I would like to send a great big 'Thank you' to Age UK!!!
Although my 85 year old mum is not struggling finanically, like all pensioners money is tight. She has been very much against applying for any state benefits because she thought that she had too much money in the bank and did not want to ask for charity. She lives in rented accomodation, and when her rent and council tax have been paid she was left with under £20 per week for everything else. She had been using her savings for a long time now and her balance was well below the threshold for applying for benefits. I looked on line at the forms which we needed to fill in and they are not exactly user friendly. I then called AgeUK for some advice and they suggested that one of their volunteers visited my mum and help fill the forms in. A Very Helpful and Patient gentleman arrived, the forms were all filled in and sent off with appropriate bank statement etc. Within one week she was notified that she would be receiving a total of £95 per week in benefits and they were back dated!!! She could not believe that she was entitled to this money and is very grateful for the help which Age UK gave. Thanks again Age UK 
Stabbing at a school in Wales this lunchtime.
