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.

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

Agreed, most people in fact. I sure don't for one.

Governments seem to make it difficult to find out also, at least difficult, very difficult, without giving up anonymity (which of course they "encourage" you to do). {scare quotes intended}

I guess I am stating the obvious when I say that the UK benefits situation is very different for a disabled 65 year old with a small pension as compared with a penniless able-bodied 57 year old. The former is likely to be classed under the legal definition of so-called vulnerable person and get emergency housing right away. The latter will not usually be so-classified needs charitable help for perhaps six months. Traditionally this would be a live-in job as some kind of housemaid or child-minder. But times change.

Dear OP. The further away from London you are when you first contact authorities the better you are likely to fare in the early days.

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

Tovanger2 - Have you actually asked your grown children for help? Or are you just presuming that you do not want to be a burden on their everyday lives? Are they fully completey aware of your situation and what you are planning to do? They may feel different if they know you are to leave the country.
Sometimes we choose not to ask because we feel it is best not to and don't want to burden anyone, especially our children.

My heart goes out to you and I hope you find some help quickly. Don't let anyone make you feel lesser than you are - hold your head up high.

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

I saw a discussion somewhere recently that stated the IRS could take as much as 75% of your social security benefit to cover past tax debt. Are you sure it is only 15%??

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

Windsong, Here is the irs link that states it is 15%..You have to scroll to bottom to see it but in googling everything referred to 15%..

http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Feder...t-Levy-Program

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

Thank you very much.

Do you know if the IRS can also collect from a company pension and, if so, how much?

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

You poor love, you're going through a rough time. I think your biggest immediately priority is to have someone on your side, someone who can offer support and advice for your situation. I don't know anything about the social welfare system in the US, but are there community or government agencies that you can approach to help you sort out what assistance you can receive right now, in the US?

Sometime everything just piles up on us and we feel too exhausted, defeated and sad to face getting out of bed, let alone wading through a maze of rules and regulations. You need someone to give you a hand, and there's no shame in that, God knows we all need a bit of help from time to time!

If you can't find a social welfare agency to help and advise you, can you go to your doctor and let them know how down you're feeling? He/she may be able to suggest something, and may also be able to help with the depression/sadness you're feeling.

At 65 you have a lot of living to do yet and you deserve these years to be happy and fulfilling. No matter how difficult it seems, please reach out to someone who can offer you immediate, practical help and support. Life WILL get better. Please keep in touch with us all and let us know how you're getting on. xxxx

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

What a beautiful, beautiful post!!! I was thinking about the doctor, too. When we feel life is too much to even get out of bed in the morning, that is the first sign we need to see a doctor for help.

I hope this lovely lady finds the help she needs :fingerscrossed:

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

If you can pass the "Habitual Residency Test" you should qualify for Pension Credit which will make your income up to a level of (I think) £147 a week. Housing costs on top of that figure will be met. I am not sure how easy it would be to pass the Residency Test.

Depending on what area you come to you might find Social Hosuing - no chance in tyhe bigger crowded cities in the Southy but in a recession-bound town in the North or Scotland that should not be a problem.

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

Before you waste what little money you have on moving back to the UK and getting onto benefits there, you should be applying to the California Social Services for assistance.

Contrary to beliefs, there are any number of social services benefits one could apply for in your situation: help with housing, medical services, food provisions.

You already have somewhere to live here and an income coming in from Social Security. You probably are eligible for Medicaid, if you can't afford Medicare. Before giving those up you should approach the Social Services here.

You obviously have internet services so start here:

http://www.californiawelfare.info/ar...lfare-Programs

http://www.benefits.gov/benefits/bro...state/state/CA

http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/default.htm

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

Hi Tovangar

I just wanted to reach out to you and say how much you have in common with so many people in America, and just about every where else in the world.Many people are going through a very tough time economically.You are not alone and many people truly do understand how you feel. Most of us do better when there are people in our life who we can discuss things with, and especially during the difficult moments that we encounter that can cause sadness and depression. Which is why we must guard against isolating our selfes. We have to reach out by getting involved in charaties,places of worship,children groups ect. The things we think about when we feel a sense of hopelessness will seem so far from the reality that we would believe in when times are good. The key is getting pass that horrible moment in time, and you can do that.

I was thinking the other day about who I am compared to the person I was 20 years ago. And the truth is, we all have some semblance of that young person we were many years ago.You do, and so do I. Call on those same strengths that you possessed because they are still within you. Contact the list of services which several of the people on this thread have mentioned.I feel certain you are eligible for various assistance with the government. In America the people who go to the front of the line for public assistance are children,those adults with some type of disability,the aged, and people that have served in the military.So you will get some form of help here in the States, and more than likely also back in the UK. And please Please continue to post on this site because there are many posters that care about your welfare. Personally I just want to say how much you inspire me to try and do better in my life even when it gets tough.So as you can see you have worth and value in this world.Don't ever forget that! And don't forget that person in you that was brave enough to move to a different country back in 1979. You are still that lass!

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

Hello Tovanger, I hope things are looking a bit brighter today and you've managed to see your doctor, and/or find an agency that can help you with your immediate situation in the US.

I hope you don't mind but I took the liberty of contacting Shelter, for possible options for you if you decide to return to the UK. Although the people at Shelter don't provide housing, they are keen to talk with you and let you know your options and rights if you return. They've advised you to email them at
http://england.shelter.org.uk/get_ad...dvice_by_email

If you need a reference the person I was in contact with was Frances from the email help team.

Let us know how you're getting on when you can, and don't forget, as hard as it is to force ourselves to to approach others for help, it's the very best thing you can do for yourself at the moment. And hey, you're worth the effort so go for it!! Looking forward to hearing from you again, very best wishes, Beth.

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

Wow, Spouse of Scouse - you are so kind to have contacted Shelter on behalf of the original poster, Tovanger.

Sadly, she's only made 2 posts on BE and the last one was in early October last year.....I have my doubts that she will be back will keep my :fingerscrossed: that she reads your post in the near future.

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

Thanks Englishmum - I didn't realise that Tovangar's post was so long ago! I felt a bit intrusive contacting Shelter but I work in the community services area and thought it was something practical I could do. I'd like to volunteer for a similar role when we move to the UK if anyone will have me :)

I hope this lady's ok - it's a hard old world sometimes when you're on your own and especially so if you have a disability. There are some lovely people on BE.

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

I wasn't aware either that Tovangar's post was nearly 5 months old.Hopefully she found the assistance to solve the problem.