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Jan 08 Updated Travel Insurance section.
Please note that the Health Section has been moved to Here (mainly links to sites which give help) and Here, which displays news items on health.
A government Pensions Advisor is telling insurance companies to revise their ideas on longevity. He indicated that a man of 65 is likely to live to 86. And the pension funds are in a bad enough state on their current calculations - mainly, I suspect, because their financial wizards are pretty bad at second guessing the trends in the stock market.
Did you know that under section
187 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992: it an offence for banks
to take bank charges out of the accounts of people who are on social security
benefits. So, if your bank has taken charges out of your Benefits eg: if
you are in receipt (and totally dependant on) of any of the
following benefits.
A new government direct site has been created called Generationxperience, and there is a blog page at www.generationxperience.wordpress.com Air your views
A new page has been created Here, which deals with the Digital TV changes, which are already beginning to happen in Cumbria and Devon
FREE BUSES The Grey Escape ? Everyone aged 60 or over and eligible disabled people will be entitled to free off-peak bus travel anywhere in England. However, this does not apply to National Express, so that somewhat defeats the object. However you can check whether there are any BUS (as opposed to COACH) services available from your area at http://www.traveline.org.uk/index.htm And someone made it from Cornwall to The Lakes ! See http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/apr/05/transport
National Express Routesixty fares, though, are 50% off see http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/offers/routesixty.cfm Also http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/offers/funfares.cfm for £1 tickets on-line. The other thing to watch is those expensive rail fares. Take a look at http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/travel/cheap-train-tickets to see how you can save substantially.
Winter Fuel Payments (£100 each) If you are eligible for the winter fuel payment for the first time this year you should fill in an application form from the Pension Service, preferably by 21st September. If a man, and are turning 60 by 23rd September, you are eligible but it will not be picked up automatically as you are not yet a state pensioner.
An Independant Financial Adviser specialising in pension advice can be found at http://www.pensionlite.co.uk/
State Pensions The many benefits available are very complicated to describe. The best document for this is at http://www.thepensionservice.gov.uk/pdf/pensionersguide/pg1june06.pdf. You will need to download a PDF file reader to read this. The document deals with most benefits such as Pension Credits, Council Tax Benefit, Carers allowances and even Child Benefit and Tax Credits. See also Financial Page.
The Mail on Sunday reports that many disabled and elderly people are not claiming State Benefits which are theirs of right. Virtually all those in care homes will qualify for Attendance Allowance worth £43.15 per week. Those needing help overnight, too, get the higher rate of £64.50 a week (and this is NOT means tested. In England, people with recognised medical need also qualify for a weekly payment from the NHS towards care costs. It is in three bands (£40, £87 amd £139 per week). The level of payment is very different in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. So much for a United Kingdom !
Other Pensions With many people having multiple employment pensions (and moving addresses) it is easy to lose track of them. The Pansions Service (0845 6002 537) www.thepensionservice.gov.uk offers a free pension tracing service. They have a database of over 200,000 pension schemes.
Mystified by all this talk of the switchover to digital TV.? Take a look at www.digitaluk.co.uk
http://www.ceacard.co.uk/ This site enables you to apply for the Cinema Exhibitors Association card which gives a free cinema ticket for one additional person if you are either in receipt of a disability allowance or are registered as a blind person (but not as a deaf one !)
New address from the government : http://www.direct.gov.uk/Over50s/fs/en
If you have poor vision did you know that you can turn on a 'High Contrast screen' There is a shortcut to turn this on or off. Press LEFT ALT+LEFT SHIFT+PRINT SCREEN. Various alternative high contrast screens can be chosen by clicking 'Settings'. Alternatively you will find that it is possible to change the size and style of web page type. In a web page see Tools, Internet Options, Fonts and also View, Text size.
If you use Internet Explorer use View, Text size and choose a larger one
In addition Windows XP provides a magnifier which is turned on by going to Start, Run and typing Magnify and clicking OK, but I find it confusing !
It has various shortcuts : To increase magnification: Press the Windows key+UP ARROW. Decrease magnification: +DOWN ARROW. To invert the colors of the magnification window press the Windows key+PAGE U ; To follow the mouse cursor through the magnified area: Windows key +PAGE DOWN. To copy the screen to the Clipboard, including the mouse cursor press the Windows key. +PRINT SCREEN.
