Care home top up fees - worried about the cost

dawyldthing

Lovelyjoolz wrote: »

Granny has her old age pension, but the council will take that from her when she goes into the home. She will be allowed £23.50 per week for her incidental expenses and that's all. Plus, legally, she is not allowed to pay her own top up fees.

There is no one else to help. My Dad is an only child and Granny has managed to alienate her late-husbands family to the point that they will not help no matter what (and I would be too embarrassed to even ask them tbh).

£20 p/week is ok. What's worrying me is that the Social Worker is taking so long to do the necessary paperwork that the one remaining room in that home might be gone before it's done. We will then be looking at the only other option which will be £350 p/week top up fees.

How does a 70 year old disabled pensioner earn themselves an extra £1500 per month? He would need to be earning over £20k per year to have enough left over after HMRC take 20% tax.

How do people do this? Accoring to the Social Worker, this is the way it works for everyone, so there must be thousands of pensioners earning money to pay for their parents residential care. I'm hoping they come on here and can advise us!!

and if he is disabled also look into attendance allowance too as it could help cover other costs as needed. Same for your gran

Lovelyjoolz

Thanks again all who have posted. I've had a very interesting conversation with IndependentAge.org this morning and they've told me much the same that you have here: we are not liable to top up fees.

I am sorely disappointed with Age Concern for perpetuating this myth.

I'm also fuming with the Social Worker whom I need to speak to this afternoon.

Just having a cuppa, making a few notes to clear my head and trying to be calm and rational when I phone her. Wish me luck!!

Maysie

lots of luck with that.

con1888

Due to the nature of my job I deal with lots of people going into care ( I work with benefits), your parents are not liable for the top up. They can choose to do so but this normally only happens with very well off people. If your grandparent owns a house then this will usually need to be sold to pay the care home fees. Otherwise your grandmother will be 'local authority/social work funded'

I see other people have given you this advice so best of luck with it and shame on that social worker making you and your parents worry like this !!!

cavework

dawyldthing wrote: »

and if he is disabled also look into attendance allowance too as it could help cover other costs as needed. Same for your gran

Gran would not be entitled to AA if she is funded by Social Services
People who self fund are entitled to claim