Financial hardship in later life

I am sorry to hear about your predicament. You can do an on line benefits check or talk to AgeUk. You might be entitled to Pension Credit which then allow other benefits to kick in

I cannot begin to imagine how worrying this must be for you songstress; I'm so sorry.

Can you contact HMRC explaining your financial position and that the rate at which they are asking you to pay this tax is putting you on the verge of poverty?

I'm sorry I have nothing else to suggest but didn't want to ignore your OP.

I hope 2021 will be kinder to you.

I'd be paying a visit to the CAB and get them to sort your tax out.

HMRC are on to you like a ton of bricks if you owe them, but they're not so damn quick when they owe you !
My solicitor fought them for 6 years back tax that they owed after my husband died.

Change your GP.

Would Citizens Advice be able to help?

Ah yes, sorry EllanV I missed your comment.

change your friends.
mix with more genuine type people.
how about volunteering at a food bank. you might meet another set of people who think life is about more than conspicuous consumption.
also it is not good for you to be eaten up with resentment; you need to turn your attention to something else. if you are actively making a contribution you will gain a sense of value in your life. also might learn some tips for saving money.
good luck.

Yes, I have come out the other side. The week before I retired, four years ago, HMRC wrote telling me I wasn't/hadn't ever been self employed, which was ridiculous, but I had to pay back Working Tax Credit. I was too exhausted from a tricky divorce to do battle. I took a cleaning job. Then I had a very bizarre landlord and ended up homeless, eventually living in an almshouse. I was a so close to being a Big Issue seller, even though I had previously had my own business and worked hard all my life. Well, my 'debt' is now paid off. I live only on my state pension, paying rent out of it. I can't afford a car and pre Covid I stayed in youth hostels instead of hotels. But I'm very contented. I decided to let go of the resentment I felt. It was a struggle and I still find it odd being among people who spend more money than I can, because frankly we speak different languages, but I am used to it and have come to enjoy the simple life. I do hope you find a way of going forward.

Have you contacted Victim Support? They might be able to help you after the burglary.

Has the bank explained why they won't help you with the hacking (or was it a scam? It's not very clear). I thought that they would cover hacking, as they should be able to prevent this, but scams are a different matter, as unfortunately the account holder has often instructed the bank to act. If it was indeed a hack, it might be worth taking things further if they absolutely refuse to help.

As has been suggested, you might be able to come to an arrangement to pay back HMRC in instalments - it's worth a try.

The UK state pension is a disgrace. People who pay NI contributions for decades often end up with less than those who don't work at all, and the system works against those on low pay, who can earn so little that they don't pay the relevant contributions. In that case, though, you should qualify for pension credit, so do make a claim if you can.

Your GP may be comfortably off, but that doesn't mean that she has no idea about the lives of patients who are less so. Most GPs see a patients in a wide range of circumstances, so don't be put off seeing her.

I'm sorry you are in this situation. Can you draw up a repayment plan, so that you can see when your debts are likely to be paid off? As you approach the end date it might cheer you up to see that it is in sight, and you can plan a treat for when you get there.

What about this Pension Credit ? I'm sure anyone's entitled to it if either they haven't got savings or if they have it has to be under a certain amount in order to claim. Worth a try ?

Look for the relevant department via google.

You don’t say how old you are Songstress- only that you have a private pension? How long before you get your state pension and will it be the full £175 pw?

I really think that CAB are the way to go.

EllanVannin anyone who receives the full state pension of £175 isn’t eligible for pension credit, even if they had zero savings. Pension credit tops the state pension to £175 for anyone who has a shortfall.

Grannynannywanny

EllanVannin anyone who receives the full state pension of £175 isn’t eligible for pension credit, even if they had zero savings. Pension credit tops the state pension to £175 for anyone who has a shortfall.

One possibility is housing benefit and/or local council tax support. If somebody isn't eligible for Pension Credit, he/she should approach the local authority directly. I have some recent experience of this and I was surprised to learn that I should be receiving a few pounds. Not a lot, but it all helps.

Viridian I feel the same as you. I really struggle financially, but strangely enough I feel quite contented. It's quite an achievement when I've managed to live within my means at the end of the month. I've worked through all the feelings of unfairness about life treating me like sh*t. Nearly everybody I know is much richer than I am, but if my finances bother them, that's their problem. I feel quite smug about their shallowness. I think it's one reason why I've coped with the last year better than some. I hardly had anything to lose - certainly no days out or holidays - so I'm not missing anything.