If you have difficulty using two hands you can use 'Sticky keys', so
you can press say, the Windows key and E separately. This is set on
by pressing SHIFT five times
In fact, for people who hate using the mouse there is a great deal that can
be achieved with the keyboard For instance
Ctrl + A to select all
Shift + arrows selects text
Ctrl + C Copies a selection you have made by dragging the mouse across it.
Ctrl + X Cuts selection ; Ctrl + V Pastes clipboard contents to cursor position.
Home/End Moves cursor to beginning/end of line ;
Ctrl + Home/End Moves cursor to beginning/end of document ;
Ctrl + Up/Down arrow Moves cursor up/down one paragraph ;
Ctrl + Left/Right arrow moves cursor one word to left/right ;
Ctrl + Z Undo the last action.;
Tab takes you to the next field (in email or form filling)
Alt + any underlined menu letter e.g. Alt + F for File
Did you know that you can move down the list of links by pressing the Tab key ? Then press Enter to go to a selected site. You can also move down the page by pressing the space bar.... holding shift to move up again.
The RNIB has software that they can install on mobile phones to tell blind people about text messages, battery level etc. They charge £150 to install it. Another rip off for the disabled. Or, ' in certain situations' they can supply a phone free, or you can install the software from a PC. How can anyone charge a blind person £150 just to install some software! When, one day, software is available so I can see what people say on my phone I imagine the RNID will charge deaf people the same, or even more, as the software is more complex.
Do you know about Audio Description on TV ? Audio Description (AD) describes what is happening on-screen using the gaps between dialogue. This helps viewers with visual impairments to follow what is going on. It is available on digital satellite television and Freeview (currently only via the Netgem receiver). Audio descriptions of changes of location, actions, facial expressions, gestures etc give the context and set the scene, and are fitted between dialogue or commentary to avoid interrupting the flow of the programme. The BBC, ITV, Channel Four and Five are committed to audio describing at least 6 per cent of their annual output. Programmes include popular soaps, dramas and comedies. Children's programmes also feature on the service.
*****************
Useful Numbers 0800 numbers a free.
0845 numbers are 'low call'
Benefit enquiries 0800 88 22 00
EAC (Elderly Advice Counsel )
http://www.eac.org.uk/ 020 780
1343 provides a free, independent, telephone advice service to older people,
their families and people who work with them. See alo Housing below.
Energy Efficiency Advice 0800 512 012 (the Energy Saving Trust)
Energywatch 08459 060708
Pension Credits 0800 99 1234
For a pension assessment contact 0845 3000 168 or
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
Smoking Helpline 0800 169 0 169
Solid Fuel Association 0845 601 4406
Warm Front Scheme (insulation grants) 0800 072 0151
Winter Fuel Payments 08459 15 15 15. (Textphone - for the deaf 0845
601 5613) www.the
pensionservice.gov.uk/winterfuel/
Winter Warmth Advice + booklet (8 - 8pm) (various languages) 0800 085
7000; (Deaf) Textphone 0800 085 7857
State Pensions + other financial matters Mainly on the Financial Page
In a recent Tonight program Trevor Macdonald featured people who were managing to get back huge sums charged by banks when people had unauthorised overdrafts. Many banks charge up to £30 for each instance, even though someone may have only inadvertently overdrawn by a couple of pounds when taken into the red by a direct debit they didn't anticipate. So far, no case has been tested in court as the banks have just caved in at the last minute. It is expected that the OFT will make a ruling that no more than £12 would be a reasonable charge.
Warm Front Scheme. Free central heating installation and home
insulation is available to pensioners in England receiving means tested Pension
Credit. Pensioners who do not receive Pension Credit may still get contributions
towards these things. See
http://www.eaga.co.uk Freephone
0800 316 6011.
According to the Saga Magazine 2.5 million over 60's are missing out by not
claiming their Pension Credit. See
www.thepensionservice.gov.uk
The government ensures that single 60 year olds have a total income of not
less than £109.45 per week; £167.05 for couples. At 65 this
rises to £151 and £221 respectively (£7852 & £11,492
per annum). However, the calculation is complex and savings over
£6,000 are taken into account, as well as expenses such as mortgages.
