Apologies for the rather morbidly catchy title, but …. I am still waiting on SS to visit to do another care needs assessment for mum (her state has changed recently, so am hoping for a bit more help for her). I had a very helpful lady visit us recently from a local carers' charity and I ran through my financial concerns with her, and how to approach the forthcoming assessment visit. Mum has very little in the form of savings - a current account that her Pension and Attendance Allowance go into, and then she has a savings account with a few thousand in. If SS insist that mum needs to contribute towards more care (and I'm not sure they will, but …), am I within my rights to say that the money in the savings account is what mum wanted to be earmarked for her funeral? I am trying to avoid contributing anything myself (my savings are earmarked for my retirement, as I gave up work early .. to care for mum!), so the only place I think they can say we have to contribute from is her savings. But surely one is allowed to keep something aside for one's funeral? Mum has a lot less than the £14k in the account, by the way. I'm not totally clear on what the rules are, hence the question. The issue seems to be that SS pay one rate for her care (via direct payments) and the agency we use charges more, so I think if they agree a bit more care, then they will push her to supplement the difference in rate. I am going to refuse point blank to top up with anything myself, based on the fact that I only have an income of £64.60 a week.