Reclaim Care Home Costs for Free- New MSE guide

rubrenus

Thanks for your reply John.
My mother left a will - not that there was anything to leave after her funeral costs had been paid - she had a teachers' pension which paid her care home costs every month, and no property.
I dealt with all the arrangements but no formal authority was ever granted to me, so I have nothing in writing. That's the problem.

John_Pierpoint

I would be surprised if her pension paid for more than the "hotel" costs of her illness, which would have been paid by the local authority if she did not have a sizeable pension coming in plus presumably higher rate attendance allowance?
Did she not manage to accumulate any wealth of her own, prior to retirement and the onset of her medical condition?
From practical experience there are a number of expenses that can be claimed before the elderly person has to use their own resources: The public employees (in my limited experience) try to keep these secret if the patient and their relatives are prepared to bridge the funding gap.

rubrenus

Thanks again, but it's having no substantiating documentation that's the problem I'm facing.

John_Pierpoint

With no documentation how have you managed to create a claim ?

rubrenus

Perhaps the wording 'reclaim care home costs for free' prompted me to use the word 'claim'. To be specific I should have written:'I have submitted a request for review of previously un-assessed episodes of care', which prompted a response from the PCT asking that I provide documentation (as detailed in my previous post), which I haven't got. I had no problem with obtaining copies of my mother's medical records which contain details of procedures administered by registered nurses, and a letter from a consultant recommending 'nursing care' so I don't see how they can dispute it - but it seems that I can't ask that the PCT review the case without something in writing which identifies me as a person authorised to handle my mother's affairs. (Her will was administered by a family friend who has since died).

Spacker

My great aunt age 96 was admitted to hospital for a fall and long-lay during which she had a heart attack. She was in hospital for a month, lost weight developed an infection and was finally moved out to a nearby nursing home. Pallative care paid the first six months of fees and she then took over the payments. She died in the home in October last year after spending nearly all her savings on care home fees. I assume this claim deadline is final with no extension?

rubrenus

Spacker wrote: »

My great aunt age 96 was admitted to hospital for a fall and long-lay during which she had a heart attack. She was in hospital for a month, lost weight developed an infection and was finally moved out to a nearby nursing home. Pallative care paid the first six months of fees and she then took over the payments. She died in the home in October last year after spending nearly all her savings on care home fees. I assume this claim deadline is final with no extension?

You assume correctly. I got in just in time.

mrcol1000

I only have just been told about this by someone who saw a news piece. I have read loads on the internet but am still confused. My Dad is 60 and 5 years ago had a massive stroke. He spent 12 months in hospital and was discharged direct to a care home. He is in a wheel chair and one side of his body is completely numb. He is unable to care for himself at all. He received an ill health pension all of which goes to pay towards his care.

So I assuming from what I read that I can claim to have the NHS pay fees for his care (I have power of attorney to handle his affairs). I really don't understand how I get a re-assessment though. Do I just contact the PCT for the area he lives? (he lives in a completely different part of the country to me). Also I do not know if he was assessed when he was in hospital as someone else was managing his affairs at that.

Is it too late to ask for his fees back as I understand for 11/12 period the cut off is the end of the month. Do I have to wait for the PCT to reassess him before I can request a refund of the fees?

Thanks for anyones help on this matter. It seems very complex.

John_Pierpoint

Presumably dad has been claiming attendance allowance ?

mrcol1000

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Presumably dad has been claiming attendance allowance ?

I thought that you had to be over 65 to claim that?