Loss of Property to pay for Social Care

property.advert

I think the greatest contrast is someone who saved up, bought a property and was then forced to use that asset to pay for car versus the family next door who blew every penny they ever received, sponged on benefits all their lives, never saved a penny for anything and then in later life, have all their care bills paid for them.

It is that inequality which, until redressed, will fuel attitudes of "sod them" and I wholeheartedly agree.

Pollycat

property.advert wrote: »

I think the greatest contrast is someone who saved up, bought a property and was then forced to use that asset to pay for car versus the family next door who blew every penny they ever received, sponged on benefits all their lives, never saved a penny for anything and then in later life, have all their care bills paid for them.

It is that inequality which, until redressed, will fuel attitudes of "sod them" and I wholeheartedly agree.

As someone who has worked all their life, saved to be able to afford a decent retirement and is very, very unlikely to qualify for benefits and will have to pay for any care home fees, I agree too.

However, as I said earlier:

Ranting about how unfair (or not) it is that people have to fund their own care home fees is not going to change how it's currently dealt with - or help the OP.
I understand there has been a suggestion that the £23,250 ceiling is raised (to £100k?) but that's not likely to happen overnight.

We have to deal with the rules as they are at present and the OP has had advice based on that.

Unfortunately, it's not very palatable advice.

ViolaLass

nealrobins wrote: »

My understanding was that this was a forum for advice?

And you're receiving it. Not liking what you hear is often an unfortunate side effect on this forum.

margaretclare

annie_tanks wrote: »

Please can some-one tell me exactly what I paid into for the last 45 years of my tax/national insurance for, equating to a third of my salary..if not for my care in old age .

You're not the only one. DH and I worked for a total of nearly a century between us and we still pay tax.

However, what we paid in NI contributions was not just for our old age. It was paid out at the time, to pensioners who are long dead but who benefited from the taxes of others.

In addition, it covered: unemployment and sickness benefits, maternity care, education, those kind of things. My first husband was on sickness benefits for many years until his untimely death aged 58. I benefited from a full grant as a mature student 1978-81, something which young people now can't even dream about. We had 2 daughters and taxes paid for Child Benefit.

It's a commonly-held supposition that what we paid for over 45 years was like a savings or investment fund for our old age. It wasn't.

le_loup

nealrobins wrote: »

My understanding was that this was a forum for advice?

And that's what I gave in post #4.
Did you follow that up? It could help.

McKneff

The point is, her wishes will be carried out..............with whatever is left in her estate when she pops her clogs.

Koicarp

nealrobins wrote: »

Unfortunately everything that you have suggested in terms of the social workers and the care home, we are pursuing but it is taking longer to go through than we have the money to cover.

It takes 5 minutes for a health or social care professional to complete the screening tool (I carry out full assessments every day at work). Get them to do it, at least then you will know if there is any chance of continuing health care funding.

BobQ

le_loup wrote: »

Too true. So many 1st time posters don't come back with feedback hence my comment on why we bother.
!

Maybe they have other things on their mind, things to do, or maybe they asked someone else (eg Age Concern) and got a professional opinion. Its wrong to be harsh on someone for not coming back.

BobQ

McKneff wrote: »

Most of these people are more bothered about their 'inheritance' being whittled away rather than their parents comfort in their old age.

Even if you are factually correct about the average person, its wrong to assume this is the case in this situation.

My late mother asked (well nagged) me to arrange her affairs to ensure that I inherited her house . She trusted me totally and in all modesty it was not misplaced since I had no wish to protect an inheritance if it deprived her anything. But a neutral might easily question my motives as one of the "most". Equally I know of cases of the sort you probably have in mind where someone is only interested in the money! I just do not think its helpful to say this on a thread like this.

Oldernotwiser

property.advert wrote: »

I think the greatest contrast is someone who saved up, bought a property and was then forced to use that asset to pay for car

What about the large amount of equity which will accrued because or house price inflation? Nobody's saved or worked hard to acquire that, it's just a matter of luck.