I know this topic has been aired many times, but wonder if anyone has any specific experience regarding social services funding for someone who is under 65, has dependant children and is still in receipt of a salary – albeit a vastly reduced one.
I am still trying to find a suitable home for Peter, my husband. This is proving to be very, very difficult as I feared. He has FTD, is very fit & active and constantly absconds from the assessment unit he is still at by climbing over the 6 foot security fence. His nursing needs assessment has resulted in him being 2 points short of needing nursing care, so social services have just said that all he needs is a residential home! No one will consider taking him with his history and I haven’t found any yet that I consider remotely suitable for him. But that really is a topic for a separate thread – my main concern now is how to pay for Peter’s care.
Our LA will fund up to £425 per week and I understand that homes above that threshold will be subject to top up fees. There are no homes in our area at those rates (Croydon) and nursing care is at least double that rate, but there is a possibility that Peter’s family can cover the top up which is great. MY problem is that SW has stated categorically that they will take 50% of Peter’s income as they are funding his care. On top of losing DLA & Carer’s Allowance that leaves me in a totally unviable position. Currently a family member is helping me meet my huge mortgage repayments and I have no idea at all how I can cope with a further loss of income. Peter’s salary was always used to support his family and home – my earnings were used to supplement luxuries like holidays. My work is now essential and all luxuries have gone – we are just existing.
Makes Social Services ‘help’ pitiful when you work out the figures. They pay £1700 per month, but deduct £1500 from me by way of stopped benefits & salary. I am considering arranging for Peter’s pension to be paid early to help cash flow, but SW has told me they will then have that as well!!!!! I’m seriously wondering if I would be better off living in a tiny property, paying off the mortgage and using left over equity to buy a care annuity & leaving SS out of it. But initial enquiries show I can’t afford that either.
SW is adamant there is no room for negotiation about this. She confirmed they couldn’t make me sell the house BUT did indicate that if I couldn’t afford to stay here then perhaps I should make the decision to move to smaller accommodation.
Any advice out there – anyone challenged their LA over this?
This has taken over as my main worry now. Can’t sleep, eat or function properly until I know how I am going to live.
Sorry for such a long post.
Mary-Ann
P.S. Have formal discharge meeting for Peter at 11 today. Goodness knows what will be said as there is no where for him to go and he is bed blocking. CPN urges me to stand firm as they will try and force me to take him home.
I am still trying to find a suitable home for Peter, my husband. This is proving to be very, very difficult as I feared. He has FTD, is very fit & active and constantly absconds from the assessment unit he is still at by climbing over the 6 foot security fence. His nursing needs assessment has resulted in him being 2 points short of needing nursing care, so social services have just said that all he needs is a residential home! No one will consider taking him with his history and I haven’t found any yet that I consider remotely suitable for him. But that really is a topic for a separate thread – my main concern now is how to pay for Peter’s care.
Our LA will fund up to £425 per week and I understand that homes above that threshold will be subject to top up fees. There are no homes in our area at those rates (Croydon) and nursing care is at least double that rate, but there is a possibility that Peter’s family can cover the top up which is great. MY problem is that SW has stated categorically that they will take 50% of Peter’s income as they are funding his care. On top of losing DLA & Carer’s Allowance that leaves me in a totally unviable position. Currently a family member is helping me meet my huge mortgage repayments and I have no idea at all how I can cope with a further loss of income. Peter’s salary was always used to support his family and home – my earnings were used to supplement luxuries like holidays. My work is now essential and all luxuries have gone – we are just existing.
Makes Social Services ‘help’ pitiful when you work out the figures. They pay £1700 per month, but deduct £1500 from me by way of stopped benefits & salary. I am considering arranging for Peter’s pension to be paid early to help cash flow, but SW has told me they will then have that as well!!!!! I’m seriously wondering if I would be better off living in a tiny property, paying off the mortgage and using left over equity to buy a care annuity & leaving SS out of it. But initial enquiries show I can’t afford that either.
SW is adamant there is no room for negotiation about this. She confirmed they couldn’t make me sell the house BUT did indicate that if I couldn’t afford to stay here then perhaps I should make the decision to move to smaller accommodation.
Any advice out there – anyone challenged their LA over this?
This has taken over as my main worry now. Can’t sleep, eat or function properly until I know how I am going to live.
Sorry for such a long post.
Mary-Ann
P.S. Have formal discharge meeting for Peter at 11 today. Goodness knows what will be said as there is no where for him to go and he is bed blocking. CPN urges me to stand firm as they will try and force me to take him home.