Paying for Care Home

ladybelle

Firstly apologies if this is wrong board but I'm not sure where else to put it and you're all so helpful here - I'm hoping someone can advise me.

My parents are both in a Nursing home. They've been there for 2 years. We have been fully funding - I have power of attorney and sort all finances out. The house was sold as they moved in the same time. We are now approaching the limit where the County Council may start contributing a bit as they are down to just over £24,000 each now, and the guidelines said to fill in financial forms a couple months before as it may take a time to process etc ?

They both receive attendance allowance at the moment as we are fully funding.

How will it work when the CC start contributing ? How much are they likely to pay and how much am I likely to have to pay ? If we are not "fully funding" and the Council are contributing some does that mean we have to stop claiming Attendance Allowance ??

I've had a pretty good grasp of this over the last 2 years since this all happened but now this is suddenly seeming far too complicated for me to understand !!

Once again - sorry if it's wrong board - if anyone can advise would be really grateful.

Thank you

Torry_Quine

The Attendance Allowance will stop but you will need to notify them to avoid any overpayment.

They will have to pay most of the pensions they receive except for approx £22 for personal spending. An amount from the savings on a sliding scale will also be taken until it falls further, don't remember how much.

Mojisola

ladybelle wrote: »

How will it work when the CC start contributing?

How much are they likely to pay and how much am I likely to have to pay ?

If the cost of the care home is higher than the level the council has set as their limit, they will want someone other than your parents to sign that they will pay "top up fees". These can not be paid using your parents' own money - it has to be paid by a third party.

Think carefully about the commitment - if your personal circumstances change, will you still be able to afford the fees?

If no-one wants to take on the responsibility, the council may suggest moving your parents to a lower-priced home. If you can make a case that this would be detrimental to their well-being, you might be able to get the council to continue funding at the higher rate but be prepared for a fight.

ladybelle

Well when I say *I* I meant - them - as I have no money at all, that was made very clear at the outset, so there would be no topping up by family members.
How do I find out what the Council will pay ? There is only one nursing home in my local town and I have agoraphobia and unable to travel anywhere else so there would be no option of moving them. I cant even get to visit them without someone taking me as it is.
So - will the Attendance Allowance stop the minute we hit this £46,000 then ? when the local council will top up slightly and they are still paying some of the fees ?
They've just sent me all new forms for Mum and it is doing my head in, so long and complicated again when nothing has changed ! she had a stroke, is completely unable to move unaided - that has not changed, nothing has changed in 2 years so I dont really understand why these forms have come in again ? maybe as she was on the higher amount ? I dont know ?
but this current award ends in September ? is it not worth reclaiming now then ? I really cant get my head around all this now ?

Torry_Quine

ladybelle wrote: »

Well when I say *I* I meant - them - as I have no money at all, that was made very clear at the outset, so there would be no topping up by family members.
How do I find out what the Council will pay ? There is only one nursing home in my local town and I have agoraphobia and unable to travel anywhere else so there would be no option of moving them. I cant even get to visit them without someone taking me as it is.
So - will the Attendance Allowance stop the minute we hit this £46,000 then ? when the local council will top up slightly and they are still paying some of the fees ?
They've just sent me all new forms for Mum and it is doing my head in, so long and complicated again when nothing has changed ! she had a stroke, is completely unable to move unaided - that has not changed, nothing has changed in 2 years so I dont really understand why these forms have come in again ? maybe as she was on the higher amount ? I dont know ?
but this current award ends in September ? is it not worth reclaiming now then ? I really cant get my head around all this now ?

The AA stops 28 days from when the council start funding even if they are still paying from savings so if this is likely before it runs out in September then no need to re-apply.

Mojisola

ladybelle wrote: »

she had a stroke, is completely unable to move unaided - that has not changed, nothing has changed in 2 years so

In that case, isn't your Mum entitled to NHS funded care? If she is (and has been) then she shouldn't have been paying for her own care. It's not easy to get but worth enquiring about.

ladybelle

She only qualified for the £108 Funded Nursing Care contribution. In spite of my objections, they said she did not qualify for continuing care ? I've been paying £1741 a month for her, the extra contribution is paid direct I think ?
Dad was classed as residential until Feb of this year. He was in hospital and not expected to survive but he pulled through but is now in need of increased care needs and classed as Nursing. They are in a Nursing Home. His fee was £1560 but he's now been reassessed as needing to pay £632 a week. The home have applied for an assessment for him to now receive this Funded Nursing care. I'm not clear if that will come off this £632 total or not ?

xylophone

Have you seen this comprehensive guide?
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS10_Paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

Useful contacts on page 43.

ladybelle

xylophone wrote: »

Have you seen this comprehensive guide?
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS10_Paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

Useful contacts on page 43.

Yes - it was all ok until right now that their money has dropped down to the cut off point. I just dont understand what to do now, all getting on top of me.

ladybelle

xylophone wrote: »

Have you seen this comprehensive guide?
http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS10_Paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

Useful contacts on page 43.

When they first moved in to the home in 2012, the County Council paid in full for the first 12 weeks until the house was sold, so I'm assuming they are under the limit ? I'm worried about my Dad's amount as they have assessed him a lot higher than my Mother now ? Doesnt help trying to do finances and paperwork on a Bank Holiday when nothing is open to be able to ring people or talk to !!

Mojisola

Everyone gets the first twelve weeks paid for - see "12 week disregard".