lands in the North rather than London. Also try not to arrive on a Friday or the weekend.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

You say you only receive $860 per month in CA. Have you been to the social security office, and also received help with state programs? As a disabled person with a low income you should be eligible for Medical and Medicare, food stamps (EBT), SSI (supplementary income for people 65 and over, and the disabled), and probably help with electric, gas and phone. You need to check all sources of government help.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

None of that will apply to a UK resident though. In contrast US Social Security retirement will be paid in the UK.
Husband's UK NI contributions prior to 1975 may be relevant and will certainly be investigated by the benefit people.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

A UK Pension, if any, would be payable here too.

I think what puzzled Mallory - and myself - is that the OP may be entitled to a lot more here than they think are. Another factor - if she was married for more than ten years - is that she would be able to use her ex-husband's SS record if that yielded a better record than her own.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

It bothers me to see you write that you are burdensome and that older disabled people should be assisted in ending their lives with dignity. I truly hope that you will shake free from this kind of thinking and from the people who are agreeing with you. I notice that you live in Los Angeles, which is where I live. If you would like someone to correspond with for encouragement I will be happy to assist. I need the encouragement too as I myself have to fight every minute of every day to keep my chin up. I am also in a desperate situation with no income and in need of help. I am single, female and moved to Los Angeles in 1979. I have worked hard in this country for over 30 years and am now 57 and have been laid off twice during this bad economy. I have not been able to find any work despite sending out countless resumes and letters for so-called job vacancies. Now I have gone through all my savings, have no benefits left, and am on the verge of moving to a shelter. I want to return home to England and am afraid that I will not be eligible for any assistance while I continue looking for work. This bad economy has hit me in the gut. However, even in this desperate state and even though I am depressed, I know I have value and a lot to offer society. I am sure you have great worth as well, as being in a wheelchair by no means renders you invaluable. I urge you to focus on the things that make you worthy of being alive! I wish you every success in getting the assistance you need upon returning to the UK.

Re: Poor & disabled- any programs for my return?
 

I'm not taking about when she becomes a UK resident in the future. I'm talking about what she might be eligible for in California where she has resided since 1974. She may get help immediately. A lot of people don't know what they are eligible for.