Financial
Advice and experience to help you support and protect your parents and their rights.
The what, who and how of winter fuel payments
Winter Fuel Payments are available to older people in the UK, but what are they, who qualifies, and how do you claim? Winter Fuel Payments (often referred to as winter fuel allowances) are given to older people to help them keep warm through the coldest months of the year. They’ve been around since 1997 to […]
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Why you need to ensure travel insurance declarations include mental health conditions
We know we need to declare physical conditions and medications when we’re looking for travel insurance, but how many of us think about notifying insurers of mental health issues? Or are even sure what constitutes such a condition? According to AllClear, a specialist medical travel insurance provider, many older travellers aren’t declaring mental health issues […]
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What does the Autumn 2018 budget mean for older people?
We take a quick look at the Autumn 2018 UK budget to see what is likely to affect older friends and family – and what leading charities and commentators made of it. Didn’t budget statements in the UK used to come round just once a year? Or did we imagine that? Either way, a […]
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Tax benefits for older people
Do my ageing parents still have to pay tax? What benefits and schemes are there to help them? When you’re helping relatives and friends to manage their finances as they get older, there are several questions you may want to clear up regarding their finances. Tax professionals Tax Rebate Services offer the following pointers. Attendance […]
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NHS Continuing Healthcare: why it’s important to have a coordinator
Claiming NHS Continuing Healthcare in the UK is an uphill struggle. Our expert Roger Burgess explains why it’s so important to ensure an independent coordinator is appointed. Before you begin Find out more about NHS Continuing Healthcare and why your parent might claim it if they have complex health needs by reading Roger’s first two […]
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NHS fully-funded care for people with primary health needs – part 2
Following his discussion of who can claim NHS Continuing Healthcare funding in part 1 of this article, independent adviser Roger Burgess explains the steps that applicants will go through to make their claim. He provides comment and advice based on his experience of helping others to make claims. Step 1: The “Check List” This is […]
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NHS fully-funded care for people with primary health needs – part 1
People with a “primary health need” could be eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare financial support but it’s not a service that’s widely advertised. Independent adviser Roger D Burgess describes what he has learned from helping families to make their claims. NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC) is funded by the NHS for people who have a primary […]
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Tips on safely managing money for the less mobile
Handing over a bank card to someone else is a breach of Ts&Cs. So how can those with limited mobility withdraw cash and manage money? Helen Doyle, Head of Policy & Research at the Payments Council, offers some advice. Managing finances can be tricky at the best of times, but imagine finding yourself unable to […]
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How to claim a lost pension
Written by Rebecca Lenton Once your parent passes retirement age it’s likely they’ll be living off a number of pension pots. With most people moving jobs an average of 11 times during their working career it can be easy to lose track of the workplace pension schemes they’re enrolled in. According to the Department for […]
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How to manage your parent’s financial affairs
Associate Solicitor Stuart Adams, from Penningtons Manches LLP, shares his advice on how to deal with organisations such as banks, building societies and utility companies on your parent’s behalf when there is no Power of Attorney in place. While it’s your parent’s right to manage their own financial affairs, advancing age, illness or disability can […]
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