The best thing to do is look at the charts on the Pensions Service
website. Click
here.
You can apply for Pension Credit by calling the Pension Credit application
line 0800 99 1234, textphone 0800 169 0133 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday,
9am to 1pm Saturday) or can print a form by going to the site on line.
From April 2005 anyone who deferred drawing their state pension got increases equivalent to 10.4% for every year that they wait, OR you can get a lump sum instead. At current estimates this could be as much as £30,000 for five years' delay (or whatever you didn't draw + 2:% over base rate interest. I really would recommend any healthy 60 year old woman, who is continuing to work, to take advantage of this, which is a better percentage than you could get elsewhere - and, alternatively, could lead to a higher pension for the next 35 years !!
Examples of pension deferral : (1) If you deferred a state pension for 5 years, which would have been, say, £5666 per annum, you would be entitled to a lump sum of £28,330 + whatever cumulative interest accrued - at the current Bank Rate (Feb 07) that would be 7.25% - at least an extra £400. Lump sums are taxable, by the way.
(2) A woman decides to put off claiming her State Pension for 5 years. If, when she comes to claim her pension, the weekly rate she would have been entitled to, if she had not put off claiming, would have been £105 weekly (£5517 p.a.) As she put off claiming for five years and chose extra State Pension, the amount of State Pension she would get every week would be £159.60 (£8268 p.a.). And, in this case, the government actuaries must be going spare as women can reasonably expect to defer for longer and draw a much higher pension for a great deal longer as well. There are not often cases where I actually recommend something... but for a healthy 60 year old woman, who is still enjoying work, it would seem very advantageous to defer drawing the State Pension for at least five years (whether she then takes the lump sum or a higher pension for the next 35 years !)
But be careful. Two out of every five people don't make it to 70 ! And, in some areas of the country this is as much as three out of every five. For longevity live in Cornwall and screw the pension fund for as much as you can !
But, seriously, one can see why pension funds are in trouble with average
life expectancy (males) being around 77 and females being around 81. If the
above quoted lady just deferred her pension to 65, the total average cost
for the rest of her (average) life would be over £132,000 (and rising)
- and that was from a very low starting point. Even if our sample man deferred
to 70, the average male would draw over £200,000 'til he kicked the
bucket. At least he would have the consolation of
not being inundated as a result of global warming !
For a pension assessment contact 0845 3000 168 or the Pensions Service link
above. The Pension Scheme Registry can check if you are due for anything
http://www.thepensionsregulator.gov.uk/
Something like 1.7 million people are not claiming council tax benefit.
Although these benefits are 'means tested' to an extent they can amount to
a considerable sum. The rules for Council Tax Benefit are complex. Take
a look at
http://www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/council_tax_benefit.asp
Overcharged by your Bank or Lender? See
Financial Page.
If you have been charged for insurance on a loan or purchase in case you
were unemployed see notes on The Loan Insurance Business (PPIs)
on that page. One site which is dealing exclusively with this problem and
helping people recalim charges that have been wrongly made is
www.ppireclaimservice.co.uk
There is a lot of information there.
Getting miserable interest on your savings ? No need these days. See Financial Page
Wrongly Rated ? To check what rating band you and you neighbours are on click HERE and enter your post code and Billing Authority. If you are rated much higher than similar properties you should appeal.
Winter fuel payments are made to UK residents who were 60 or over by the week commencing 23rd September 2007. More is paid if you are 80+. This amount is not taxable and does not affect other benefits or allowances. For more information click HERE.
Bereavement Allowance. This is a single tax free lump sum of £2000 payable immediately to help towards costs arising from bereavement. A widow/widower may be entitled to this if his/her late spouse has paid enough National Insurance contributions and he/she is under 60 when the spouse died or their husband/wife was not getting any state pension when he/she died
Avoiding Inheritance tax. Most people know that , until recently, the government was eager to relieve your offspring of 40% of any amounts that you leave to them over and above the sum of £285,000. (Bear in mind that PEPs and ISAs will be added to your total assets and be taxable). Married couples do not have to worry about this when the first dies but now, the survivor inherits the allowance from their legal partner. This is tough on singles or people not legally partners. There are few ways round this these days but one which can be considered is the Nil Rate Discretionary Trust.....
