We help to find solutions

THE British Benevolent Fund has over a century of providing emergency financial relief for Britons in Spain who have no other recourse ‐ to find solu‐tions for people who are in a desperate situation and who see no way out.

Money can’t by love but it can be an enabler for people who have found themselves in difficulties. Many of these cas‐es are triggered by illnesses, breakdown in relationships, loss of jobs and bereavement.

Into that mix comes Brexit, which for some Britons who have been living in Spain mean that if they are not resident un‐der the terms of the withdraw‐al agreement, they have to face the prospect of being classed as illegally staying in Spain. If that wasn’t enough ‐for vulnerable people ‐ many of whom are advanced in years means that they no longer have the access to Spanish state support and healthcare that they might have been eligible for before.

Which means some difficult decisions for those that need care, housing, and support to return to the UK where many have not lived for years if not decades. Many are under the illusion that they will be auto‐matically entitled to UK bene‐fits including crucially access to housing. The UK’s welcome for returning vulnerable Britons is far from what extends to other nationalities. The Habitual Res‐idency Test means that a re‐turning British national may have to wait for up to three months before they can be eli‐gible. The BBF will help those who have no other resources, and we are increasingly being asked to help them in the UK whilst their applications are processed. These are people who have long lost touch with their networks at home and could face homelessness on ar‐rival without our support.

One such is Tom, a 60‐year‐old Briton who left the UK nearly 40 years ago and has been told by his local authority he can only apply for housing and other benefits when he ar‐rives. He has multiple medical issues which need continual treatment as well as aggres‐sive MS which will mean per‐manent disability ‐ he needs to get home for treatment ‐ but the Habitual Residence Test means he will have to over‐come an enormous hurdle with no income, savings or re‐sources.

We can only help people like Tom with your support ‐ if you would like to help him and others with a donation, please visit our website www.british benevolentfund.org. Thank you for any help you can give.

Olaf Clayton, Chair BBF

Insurance help LETTERS

May I suggest that Gwendeline Ott ‐ley contact Staysure Insurance as they have no upper age limit. We have used them for many years and many trips around the World and find them excellent.

Regards

Same problem

Terry and Shirley

In reply to your correspondent Gwen ‐doline Ottley in edition April 27 to May 3, re lack of travel insurance for older expats, can I say that we have the same problem. My partner is almost 90 and is probably fitter than most 60 ‐ year ‐ olds in that there is nothing whatsoever wrong with him. Like Gwendoline, we like to travel, but contact insurance companies and they don’t ask anything about health, just your age. This is not fair, I wish some of them would realise this.

Last Christmas and New Year, we went on a Caribbean cruise, the only way to do this was that we booked through a British travel agent (but their office is in La Zenia) and because there is nothing wrong with us, we were able to take advantage of their insurance for €139 each (+€35 for Covid cover). This compared with the £1,400 wanted by another company. We have never claimed in 50 years of use.

We want to take a Danube cruise next spring, which was cancelled twice due to Covid, but it will depend on whether or not we can get insurance. Companies are missing a trick here.

So no help to the lady, but she has a lot of sympathy. We would like to know if she does eventually manage to get covered.

Kind regards,

Diana Wiltshire and Patrice Satur

Hello Leapy

We look forward to your candid com ‐ments in your column in EWN each week. We mostly tend to be in accord with you, although occasionally not so, but then that makes for good discus ‐sion between ourselves and friends.

Whilst trawling through family photo‐graphic archives and memorabilia this week ‐ end, my wife (Su) came across an amusing, relevant item. In a faded copy of the mag Fabulous’208, dated 21st December 1968 that she had unearthed from the piles of stored stuff, she was featured as a model in an article titled ‘Right Gear for a Rave Up!’. (During the late 60s and 70s she was a DJ on P&O liners and had modelling and promo ‐tion work.)

But, over the page in FabTalk, there was a piece about you ‐ ¡Leapy banked on it¡. Attached is a scanned copy ‐even though it mentions your damaged Cadillac, I thought you might like to see it.

Please keep up your comments and views in your articles ‐ someone’s got to voice it before the wokes take over the world!!

Kind regards ‐ David M‐S

Bull dies

I read about the fighting bull that plunged to its death from a bridge dur ‐ing the Bou de les Penyes festivities in Ontinyent, Valencia. This is extreme an‐imal cruelty. These people are of no benefit to this planet. They’re relics of a medieval mindset. Pure evil at work here. They bring shame on their coun ‐try. It needs to stop.

Deborah Hall

Housing market

Spain has more space and a diverse landscape, however, one point to high ‐light is if the 90 ‐ day rule is not ad ‐dressed, this will have a significant im ‐pact on tourism and potential home ownership with properties tied to ser ‐vice charges. Time will tell… Mark

Stars in Barcelona

After seeing that the Obamas, and Steven Spielberg and his wife were spotted in Barcelona, does Spain want these Warmongers in the country? Is Spain a bit white for the Obamas? Just saying, because of Michelle complain ‐ing. Have we forgiven Obama for forc ‐ing USA nuke ships in our harbours? Obama go home.

Michael Fisher