Selling house to pay care home fees...advice needed

elmosmom

I need some advice please.

Unfortunately my gran has been struggling with dementia for over a year and it has come to the time for us to consider admitting her to a care home. She lives in her own house, but I have been paying the mortgage on her property for the past 6/7 years on the understanding that me & my family would move into the property if the worse was to happen. The thing is the house is in my grans name and when we enquired about care home fees we learned that the home valuation would be taken into consideration when assessing her care home charges.

My entire family currently look after her by each taking turns to stay with her overnight & stay with her during the day. I was considering moving in with her, but as I have a young child & I am pregnant I didn't think it would be very safe with my gran's condition. But I have heard that if my family & I move in & I become her full time carer then the house valuation wouldn't be considered when the time comes.

Please help.:A

BitterAndTwisted

If you have been all carrying such a heavy burden have you been claiming what sounds like your full entitlement to a full-time carer's allowance already? Is there anything written in place regarding you covering your gran's mortgage payments?

I can't offer any advice advice about moving-in-with-gran, unfortunately.

[Deleted User]

I can't offer any advice over your particular situation, but when we were coping with dementia with my parents and my mum in law we found the most helpful group of people were the local carers support. I'm sure most areas will have something like this. They really turned things around by providing all sorts of support, info and practical help. They would know exactly what to do in your situation as they've seen it so many times before.

elmosmom

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If you have been all carrying such a heavy burden have you been claiming what sounds like your full entitlement to a full-time carer's allowance already? Is there anything written in place regarding you covering your gran's mortgage payments?

I can't offer any advice advice about moving-in-with-gran, unfortunately.

We didn't bother claiming carer's allowance, as we eould only qualify for an underlying entitlement as we all work, and it would have reduced my Gran's pension credit. So we decided against it.:A

VIGILANT22

You may find this link helpful and please don't listen to "hearsay!.....speak to the appropriate qualified people.....well meaning people aren't neccesarily well meaning as it can give people false hope/ideas
http://www.counselandcare.org.uk/assets/library/documents/16_Care_home_fees_paying_them_in_England_2009.pdf

mickybro

My advice, go and see a solicitor and take along proof that you have been paying the
mortgage put things in place before it happens not after.

SailorSam

This lunchtime on Radio 4, Moneybox they were talking about this.
They said if a spouse was still living in the house it wouldn't need to be sold, they asked what about a child living there, he said if the child was over 6o again the house wouldn't have to be sold.
Now the last bit may possibly be of some help to you.
They asked what if the child is under 60, the answer was if for any reason that child can't work, (perhaps your children) they 'may' be allowed to stay in the house.
Check the Bbc site to see can you listen.

mickybro

you Gran should have been claiming attendance allowance so she could pay for help with daily chores this is not taken into account for pension credits.
Get in touch with your Finance Officer who is attached to the local council and they will put you in the picture as to what you can claim for.

clutton_2

Help the Aged know a lot about this.. but for the legalities i would try to talk to a specialist "Care solicitor"

elmosmom

Thanks everyone for all your help x:A

archie9uk

clutton wrote: »

Help the Aged know a lot about this.. but for the legalities i would try to talk to a specialist "Care solicitor"

I agree about Help The Aged. They have a lot of useful information about property and care home fees. I suggest you have a look at their website.