Alzheimers - Paying for Care

MockTurtle

Hi all

When a person diagnosed with Alzheimers is assessed for residential care, is the house value counted if an adult child still lives at home?

I've called Age UK and all they would say is read the leaflets we've sent you. The leaflets say the house value is discounted if a partner/spouse still lives at home, but none of them tell me what happens in this scenario.

Any help greatly appreciated!

miduck

I believe it depends on the age of the "child", if they are nearing retirement themselves the house is not counted. Best place to ask would be the Over 50s board.

Found it - if the adult is over 60 the house is not classed as capital.

http://www.alzheimers.org.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?documentID=125

MockTurtle

Thanks for that miduck. The 'child' is in her forties, but the link you gave mentions a "relative who is under 60 and disabled".

She is unable to work due to heart problems and is on DLA. She is not registered disabled though - does she still fall into this category?

She has never left home and we're trying to find out if she needs to be rehoused within the family so that the house can be sold to pay for the care her father needs, or if she can remain in her home.

Mojisola

MockTurtle wrote: »

Thanks for that miduck. The 'child' is in her forties, but the link you gave mentions a "relative who is under 60 and disabled".

She is unable to work due to heart problems and is on DLA. She is not registered disabled though - does she still fall into this category?

She has never left home and we're trying to find out if she needs to be rehoused within the family so that the house can be sold to pay for the care her father needs, or if she can remain in her home.

Yes, she should qualify. People don't register as disabled in most areas now.

Her case will be even stronger if her parent has been financially supporting her - has she been living rent-free or been helped in other ways?

pmlindyloo

The value of the house will be discounted if there is a person living there who is receiving a disability benefit.

What other benefit is the adult daughter receiving? ESA?


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MockTurtle

Thanks Mojisola - no, she has never paid any rent, no any bills. I think she pays Virgin for the TV/Landline/broadband package, but that's the only thing she does pay for. She does pretty much all the housekeeping: washing/ironing/cleaning/cooking etc, so her father benefits from her being there.

Hi pmlindyloo. She only gets DLA as far as I am aware. She can't get ESA or JSA because she can't look for a job with the condition she has.

MockTurtle

Her Father, btw, doesn't receive any benefits other than the state pension. Not sure if this will go against him at all?

pmlindyloo

Totally confused now!

Who lives in the property? Father and daughter? Or just daughter?

ESa is for people who are not fit for work so if she's not job seeking them she should be getting this.

MockTurtle

Sorry for confusion! It's the Fathers house and currently he lives in it along with the daughter who has lived there all her life.

Perhaps she is getting ESA then, I don't know tbh.

pmlindyloo

So the value of the house will be discounted because the spouse is still living there and the daughter can remain there.

Or am I missing something?

HB58

pmlindyloo wrote: »

So the value of the house will be discounted because the spouse is still living there and the daughter can remain there.

Or am I missing something?

There is no mention of a spouse.