Care Home Top-up Fees

Ssafa

I work for a charity and I am currently assisting a care home resident who went into the home as a privately funded resident but now, and because her savings have dropped below £22500, the Social Services have become involved. She is being asked to find £77/week for third party top-up fees, but unfortunately I can only support her to a mximum of £25/per week. I asked the Social Services whether she can 'opt-out' of their support and go back to funding herself (she is 93). I was told that it would be 'illegal' for her to try and do this because the Social Servcies are 'now aware' of her circumstances. Can anybody advise as to whether what I am being told is accurate? If I can't find the extra £52/week it looks as though she will have to change to another home which is definitely NOT what she wants to do.

EdInvestor

Could she route the money via a family member or friend? IIRC they are allowed to pay top up fees, but the resident herself is not.

Ssafa

Thanks for your response EdInvestor. I am note sure what you mean by IIRC. I was left with the impression that her savings were now untouchable once the third-party top-ups were in place. By routing the money are you suggesting she could 'transfer' some of HER savings to a relative?

Bogof_Babe

IIRC = if I remember correctly.

EdInvestor

Ssafa wrote: »

Thanks for your response EdInvestor. I am note sure what you mean by IIRC. I was left with the impression that her savings were now untouchable once the third-party top-ups were in place. By routing the money are you suggesting she could 'transfer' some of HER savings to a relative?

Yes - I'd have thought it's worth checking the rules to see if there's anything which would stop that.After all it is not as though she is trying to get the council to pay for something she could afford to pay for herself - quite the reverse.

This strikes me as not unlike the 'co-payments' rule in the NHS, where if you pay privately for a medicine not available for free, they then force you to pay for ALL your treatment. That rule has now been abandoned.

Ssafa

Thanks EdInvestor - I will check to see if there are any loopholes and if I find any I'll post them for the information of others. Sorry about the IIRC query, I'm new to forum speak!!