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Being charged for care - please help

Hi there
I have read all the rules and guidelines, so i hope this is the correct place to post.

So my dad is in care (living in someones home and the local social services paying the lady (a nurse) to care for him). And all I know is that my dad is having to pay the £300 a week charge in full as he has more than £21 grand to his name. His social worker has told him that if he has less than £21 grand the council will have to pay all/some of this care money.

My question is, if he gives me this excess money, will he no longer have to pay or not pay as much, with out any problems. Sadly my dad is not mentally well so he cant sort this out him self.

I hope that made sense. Any help would be amazing.
Regards
Mark

Comments

  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    Hi Mark,

    Really sorry to hear about your situation.

    I don't know the details of the rules, but if he gave his money away, it may be classed as intentional deprivation of capital, and consequently he would still have to pay for his care.

    If you repost this on the Silver Savers Board, I am sure you will be able to get more detailed advice.

    Hope you get something sorted x
    Gone ... or have I?
  • dmg24 wrote: »
    intentional deprivation of capital, and consequently he would still have to pay for his care.

    Do you think they would still have a problem if he gave me the money to pay off my student loan?

    Cheers for the help :)
  • dmg24
    dmg24 Posts: 33,920 Forumite
    10,000 Posts
    Afraid so, yes, as it is your debt, not his.

    Sorry ... x
    Gone ... or have I?
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    My question is, if he gives me this excess money, will he no longer have to pay or not pay as much, with out any problems. Sadly my dad is not mentally well so he cant sort this out him self.

    It would be classed as deprivation of assets if he gifts the money and potentially you could be prosecuted for benefit fraud.
    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • Hmmz this seems to be the trend of replies, thanks for the input.

    I have made a thread in Silver Saves, please continue discussion there...

    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?p=6168314

    (if it seems necessary, this thread can be deleted, ta)
  • Mark_b wrote: »
    Hi there
    I have read all the rules and guidelines, so i hope this is the correct place to post.

    So my dad is in care (living in someones home and the local social services paying the lady (a nurse) to care for him). And all I know is that my dad is having to pay the £300 a week charge in full as he has more than £21 grand to his name. His social worker has told him that if he has less than £21 grand the council will have to pay all/some of this care money.

    My question is, if he gives me this excess money, will he no longer have to pay or not pay as much, with out any problems. Sadly my dad is not mentally well so he cant sort this out him self.

    I hope that made sense. Any help would be amazing.
    Regards
    Mark

    My father is in the same position as yours is. He can give you an amount as a gift but it think it's only once and there is a threshold to the amount. For some reason I have 18k total in my head, split 3 ways of £6000 each. Also if your father pases away with in 5 or 7 years the money can be taken back from you. Sorry i'm not too sure on the exact figs but if you can give me until Monday i can check them all for you.
  • dunstonh
    dunstonh Posts: 119,994 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    My father is in the same position as yours is. He can give you an amount as a gift but it think it's only once and there is a threshold to the amount. For some reason I have 18k total in my head, split 3 ways of £6000 each. Also if your father pases away with in 5 or 7 years the money can be taken back from you. Sorry i'm not too sure on the exact figs but if you can give me until Monday i can check them all for you.


    You are mixing up inheritance tax allowances with "potential" benefit fraud.

    I am an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA). The comments I make are just my opinion and are for discussion purposes only. They are not financial advice and you should not treat them as such. If you feel an area discussed may be relevant to you, then please seek advice from an Independent Financial Adviser local to you.
  • So sorry to hear about your situation. I'm in a similar boat to you.
    Your dad can give £250 away tax free as a 'gift' to any one person a year and to any number of people so he could give you and you and your grandparents £750 (not alot but it helps). If you do any errands for him could paying you be another solution.
    Also check out www.carers.org.uk as they usually have loads of info on anything to do with health and care issues.
    Also how old are you as if you are an dependent student(under 25 years) the law might allow him to make parental contributions to cover you uni course.
  • noh
    noh Posts: 5,817 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    So sorry to hear about your situation. I'm in a similar boat to you.
    Your dad can give £250 away tax free as a 'gift' to any one person a year and to any number of people so he could give you and you and your grandparents £750 (not alot but it helps). If you do any errands for him could paying you be another solution.
    Also check out www.carers.org.uk as they usually have loads of info on anything to do with health and care issues.
    Also how old are you as if you are an dependent student(under 25 years) the law might allow him to make parental contributions to cover you uni course.

    As dunstonh says above you too are mixing up inheritance tax allowances with "potential" benefit fraud.

    Nigel
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