Moneybox Live - Paying For Care

alanq

Wednesday May 30 15:00 BBC Radio 4 FM
"Paying for care: Paul Lewis and a panel of guests answer your calls on the costs of care."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0080g47

John_Pierpoint

bump bump bump that is this afternoon (Wednesday)

margaretclare

Ooops, missed it. I was watching 'The Biggest Loser USA' on PickTV.

Incidentally, who is paying for all of this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2151962/Britains-obesity-crisis-NHS-spending-16m-year-200-fat-leave-home.html

John_Pierpoint

The BBC Moneybox programme made it clear just how much of a chaotic country and post code lottery Continuing Health Care can be.

Here are a few notes I scribbled down at the time, so I cannot guarantee they are 100% accurate.

Q. My uncle is self funding but running out of money?!?
A. The Local Authority will start funding in England when the assessable capital is down to £23,250 and will take full responsibility when the capital is down to £14,250.
Start trying to claim when the capital drops below £30k so that the Local Authority is pointing in the right direction when the £23,250 limit it reached.
NB A life insurance bond is not assessable as capital.
Make sure he is getting Attendance Allowance and think about trying to claim for "Continuing Health Care" then think about using the remaining capital to purchase a "Immediate Care Annuity" as this gamble might enable him to top up to an acceptable level of care.

Q. Dad is in a care home, running through the proceeds of the sale of his flat...............................................................?
A. Continuing Health Care has a complicated not statutory assessment that includes elements such as "unstable" "at risk" etc, etc.
Check the Age UK web site for the full tick list then discuss with the GP who in turn can get the district nurse to asses. If already in a nursing home the inmate can appeal directly to the local health trust.

Q. The house is owned by 4 people - Does the Local Authority have a claim?
A. The LA cannot turn out the legal partner and so should ignore the house value. Alternatively the value of a quarter is very little as there are 3 unwilling sellers.
The house is exempt for the first 12 weeks and until the care is deemed "permanent".
The 12 week disregard came in 3 years ago - you can probably claim the 12 weeks when a self funder gets to the £23,500 limit where the Local Authority has to start funding.

Q. The Health Authority is paying £666 per week and the family is topping-up with £450, but it is difficult.
A. Some areas have a "County Panel" which can award Continuing Heath Care top up-funding.

alanq

Still available to hear on iPlayer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01j5nwj#synopsis

alanq

Transcript of programme.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/spl/hi/programmes/money_box/transcripts/money_box_live_30_may_12.pdf