Nil Rate Discretionary Trusts. Though I am sure you should check and arrange this with a solicitor my understanding is this : Situation: You are married and you wish to keep the tax man's hands off your money when you both die. Your house (and any savings) has increased in value to the point when you think that your children will be faced with a large Inheritance Tax bill. What to do ? You set up a Nil Rate Discretionary Trust in which you, as a couple live as 'tenants in common'. Your spouse and a child can be trustees. On the first death the survivor stays in the house. On their death, both of your IHT allowances are set against the value of the house, and this double tax free element is passed to your children. Currently this would amount to over £500,000.http://www.tenminutewill.co.uk/main.cgi and http://www.tenminutewill.co.uk/pdfdocs/discretionary_trusts.pdf
For much more information on financial matters click Here For older people a good site is http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/Money/_default.htm
CARE HOMES and Retirement Property
Dec 10th '07 The government has
announced what it hails as a revolution in social care. Money will now be
placed directly into the bank accounts of those entitled to help, meaning
they can pick and choose both the kind of care they want and who they want
to provide it. So for instance, instead of meals on wheels, an elderly person
could - in principle at least - use the money to pay for someone to come
in and help with the cooking. Instead of respite care for a disabled person,
the money could be spent on a holiday.
EAC (Elderly Advice Counsel )
http://www.eac.org.uk/ 020 780
1343 provides a free, independent, telephone advice service to older people,
their families and people who work with them. See also
http://hoop.eac.org.uk/ Housing Options
for Older
People.http://www.housingcare.org/
http://www.carehomesguide.com/
provides an in-depth search facility for all types of retirement, residential
and nursing homes.
http://www.nursing-home-directory.co.uk/
Select a care home by area
www.bettercaring.co.uk
Choose/compare retirement homes.
http://www.retirementdreams.co.uk/
Search for a suitable property either on a purchase or life interest basis
www.ucarewecare.com
Nursing and Care Homes all over the UK
HEALTH SITES Links to health sites and health information can now be found if you click Here
As well as the 'flu jab it is recommended that the over 65s get an
anti pneumonia jab at the doctor's. Just ask.
A pneumococcal infection can cause septicaemia and meningitis as well as
breathing difficulties.
If you sometimes wonder about opticians read a Which Report
HERE
If you want to check out the cost of surgery or dental treatment abroad take
a look at
http://www.treatmentabroad.net/
DISABILITY HELP
www.vitalise.org.uk Vitalise
is a national charity providing short breaks (respite care) and other services
for disabled people, visually impaired people, and carers.
Abletogo.com Search for holidays
for people with disabilities
www.calibre.org.uk
Provide 7000 audio books on free load on tape or in MP3 format on disk.
Very useful for folks with poor vision.
Alert call is a useful facility to ensure that people are 'Up and About'
http://www.alertacall.com/
New site called Bathing Made Easy at
http://gus.dlf-data.org.uk/ One
of the Disabled Living Foundation pages
http://www.cosyfeet.com/
Provide extra wide shoes and slippers.. Mostly around £60
http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/bbc/partnership.shtml
is a BBC site in cooperation with Ability.net and shows how to get the best
out of the net, even for the disabled
http://www.helptheaged.org.uk/ShoppingServices/SeniorLink/_default.htm
A way to contact people in an emergency.
http://www.createwrt.net/. A voluntary
group which aims to help housebound people with creative writing.
http://www.drc.org.uk/Your_Rights.aspx
: Disability Rights Commission
Other help for people with disabilities who wish to use a computer can be
found at
http://www.abilitynet.org.uk/myway/
www.abilitynet.org.uk is a
charity which as a useful newsletter and also arranges computer courses for
people with disabilities (of any age). Many of the courses are free.
www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/
http://www.benefitsnow.co.uk/
Explains Disability Living Allowance (DLA)and Disability Attendance
Allowances (AA) with a way to assess yourself. Deafness is one of the
disabilities counted providing you are working age but you may have to
appeal.
http://www.btplc.com/age_disability/ Help
from BT
www.essentialaids.com Equipment
for the disabled
www.helpinghand.co.uk Find
suitable equipment
www.im-ok.com. This site would notify
a relative if you DON'T register each morning. It is £40 a year or you
can have a short term arrangement if you think you might need it.
