GOLDEN YEARS
ould I Seek Help? with possible eviction or repossession. How can a debt adviser help me? A debt adviser will help you come up with a budget and a plan to pay back your debts. They will advise you on how to contact your creditors to arrange repayments. Some advisers will negotiate with your creditors for you. Below are some things your debt adviser may discuss with you: • your income and expenses so the adviser can help you complete a budget. • your circumstances, such as whether you own your home, so they can understand your personal situation and discuss what options might suit you best. • your debts and creditors so they can advise you on the options for dealing with them. • all your options and identify what steps to take next. It’s important to tell the debt adviser if any of the following applies to you:
• if any of the debts belonged to a spouse, partner or civil partner who has died • if your debts come from signing an agreement or a loan that you didn’t properly understand
Don’t panic if you’re behind on these bills.
The following information is helpful for your debt adviser so try to have these on hand before you speak or see one: bank statements for the past 3 months; how much you owe and to whom; any letters or demands from your creditors; how old your debts are.
gas or electricity bills?
What debts should I pay off first? Be open with your debt adviser about all your debts so that he or she can help you to prioritise them, as not all debts are the same. Some debts, called ‘priority debts’, can lead to serious trouble if they aren’t paid. For example, if you don’t pay your mortgage, your home could be repossessed. Priority debts include: mortgage; rent; Council Tax; gas or electricity; water; and unpaid fines.
Seek advice as soon as possible so that you and your debt adviser can work out a plan of action to repay the money. Can my energy be cut off if I can’t pay my If you don’t pay your gas or electricity bill within 28 days, your energy supply could be cut off. However, it can’t be cut off without notice and your gas or energy company must send you a warning letter. If everyone in your home is of pension age, they can’t cut off your energy supply between 1 October and 31 March. If you’re having difficulty paying your gas or electricity bills, tell your supplier as soon as possible. You may be able to work out a payment plan or install a pre-payment meter. n Age UK Coventry & Warwickshire: 01926 458100
Stay home in safety with Spring Retirement’s live-in carers Many older people dread having to move into full-time residential care, but realise they can no longer manage alone with deteriorating health or mobility. Live-in carers can provide a very welcome alternative, helping them to stay in their own home, retaining their independence, control, and lifestyle, for a cost comparable to that of going into a paid-for residential setting. Spring Retirement is a small, wellestablished family business which provides that full-time, live-in support from a pool of well-qualified, highly experienced people who combine kindliness with the highest standards of professional care. Rated all-round as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, the company carries out careful assessments of each client’s needs and matches them with carers of compatible personality. The carers take a spare bedroom and live in as a family member might do, helping with tasks including housework, shopping, personal care, social activities and special interests. At this time of year many people take pleasure in tending their own gardens and a live-
in Spring Retirement carer can help them do as much as they wish and are able. Importantly, they keep their whole home and stay in their own neighbourhood, among friends and familiar faces. When people find that a few hours a week of domiciliary care from an agency is insufficient the Spring Retirement live-in service means somebody is always present, providing not only practical help but also companionship. And, with the company’s IT kit, trusted relatives can log in at any time to check that all is well, giving them peace of mind. Support may be short-term, perhaps for just two or three weeks following illness or surgery, or long-term, when you can get great support from the carers looking after you. Managing Director Richard Sharples says: “With a live-in carer you get one-to-one attention, which is very different to other options.” n Spring Retirement, 103 High Street, Evesham WR11 4DN T 01386 365001 E info@springretirement.co.uk www.springretirement.co.uk t @NowWarwickshire | G Warwickshire Now | w www.nowmagazines.co.uk 17 n
