Care Home Fees: "Deferred Payments"

Luminarc

Hi,

My mother has recently passed away after being in a nursing home for the last 7 years, due to dementia.
At the time of her going into the care home, because i was living in the house which my mom owned, i was allowed to stay living here until she passed away.
Now that has now happend, the council have sent me a bill for just under £80,000, to cover the cost of my mothers care.

Just so you know all the details.....

1. The house is currently worth approx £120000 and there is no outstanding motgage on it.
2. My mom left a will making me the sole beneficiary.


So obviously, i have 2 options, those being i will either have to sell the house and find somewhere else or take a mortgage out on the property and pay the council that way.

I would prefer if im honest, to stay living where i am and remortgage the house to raise the required funds that way, however due to me being single and with the current financial market as it is, i will only be able to secure a mortgage for around £65,000 which wouldnt be enough to pay the original bill.

So what i would like to know is........ is the amount of the final demand non negotiable or will the council listen to and accept a lower amount, given the right circumstances?

treliac

Presumably you are under 60 yrs, as the council shouldn't take the value of the house into account if you are over 60.

Also, did you act as your mother's carer at all? If so, the same principle should apply.

I would think it worth contacting Age Concern, who may be able to advise.

Good luck.

poppysarah

Sympathies for your loss.

I'd go and get some free legal advice. You should be able to get a free half hour to start.

tbs624

treliac wrote: »

Presumably you are under 60 yrs, as the council shouldn't take the value of the house into account if you are over 60.

Worth mentioning that this also applies if you are under 60 and have a disability.

Agree with Treliac's and poppysarah's suggestions for possible sources of advice - you could also try the Community Legal Service, on 0845 345 4 345. They can give you initial advice over the phone and put you in touch with a local solicitor or other adviser who has relevant experience. Help the Aged, and Shelter 0808 800 444 may also be able to help

Check the information that you have been given by the Council, because IIRC they begin to levy interest 56 days after the home owner has passed away so you will need to move things forward reasonably quickly ( not easy after a bereavement)

googler

My sympathies.

Did you expect to be presented with a bill for her care? Did anyone from the council or care agencies outline that they would be billing you for this sometime in the future?

BitterAndTwisted

The truth of the matter is that the OP hasn't been presented with the bill, the dearly departed's estate has. Although to the OP it feels like the same thing

All home-owners are expected to finance their care-home charges although there are distinctions between "personal care" which is chargeable and "health care" which is not.

Not my area of expertise, patently. This is why I'd get some professional advice, and quickly

Luminarc

Yes, i am under 60 and have no disability and am not claiming benefits etc so i do not qualify to have the sale of the house ruled out.

I saw a solicitor when my mother first went into the care home and she told me there was ways of "dragging out" the process, i.e advertising the house with a sitting tenant etc, so eventually the council will get that fed up waiting for the money to come through, that eventually they would accept a big reduction just to get some of the money back alot quicker, as she said she had done that before for a client, but tbh i would rather not have to do that.

I am seeing a solicitor next week.

EdInvestor

Is there an option 3 - paying the council off over a period of time, either on an interest free or low interest basis?Could be cheaper than getting a mortgage.