ITcanhelp.org.uk free hardware
and software help and training (contact me also, as I am a registered
trainer).
www.remap.org.uk (free technical
equipment for disabled people).
www.ability.org.uk, Hardware and software kits to help disabled centres
with computing. e.g. Successful Computing for Disabled People CD
Want a map of the UK specifically designed for Blue Badge holders ? £12
from www.the pieguide.com or
http://www.gowringsmobility.co.uk/home.html Or
call 0870 444 5435. Not just parking but shopping, toilets, beaches, petrol
stations, accommodation.
See also
www.access-ability.co.uk
It is suggested the Blind people should get a page reader. You can
download one from
http://www.browsealoud.com/ or
a new one called Thunder from
www.screenreader.net (XP, NT
and Windows 2000) You may find that downloading the WebbIE browser helps
these programs. Free from
http://www.webbie.org.uk/
All graphics on this site have alternative text
http://www.natstar.ac.uk/ A useful
site for people with impaired vision or muscles.
http://www.rnib.org.uk/softwareaccesscentre.
Software for blind and partially sighted
If you would like a Word Processor that tries to predict what you are writing, try the free Open Office, downloaded from www.computeractive.co.uk/downloads/ and enter Open Office
Do you realise that certain equipment can be bought free of VAT if you are disabled? The following goods may qualify for relief
Certain conditions must be adhered to in order for these supplies to qualify for zero-rating. These conditions include; the design or adaptation of the item, the supply being made to a disabled person for their domestic or personal use and the receipt of an eligibility declaration form. For more information see http://www.hmce.gov.uk/business/vat/disabilityfaqs.htm
EDUCATION and TRAINING
www.calibre.org.uk
Provide 7000 audio books on free load on tape or in MP3 format on disk.
Very useful for folks with poor vision.
http://www3.open.ac.uk/courses
www.open2.net or phone 0800 77 1234
to book your Free Internet starter session with the government sponsored
UKonline
www.itcanhelp.org.uk
ITCH. Free help for disabled people with hardware and software problems.
A volunteer can visit you at home (I am one!) If you have IT skills
you can volunteer. Travelling expenses paid to volunteers..
www.free-ed.net Free courses in
almost everything.
www.learndirect.co.uk
www.dfee.gov.uk
www.bbc.co.uk/learning/
www.dfee.gov.uk/adultlearners
www.open.ac.uk Open University
http://u3a.org.uk (University of the Third
Age)
http://www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com/reference/refcards/
Various computer programs e.g. Word... shortcuts
Flights www.bhx.com (Birmingham Airport) www.buzzaway.com www.ryanair.com www.flybmi.com (British Midland) www.flybe.com (British European) www.cheapflights.com www.easyjet.co.uk www.expedia.co.uk www.telme.com www.deckchair.com www.dialaflight.com www.cheaponlineflights.com Easy to navigate site. Flights, Holidays, Hotels. Shows discounts available.
Holiday Money Are all the money rates the same ? BY NO MEANS ! Buying 1000 Euros (July 06) from Marks and Spencers cost only £709.21 as against Lloyds TSB who would charge £720.77. $1000 would cost £560.86 from M & S but £20 more from Natwest and even more from Travelex. But rates vary, so you may not always get the best rate from one supplier. But M & S seems to do well most of the time. Bear in mind that Thomas Cook has an on line service which promises to match any rate that you find elsewhere. To see the M & S currency site click HERE £100 - £2500. £500 or more delivered free, otherwise £5 charge.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
This section has been revised in view of my recent attempt to get insurance
for myself (76) and wife (69) for a 17 day break in South Africa.You will
find a great deal of variation between insurance companies with regard to
attitudes to age and illnesses. Many refuse point blank for over 65's whilst
others have no limit. It is essential to look at each quote. Prices
also vary enormously. Most insurers double the premium for over 65 or 66.
