On going into a care home- are assets frozen & what about house bills?

[Steve21]

Hi all, my mum is at the point in her dementia journey when we are contemplating a move to a care home.

The process of moving into a home seems to involve a financial assessment by the local authority etc. and here in Wales, the threshold for them paying for cost of care is 50K which is going to be above what mum has.
When mum does go to a home, will her assets/pensions be frozen by the LA?, will any savings below the 50K be frozen or will they still be accessible? I'm thinking in terms of keeping paying bills at her house where my brother is living at the moment as her carer.

Thanks!

 

[nitram]

Scroll down

Age Cymru ¦ Information guides and factsheets

Age Cymru

www.ageuk.org.uk

to a list of factsheets.

 

[Steve21]

Thanks for they reply Nitram, some really great factsheets there. I still couldn't find an answer to the bit of my question that asked whether the 50k threshold could still be accessed through an LPA for things like keeping the electric on and house insurance.
Appreciated!

 

[nitram]

In England the lower limit can be used on anything to benefit the DWP.
Best ask Age Cymru for answer in Wales.

Who owns the house?

 

[Steve21]

Thanks for the reply, she own the property.

 

[nitram]

In England the house would be included as an asset in the financial assessment.

 

[Steve21]

Hi, yes sure, am I correct in thinking though that they wouldn't demand the house sale straight away and that we could get deferred payment agreement, I ask because my brother is still living there for the time being.

 

[nitram]

You could get deferred payment, ask the LA.
Brother would have to pay market rental rate with a formal contract.

 

[Steve21]

Hi, thanks, interesting about the requirement to pay rent, would you be able to point me to some formal legislation on that? Don't worry if not.

 

[nitram]

Not charging rent would not be in donor's best financial interest.

 

[Jessbow]

He also has to pay the bills, as any other tennant would- gas electric council tax etc