Losing Pensions/Benefits if going into a care home?

Mayday

My father, aged 96, is faced with the possibility of having to go into a care home due to his various ailments.  Currently, he receives Attendance Allowance, War Pension & Industrial Injuries Benefit in addition to his State Pension.  I understand he will lose his Attendance Allowance, but will he lose his War Pension & the II Benefit as well?

Dox

You certainly need to report the change in circumstance in respect of his War Pension. Give their free helpline a ring (0808 1914 2 18) to find out what the impact might be if he does go into a care home.

DairyQueen

How will his fees be funded: LA? NHS Continuing Care? Self?

If self-funded then he will keep all of his current pensions plus the AA. NHS funding is rare but not means-tested. Not sure if he will keep his AA but the other pensions will be retained by him.

Otherwise, if he is below the means-tested savings level (inc property) then he will qualify for LA funding.  He will not be able to claim 'double' benefits (SP and AA in addition to care fees) so they will both be foregone. He will be assessed such that LA funding will be reduced by the amount of any private pensions. I don't know about WP and II but I'm sure someone better informed will be along soon.

xylophone

Are you saying that your father will be reliant on LA funding?
Is it possible he would qualify for CHC funding? See https://www.ageuk.org.uk/globalassets/age-uk/documents/factsheets/fs10_paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/war-pension-scheme/war-pension-scheme-what-you-need-to-know

You must tell us immediately if:

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• you go into a hospital, care home or similar accommodation run by the NHS or local authority

lisyloo

Does he own his own home. Does anyone else live there?

If he will be entirely LA funded then he'll lose all income except for approx £25 for personal items (like clothing).

If he's self-funded then he'll still get AA.

Mayday

Dad is in a rental property and will be self-funding until the Savings threshold is reached which is much higher here in Wales than England.  Plus his nursing team are putting in an application for Funded Nursing Care for him due to his condition/ailments.
My brother & I have PofA for both Finances & Health and Wellbeing.  

lisyloo

He will still get AA whilst self funding.

FNC in our case goes direct to the nursing home and we pay residential rate.
i don’t see any reason why his pension would be stopped but you should report his change of circumstances.
looking forward it might be worth considering a home that takes LA funded residents so that he does not need to moved from familiar surrounding if/when he runs out of money.
if you think he might live a long time is an annuity an option.
we were looking at £100k for female age 91 (they are individually medically underwritten).
this means the fess would be paid forever* for a fee.
we didn’t do it as my MIL was extremely frail and we didn’t expect to her to live long (she’s outliving our expectations currently).
*this is providing fees don’t increase beyond the built in increase so not in fact a complete guarantee.