Some will weight the premium heavily if any of the party has had or is suffering
from and illness such as cancer. I have seen a quote for a week in
Europe where the over 70 was offered a £21 policy and the other party
(65 but having arrested cancer) was loaded to £156 - for one week!)
Most insurers, rather than giving a blunt refusal on age or health
grounds, ask you to phone. So the quote on the right is mine.
Please note that those which use an 0845 and 0870 telephone numbers will be telephoned at your expense. Better to get an on line quote, which is possible 9 out of 10 cases
| Insurer | Age limit Annual Worldwide Policy | Age Limit Single Trip |
Couple : Up to 17 days Worldwide excluding Canada and America |
| MRL Direct | 89 | £136 for two. Covers most pre existing conditions | |
| www.confused.com A Broker | Various | Various | I was no less confused |
| www.insurancesupermarket.com | Various | Various | |
| Bradford and Bingley (0800 169 4078) | 79 | 85 | £172.98 No baggage cover £192.20 with |
| Virgin Money (0800 051 7000) | 74 | No limit | £190 from 66 to Methusala. Includes baggage and whole world |
| Marks and Spencer (0800 068 3918) | 70 | None except Americas : 80 | £146.11 No baggage. £162.35 with |
| Insurefor all (0845 880 0694) | Europe only. Up to 74 | 84 (includes Americas) | £194.28. Worldwide with baggage... no options |
| Select Travel (01202 709881) | 70 | 70 | Up to 70£59 for one £99 for two but no good to me |
| www.flexicover.com (0870 990 9292) | 85 | 85 | £189 without baggage cover. £271 for multi travel |
| www.preferential.co.uk (0870 600 77 66) | 75 | 75 | £72.91 each up to 75 but no good to me |
| www.direct-travel.co.uk (0845 605 2700) | 75 | 75 | No good to me at 76 |
| www.nationwide.co.uk phone (0500 30 20 16) | 79 | 79 | £167 without baggage cover up to 79 and few questions asked |
| www.allcleartravel.co.uk | 65 | No limit | The Quote link failed three times. Gave up |
| www.24drtravel.com 01825 712945 | 79 | 90+ Annual to 79. Pre-existing health problems considered |
£56.52 at 69 £117.04 at 76 They also offer an economy annual package which includes the States |
| Insure
and Go, the travel insurance company (0870 901 3674) |
75 (up to 31 days per trip) | 75 | Didn't try. I am 76 |
| www.coverquote.co.uk (01255 812796) | 85 Specialise in older people | 85 | Difficult to get a 'couple' quote. Expensive individually |
| www.travelinsuranceguide.org.uk/ | General advice on travel insurance | Just a guide | Just a guide |
| RIAS (0800 068 1655) | 79 | 89 | Phone. I didn't |
| Direct Line (0845 246 8704) | 65 | No limit | Wanted spamming details before a quote. I left. |
| www.atlasdirect.net 0870 8111 701 | 75. Contact if over | 75. Contact if over. | Still no good for over 75s unless you phone |
| Saga (0800 056 5464) | No limit but pricey | No limit but pricey | |
| Age Concern (0845 601 2234) | No limit but pricey | No limit but pricey | |
| http://netcoverdirectuk.co.uk/ | 75 | Excellent multi trip uo to 69 | Nothing over 75. Good w'wide policies 65 - 75 |
| www.whichpolicy.co.uk/ (Comparison site) | Came up with two policies. One was for worldwide multitrip. OK | ||
| Help The Aged (0800 413 180) | No limit but pricey | No limit but pricey |
Alliance and Leicester
are advertising (Feb 08) a Current (over 50s) Account paying 8.5% up to
£2500, (very little interest over that amount). There is a £10
a month fee For this they give worldwide travel insurance up to 79
years of age (for one ?), plus two private out-patient consultations
up to £750 p.a.(for one?), plus credit card and Identity theft
protection. After April 2009 the rate drops dramatically. This is NOT
a build up savings account. You could stick in £2,500 at the start
and doesn't appear to demand regular payments from income.
