Scarlett, does this mean that as far as top up fees go, if they agree you are not liable for them then the LA can't put a charge against your property? (Tenants in Common).
The Care Homes are businesses, and as such, many charge "top up fees". I read that CRAG report night after night, and found out as much info as I could. John's Care Home charged £525 a week, for short term stays, and whilst he had 4 weeks respite (I had a knee operation), that amount of money was paid into our joint current account, by the LA, and I paid the Home.
However, I still had to pay
then about £150 a week towards this. At this point he was still getting Attendance Allowance, and neither of his pensions, State and Private, were touched.
Once it was decided he needed permanent care, it was
imperative that I didn't sign anything that the Home gave me, because if the LA are the ones that decide care is necessary, then they suggest a Home, with an available bed, and pay the Home the LA rate, which was £525. They have special contracts with Homes, John stayed in the Care Home where he had respite.
Then, the £150 I had been paying each week towards Day Centres (he was charged
£9 per hour by our LA) and thereafter for the respite fees, ceased. And so did Attendance Allowance, and I had to pay John's state pension, plus half his net private pension.
I too only had a Married Woman's pension, about £85 a week, plus half of John's private pension, so I decided that I had to do all the legwork necessary to find ways to reduce John's contribution, hence my intense study of CRAG - but it was worth it. No charge was made against my home.
Rightly or wrongly, when things started to go downhill in 2013, I used the savings that were in John's name to fund the home improvements that we'd been putting off. Nobody queried anything, and though I had receipts for everything over £100, I was never asked for them. We last had a holiday in, I think, 2003, but if John had been able to travel, I would certainly have used his savings for an annual holiday.
Incidentally, you cannot be left in dire poverty, and you need to detail your expenditure, to show what you have to pay out. I listed everything. in great detail. I couldn't walk up and down the garden, mowing the lawn, on crutches, so I listed what I paid the gardener. These things are allowable, but LAs are, to some degree, autonomous. Good Luck!