Mother in law (93) has dementia and lives in a frail care home in Fish Hoek. She receives a pension of (currently) £820.00 a month from Cunard Lines in England where she worked for 48 years. Since she was 80 years old, no UK tax at source has been deducted since it falls below the threshold for tax for elderly persons and since she was 87, has had this condition which requires frail care. She also receives £22.45 a month from DHSS for old age pension, paid every quarter.
About 10 months ago, had a letter from DHSS in England saying that she should register for tax since she is now earning above the threshold. Despite 8 letters to them, they took no notice. The last letter enclosed a "tax summary" showing that she owed £2125.45 in unpaid taxes and penalties and unless this was paid by 31st May, her pension would attract a garnishee order to pay the back taxes.
I noticed that letters to her are addressed as Mrs E E Trevenney with a DHSS number of THLC3225906 whereas her DHSS number has always been THLC32255960 (last 2 digits transposed) since she registered in 1948. Letters pointing this out to DHSS are brushed aside as being "not relevant" to the issue at hand. 3 weeks ago, a letter from Cunard arrived advising that they had a tax directive from Inland Revenue instructing them to pay £2125.45 in respect of Mrs Trevenney's earnings, and would she please remit this sum to them as her pension credit was insufficient to pay this. Seeing the old lady only has lucid moments 15 mins every other day, it was a waste of time trying to explain this.
So I sent a detailed email to Cunard advising about the mix-up. Yesterday, Cunard's advised that Inland Revenue have Mrs T down as a 38 year old woman living in Lyme Regis, not a 93 year old in Cape Town, South Africa and would she please provide proof of her age, whether she is still living and her source of income. So her income (according to DHSS) suddenly changed from "pension" to "salary" since it has dawned on them that maybe a 38 year old would not yet be on pension.
Now to get a visit from a Commissioner of Oaths to verify that she is still alive. In the meantime, Cunard have stopped paying the pension until they get a directive from DHSS or Inland Revenue. Guess who has to pay the R 14000 a month to the home? Letters to DHSS telling them that they have cut off the sole pension of an elderly person and did they want her to go and live in a shelter receive a reply "that the matter is receiving attention".
About 10 months ago, had a letter from DHSS in England saying that she should register for tax since she is now earning above the threshold. Despite 8 letters to them, they took no notice. The last letter enclosed a "tax summary" showing that she owed £2125.45 in unpaid taxes and penalties and unless this was paid by 31st May, her pension would attract a garnishee order to pay the back taxes.
I noticed that letters to her are addressed as Mrs E E Trevenney with a DHSS number of THLC3225906 whereas her DHSS number has always been THLC32255960 (last 2 digits transposed) since she registered in 1948. Letters pointing this out to DHSS are brushed aside as being "not relevant" to the issue at hand. 3 weeks ago, a letter from Cunard arrived advising that they had a tax directive from Inland Revenue instructing them to pay £2125.45 in respect of Mrs Trevenney's earnings, and would she please remit this sum to them as her pension credit was insufficient to pay this. Seeing the old lady only has lucid moments 15 mins every other day, it was a waste of time trying to explain this.
So I sent a detailed email to Cunard advising about the mix-up. Yesterday, Cunard's advised that Inland Revenue have Mrs T down as a 38 year old woman living in Lyme Regis, not a 93 year old in Cape Town, South Africa and would she please provide proof of her age, whether she is still living and her source of income. So her income (according to DHSS) suddenly changed from "pension" to "salary" since it has dawned on them that maybe a 38 year old would not yet be on pension.
Now to get a visit from a Commissioner of Oaths to verify that she is still alive. In the meantime, Cunard have stopped paying the pension until they get a directive from DHSS or Inland Revenue. Guess who has to pay the R 14000 a month to the home? Letters to DHSS telling them that they have cut off the sole pension of an elderly person and did they want her to go and live in a shelter receive a reply "that the matter is receiving attention".