Halifax (Ultimate Reward A/c)
have now caught onto this idea offering worldwide travel insurance, home
emergency, car breakdown and credit card cover as well as a good rate current
account (6.17%), for £10 a month. They reckon the whole
package is worth around £800 a year
Cheapest annual worldwide policy was Bradford and Bingley, which also did a good price on single trip policies for Europe and America. Even cheaper for America , at £100 for three weeks, was Virgin Money. (Mail on Sunday 4th March 2007) A quote for a 75 year old Europe, Annual from B & B was £122.86; Single 2 week trip was £35.89. For a 68 year old it was down to £73 (two weeks £25.49). Luggage cover added £8 for multi trip and £3 for the single trip. Pretty good.
Atlasdirect do a useful list comparing their prices (and level of cover) with many others.
It is well known that buying insurance from your travel agent can be expensive. And yet you may be able to haggle there, whereas it is more difficult on the net or over the phone. You may be able to take advantage of a holiday package which includes insurance, with no questions asked about age.
One last suggestion is a bank account which offeres travel insurance as part of their deal. e.g. HSBC have a Bank Account Plus for people who pay in their salary. Although it costs £12.95 a month it includes Worldwide Family Travel insurance, which can cost quite a lot. It also offers one of these savings deals, paying 10% gross. www.hsbc.co.uk 08005871481.
HOUSEHOLD (Energy, telephones, Insurance) See
www.thisismoney.co.uk/householdbills
Supplies of gas have eased due to new pipelines from Norway and Holland.
Wholesale gas prices (which effect electricity prices), have plumeted since
the shortages of 2006. Expect your supplier to reduce prices this summer.
A very useful site for comparing power prices is
www.uswitch.com Very simple to use.
Powergen have a Staywarm scheme for pensioners (or people or low incomes)
which sets a monthly amount you pay regardless of the gas and electricity
you use. see....
http://www.ukpower.co.uk/staywarm.asp
To set up an account telephone them on 0800 183 1144. However, this scheme
has been a little too successful for Powergen and they suddenly told
10% of registered users they could no longer have Staywarm. This has
got them into such hot water from organisations for the elderly that they
backed down. But high user Staywarm folk are likely to have an increased
tariff eventually. As with many companies you can fix the price of gas and
electricity if you pay a little more each month. I got an assessment from
Powergen and it was £9 a moth extra to keep the price the same until
2010. But much depends on your usage and, anyway, prices could drop. They
also award Tesco Clubcard points for every pound you spend. For an idea of
how much you can save by getting combined Electricity and Gas and doing
everything on line (meter reading, bills etc) see
Here
Npower has started a new Sign Online 8 tariff, which may be worth looking into. They have lso launched a National Trust Green Energy tariff for every new customer and promise to pay cash into a fund which will be used to createrenewable energy projects at National Trust properties. Another useful comparative website is Simply Switch.
USwitch can reveal that electricity suppliers are charging customers
in their “home” or incumbent regions – where they used to
be the local supplier, up to £54 more than customers in other
areas. Ann Robinson, Director of Consumer Policy at
www.uswitch.com says: “Tactical
regional pricing is a tax on loyalty. Electricity suppliers are treating
local longstanding customers like cash cows, using them to subsidise the
more competitive prices they are offering to new customers in other
regions.” Customers are urged to compare deals in their region
and switch to a cheaper deal. With savings of around 16% available, switching
can make regional pricing work to your advantage.
The Energy Saving Trust can tell
you about insulation grants from power companies and councils in your area.
Tap in your postcode. The site also leads to one with information about
grants to enable you to install other energy saving devices such as solar
panels and electricity generating equipment. The grants, which ran out quickly
each month have been doubled since the April 07 budget.
See
http://www.lowcarbonbuildings.org.uk/how/householders/ for more
information.
The problem with solar heated water systems in the UK is that they may
only save you £50 a year and cost £3000 - £4500. Years ago
I developed one for a great deal less than that and it served me well for
10 years before rusting out ! Details on request.
OFTEL (telephones) also recommends
www.uswitch.com, who are allowed
to help you change. It only takes a few minutes and can save you tens of
pounds a month, particularly if you phone abroad a lot. Check for the cheapest
gas and electricity supplier
www.kura.co.uk
The Energy Saving Trust can tell
you about grants (up to £2,000) from power companies and councils
in your area. Tap in your postcode.
www.nationalexpress.com/over60
If you are over 60 you qualify for 50% off bus fares. No coach card
needed.
