Deadline for claiming back care home fees

[jenniferpa]

I think this is the page that Sue was linking to http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/sc....php?fileID=75

[franky]

My moher had dementia and I was forced to sell her home to pay the care home fees. She died in 2007, but I understand I am able to apply to potentially reclaim the care home fees. Do I need to do this via one of the various 'care home reclaim firms' offering to do this or can I do it myself?. rgds

[Boudeca2007]

No Franky you can ask your PCT for a retrospective claim. Don't let them ignore your request - keep asking until they do it. I have recently received a letter from our PCT who say that very soon the PCT's claims will be passed on to ' CHC Project Leads for Retrospective Close Down '. And the cut off periods are as follows :

Time Period 1/4/04 - 30/09/07 - Deadline = 30/09/12
1/10/07- 31/03/11 - = 30/09/12
1/4/11 - 31//3/12 - = 31/03/13

You can also use a specialist Solicitor who will take a percentage of any costs recouped. However we did this and they have now dropped our case due to the Health Ombudsmans decision. So I'm back fighting on my own now for periods from 04-11. So yes you can do it yourself [ and I know a few who have succeeded ] but it is hard graft as you have to look through all the medical and care home records and build up a case yourself.

A good start is reading up on the National Framework for Continuing Healthcare.

[tattyhead1945]

HI Dotty, you can do it yourself, or you can emply on solicitor on a contingency fee basis. If you PM me I will tell you what I have done. x

I was wondering if you could help me. I sold my father's house to pay for his care in an elderly mentally infirm residential home. Almost from the first week there he was unable to feed himself. He was there from 2005 until his death in 2008. We were told by the Health Authority to sell his house to pay for care.

There are so many solicitors doing the work of reclaiming I just don't know which one to approach. But if I can do it myself, I will.

I look forward to hearing from you

Regards

Tatiana

[Jfm100]

I wish to reclaim care home fees for my aunt who died in 2005. I have phoned the Primary Care Trust this morning and am waiting to speak to the Retrospective Review Team (these are apparantly the people who deal with reclaiming care home costs). I shall keep ringing them until someone answers! I don't intend to give some solicitor 25% of any money I get back (if I'm lucky enough to get anything back, that is) so will try and do it myself, to start with.

I was just wondering how I would go about getting copies of my aunt's medical and care home notes. I can't see the care home being very helpful in this regard. When my aunt was still alive, I filled in an application form for Attendance Allowance for her. The care home said they would deal with the form and fill in any bits I wasn't sure of and they would send the form off. Many weeks passed without any news from the DWP about whether she was eligible for this benefit. To be honest, as my aunt was so ill I was rather pre-occupied with worrying about her and did not immediately follow it up. It was only after my aunt had died I remembered the form and asked the nursing home what the position was only for them to turn round and say "oh, we haven't heard anything, the form must have gone astray. She's dead now, it's too late to try and claim now". Charming!

Any advice anyone can offer would be gratefully received.

[sue38]

Hi jfm and welcome to Talking Point (TP).

I think in order to access your aunt's medical records you would need to be her executor, presuming she left a will. If she didn't leave a will you may have to apply for a grant of letters of administration.

[CraigC]

I found this very helpful video/interview on the Alzheimer's Society channel on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gf_v-EqH_Xw

I'd really recommend that anyone thinking about reclaiming care fees listens to it. Very clear sensible questions and answers. For example, I did not realise that there are two deadlines Sept 2012 and March 2013 - depending on when periods you are claiming.

Also some advice on the so called no win, no fee (or win, ridiculous fee) companies. Whether you can claim retrospectively after a person has passed away etc etc. Well done Hannah and Sam from the Alzheimer's Society, great work.

Personally, this is not for me, I tried when dad was alive and got ground down, ran out of fight. Just curious after all the recent hype and wanted to get the facts straight.

Kind Regards
Craig

[JPG1]

I found that podcast on youtube too, but was disappointed that it only appeared on 1st September 2012. The Department of Health announced the deadlines six months ago, on 15 March 2012, so I feel that the Alz Soc perhaps could have been more proactive in drawing these matters to the attention of those who may be interested.

Here's yet another article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/p...ou-80000.html#

[Kertillly]

Good morning

I caught the tail-end of a programme on Radio 4 yesterday about this, but I don't know what programme it was - did anyone else listen?

We have just sold Mum's house to pay for her care home and I wondered whether it was worthwhile applying?

Many thanks for any advice

Kertillly

[M1chelle]

Hi

My Dad paid for my Grandmothers care in her later life and caught the tail end of a radio programme, hence I'm now on the case and finding it quite difficult to speak with the Retrospective Care Homes Funds Administrator.

We are aware the deadline is the 30/09/12 in order to make sure we meet the deadline is it just an initial letter that needs to be submitted outlining our intention to claim and the reasons we feel we meet the criteria? or is there a claim form and medical records, which also needs to be submitted by the 30th?

Any help or advice would be appreciated

Michelle

[Chemmy]

Hello Kertillly and M1chelle

The Society has produced some information on this subject

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/sc...documentID=399

[M1chelle]

Thanks for the link Chemmy. Very interesting reading!

Many thanks

Michelle

[Kertillly]

Hi Chemmy

Thank you very much for the link - interesting reading!!

Kertillly

[lollyrs]

I am new to the forum so I do hope I am in the right place. I am helping a friend put a case together. From reviewing the paperwork it appeared that several reviews of her needs were assessed back in 2003 and 2004. The reviews are in conflict and even when the social workers confirmed that nursing care was needed for a lady who was immobile doubly incontinent and suffering from alzheimers type dementia. At each review nursing care was refused and said it should be provided by the residential care people. This led to hospitilisation, deterioration of her health and ultimately her death meant the the appeal process was then closed to us.
Can we still appeal against some very poor decisions that were made whilst in care ?

Lorraine