PS. The CAB is the way to go.

Grannynannywanny

EllanVannin anyone who receives the full state pension of £175 isn’t eligible for pension credit, even if they had zero savings. Pension credit tops the state pension to £175 for anyone who has a shortfall.

Which is why it's quite unfair to anybody who has actually earned state pension by paying full National Insurance Contributions.

PS. Viridian If you only receive state pension, you should be eligible for housing benefit.

Thanks very much growstuff, I do get housing and council tax benefit, just didn't want to make my post any longer with more detail! Pension credit doesn't apply in my case. The rents in my town are huge, but housing benefit helps. I have learnt so much by going through all this, most importantly, to me, being able to relate to people on the edge of society.

I would definitely see whether you can get some more money back from the bank. It might be worth writing to the bank & copying in the MP. HMRC are a nightmare but will sometimes allow you to reduce payments. As others have said CAB can be helpful and sometimes GP surgeries have someone who will help with financial stuff -
I don’t think you would have to talk to your GP to access that service

I do agree that having to count every penny makes you (one) more aware of how many people have to live - and that is definitely a good thing.

I'm another with financial issues, alongside childcare problems, a flat that's falling down around my ears, a bad back, and a zero hour job.

I guess I'm grateful to have been taught that life ain't always fair.
It has it's compensations. I feel I'm fairly contented.

I feel for you songstress.
Some people on GN think I have a charmed life. They of course do not know me or my circumstances.

In the financial crash of 2008 we lost an awful lot of money. Money we had worked hard for as no-one had ever given us any, nor had we (or have we) ever inherited money. My poor husband nearly had a mental breakdown.

The loss was huge. Very many thousands. More than sixty anyway.

We took stock. We downsized from our lovely family home & now have 2 very small apartments. One here in the UK and one in Spain.

A friend who had held my hand through this and wiped my tears said three things that really helped:

1. Draw a line in the sand and stop looking back. It doesn’t help to have regrets. It won’t bring your money back.

2. Learn to love the life you have.

3. There will always be books to read. She gave me a bookmark & wrote those words on the back. Amazing how much comfort I got from that!

I’m not telling you this to garner pity. I truly do love my life. I’m so fortunate in so many ways. I think at our age life has usually clipped us round the ear, one way or another. If mine was to be financial well so be it. Others suffer worse - health wise, estrangement from dear family, death of loved ones to name a few.

I think I’ve learned to shift my mindset and find the joy in the small things. It’s always there. You can’t change what life throws at you, sadly, but you can tailor your reaction to suit. It was beyond awful when we were going through it but honestly? If it doesn’t kill you it makes you stronger.

Sending you, in hope, my very best wishes for 2021 and onwards. x

songstress60
I fully understand your feelings about everything you say. Just when you think things can’t get any worse, life has a habit of smacking you right in the face again.
Get straight on to CAB. I have used them in the recent past and they are so amazing I cannot express to you how good you will feel after talking to them. I’m a person that was never used to dealing with benefits ,HMRC and the sort of things that go with being alone dealing with rotten setbacks and a mental breakdown. Long story don’t ask.
I urge you to call the CAB before you tie yourself in knots and make yourself ill with all that you are dealing with. Just to hear how they can start to help you will give you more head space to start sorting this mess out.
Take notes and write down numbers that are offered to you. When you call whatever departments take notes of date, time and the person’s name. Believe me that these are all worth noting so do it. They are very good and non judgmental even if you get upset whilst relaying your misfortune as l did, they are human and kind.
Because lm an independent person and tried to sort my own problems out l made things worse by not knowing where to start and missing things. Now l realise it’s good to ask for help, really you won’t regret it.
Good luck with the future, you will be alright

EllanVannin

I'd be paying a visit to the CAB and get them to sort your tax out.

Good idea.
HMRC are not infallible.
If it is correct see if you can negotiate a lower rate of repayment, inform them otherwise you will be in poverty.

They scammed me for £900 and one bank refused to pay it back.
You need further advice re this too, either CAB or contact a financial adviser eg Martin Lewis, Money Saving Expert, or perhaps one who advises in a newspaper. Banks don't like being named and shamed, but you wont be named.

Good luck, you shouldn't have to be worrying like this.