HOME INSURANCE. There are so many companies one needs
to shop around. Here are some comparison sites :
http://www.homeinsurance.co.uk/
http://www.homeinsurancesaver.co.uk/
http://www.uk-home-insurance.org.uk/
also
https://www.saga.co.uk/finance/household/
TV Licenses. Free to over 75s. At 74 you should get a reduced
rate. Registered blind people pay 50%
CAR INSURANCE :
Castle Cover at
http://www.castlecover.co.uk/
Specialise in over 50s insurance. Car, Home, Pet etc
Recommended by a 60+ site visitor :
www.cornhilldirect.co.uk
Pay as you drive. Excellent demo. at
www.payasyoudriveinsurance.com
by Norwich Union. The idea is that you have a satellite transmitter in your
car so NU can track just what you are up to ! If you are over 23, have
a good track record and don't drive a lot (especially in the rush hour or
after midnight) this could be good for you. Over 65 and they ask you
to phone. Your insurance will vary according to the amount you drive.
Norwich Union will pay you £60 if you find a cheaper insurance anywhere
else.
MISCELLANEOUS
www.myguide.gov.uk. The government
site for easy searching and easy email
http://www.cosyfeet.com/
Provide extra wide shoes and slippers.. Mostly around £60
http://www.friendshipdirect.com/
- find friendship and romance at 50+
http://www.thepensionersparty.org/index.html
A political party to represent the interests of pensioners
www.teachingart.co.uk
http://www.retirement-matters.co.uk/index2.htm
Writing a will
http://museum.woolworths.co.uk/
An interesting site if you remember Threpenny and Sixpenny Stores !
www.saa.co.uk Sites dedicated to helping
people with their art hobby.
www.timecapsule.co.uk Age Concern
site where people can share memories of bygone days. You can email them material
at timecapsule@ace.org.uk
.
News, Weather and Football + Google
searches
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/global/main.jhtml
The Telegraph for Ex-Pats
www.hmrc.gov.uk/cnr Site for government
information for Ex-Pats
QUIZES
www.coolquiz.com
www.pubquizhelp.34sp.com
www.quizzing.co.uk
www.playbabble.com (Word
game)
CROSSWORDS
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/myday/crossword/
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?q=crossword
SHOPPING and Comparative Shopping (comparing
prices)
How about www.howtocomplain.com
www.helptheaged.org.uk/homeshopping
www.tesco.com (delivery
£5) www.Iceland.co.uk (Do
delivery) www.waitrose.co.uk :
www.gooshing.co.uk (ethical),
www.pricegrabber.co.uk,
www.dealtime.co.uk,
www.bizrate.co.uk,
www.computeractive.co.uk (click
shopping), http://www.amazon.co.uk,
www.shopsafe.co.uk,
Froogle,
www.kelkoo.com
http://www.shopper.co.uk/
www.pricewatch.co.uk
uk.shopping.com
www.tooboo.com
Letsbuyit.com
www.theukmall.com
www.buy.com (John Lewis)
www.bigsave.co.uk
www.toysrus.co.uk
Computing Stuff : www.ebuyer.co.uk
www.sears.ca will deliver
things to Canadian addresses on your Visa card.
OTHER SILVER SURFERS SITES - see also work related at
end.
www.monster.co.uk
Employment site
http://diversity.monster.co.uk/section180.asp
(Age Page)
www.wrinklies.org
Employment site based in Brighton.
Specifically for older people.
www.reach-online.org.uk
Volunteer your managerial or professional skills
www.maturityworks.co.uk
An employment service for older people
www.jobability.com :
Advice on employment if you have a disability
taen@helptheaged.org.uk
(E-mail.) Third Age Employment Network
www.csv-rsvp.org.uk:
Branch of CSV (Community Service Volunteers) for
retired volunteers
www.recruitmagazine.co.uk
40plus@ji5.co.uk
(E-mail) 40 Plus
Recruitment
http://www.workingwithouthearing.com/s/stories.htm
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