Care home fees

[TripleM]

Hi. New to this forum but would like advice on the following. Mums in a care home, went there 2 years ago straight from hospital following heart attack & stroke. Diagnosed in 2012, with what is now severe vascular dementia & cognitive impairment. Fees for the care home were originally paid from her savings, they have all gone. Care Needs Assessment done & yes she does need 24/7 care. I have full POA, her home has been on the open market for 6 weeks, no decent offers yet. The lady who did the CNA said she'd put it to the local council for interim funding. I received a short sharp letter from the Council which says I must complete forms for a long term Deferred Payment. The forms read almost as if the council are buying the property. I'm expected to pay search fees, land registry fees & £250 up front for 'their' agent to value it. Despite the fact it's clearly for sale on the open market. Therefore it's been valued! I must also agree to various ongoing fees & an annual charge? Spoke to solicitor a few weeks ago, she says that Mums entitled to a 12 week disregard as the property is for sale. Council say no she's not as she's been self funding up till now. I've emailed the lady who did the CNA to see what, if anything she knows & rang the Solicitor who's going to do some checking. She feels the council are trying to use this system as a revenue stream?
I thought a Deferred Payment was only if the property wasn't going to be sold, say the other spouse were to remain living in it? Mums a widow so that doesn't apply. I'd hoped the council would help toward cost of care home fees (mum has private & state pensions) any money would then be returned to them with interest when the property is sold.
Does this count as a long term Deferred Payment? & Yes I do object to shelling out what amounts to almost a £1,000 in upfront fees, never mind ongoing ones. I'm loath to complete the forms & sign anything if I don't have to.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks.

 

[VerityH]

I don't have any answers for you I'm afraid, but I will watch your thread with interest as the same could happen to us in the not too distant future!

 

[TripleM]

I don't have any answers for you I'm afraid, but I will watch your thread with interest as the same could happen to us in the not too distant future!

 

[TripleM]

Well, thank you anyway. Nice to know there are others out there likely to be in the same boat. Tho I hope not for your sake, it's awful!
Done some googling & discovered one statement the LA made is a complete lie. They state mum doesn't qualify for a 12 week disregard as she's been self funding since going into the home. That little fact is irrelevant tho as she's run out of funds until her property is sold. 3 websites, one of which is Age Concern say the same thing. The LA know this is the case but don't tell people! Or just tell them a giant porkie! I'll be challenging the LA!

 

[karaokePete]

Hello @TripleM, welcome to TP. I hope you find the forum to be a supportive place.

There is a Society Factsheet about funding that you can reach with this link
https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/media/8291

If this isn’t sufficient to deal with your queries, may I suggest a quick chat with the experts on the help line may guide you. Details of the help line are
National Dementia Helpline
0300 222 11 22
Our helpline advisers are here for you.
Helpline opening hours:
Monday to Wednesday 9am – 8pm
Thursday and Friday 9am – 5pm
Saturday and Sunday 10am – 4pm

 

[Louise7]

I thought a Deferred Payment was only if the property wasn't going to be sold, say the other spouse were to remain living in it? Mums a widow so that doesn't apply. I'd hoped the council would help toward cost of care home fees (mum has private & state pensions) any money would then be returned to them with interest when the property is sold.

If a spouse remained living in the property then it would be disregarded as an asset so a deferred payment wouldn't be needed. The council don't give out 'loans' to help towards care home costs but can offer a deferred payment to help with costs, and use the property as security to guarantee they will get paid back. That is why they place a charge on the property with land registry. This link will be useful in understanding how a deferred payment works: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/deferred-payment-agreements-for-long-term-care

I think if your Mum has been self funding her care for 2 years then I can see why the council say that a 12 week disregard does not apply. That 12 week period is for people to sell a property or apply for a deferred payment. Has her house been empty for 2 years and only just been put on the market?

 

[Exning]

Unfortunately the 12 week property disregard only applies when you first go into a care home. Unless you can show that there are unexpected circumstances that effected your finances, such as a disaterous fall in say shares that were owned, then the expectstion is that you would have realised the value of the house while the other cash assets were being used up.
You would be able to use the 12 week disregard if a spouse or other protected person suddenly no longer lives in the house.
See annex B para 45 &46of guidance to care act.....the way the local authority should be acting.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publi...ce/care-and-support-statutory-guidance#AnnexB

 

[J53]

Hi. New to this forum but would like advice on the following. Mums in a care home, went there 2 years ago straight from hospital following heart attack & stroke. Diagnosed in 2012, with what is now severe vascular dementia & cognitive impairment. Fees for the care home were originally paid from her savings, they have all gone. Care Needs Assessment done & yes she does need 24/7 care. I have full POA, her home has been on the open market for 6 weeks, no decent offers yet. The lady who did the CNA said she'd put it to the local council for interim funding. I received a short sharp letter from the Council which says I must complete forms for a long term Deferred Payment. The forms read almost as if the council are buying the property. I'm expected to pay search fees, land registry fees & £250 up front for 'their' agent to value it. Despite the fact it's clearly for sale on the open market. Therefore it's been valued! I must also agree to various ongoing fees & an annual charge? Spoke to solicitor a few weeks ago, she says that Mums entitled to a 12 week disregard as the property is for sale. Council say no she's not as she's been self funding up till now. I've emailed the lady who did the CNA to see what, if anything she knows & rang the Solicitor who's going to do some checking. She feels the council are trying to use this system as a revenue stream?
I thought a Deferred Payment was only if the property wasn't going to be sold, say the other spouse were to remain living in it? Mums a widow so that doesn't apply. I'd hoped the council would help toward cost of care home fees (mum has private & state pensions) any money would then be returned to them with interest when the property is sold.
Does this count as a long term Deferred Payment? & Yes I do object to shelling out what amounts to almost a £1,000 in upfront fees, never mind ongoing ones. I'm loath to complete the forms & sign anything if I don't have to.
Any advice would be gratefully received.
Thanks.

Care home fees are a nightmare my mum lucky enough does not have to pay as my dad needs specialist care which is reviewed next week my mum was worried she would loose her house to pay citizens advice helped her they put her in touch with a whole group of people don't shell out on a solicitors.