Care Home Fees

Ihatechoc345

Could anyone tell me if Care home fees are my responsibility when my dad has now passed away?  FYI- I never signed any contracts with the care home. 

Keep_pedalling

If care home fees are owed then they must be paid out of the estate like any other debt. If your are the executor you are responsible for settling debts from the estate assets.

If there are insufficient funds in the estate to pay the debts then you have no obligation to pay them out of your own pocket, and you would be wise not to try and administer the estate.

Ihatechoc345

Thank you!  There are no funds and what little he had paid for his funeral costs. 

Mojisola

If he had so little money, why was he paying for his own care?

Ihatechoc345

He wasn’t.  He was placed in the care home by the hospital and we disputed fees as a family right from the beginning. 

xylophone

If he wasn't paying fees, why do you expect a bill from the care home?
It seems that what cash he had paid for his funeral but did he have other assets? A property?

74jax

How long was he in the care home since being discharged from hospital, I'm sure with mam there was like 15 weeks initially we didn't have to pay for.
It's horrible I know, we disputed the cost straight away too but once the hospital no longer have a need to keep them, unfortunately its all rushed and next thing you know you're getting letters.
Was a social worker involved? 

lisyloo

You are not liable for your fathers debts simple as that.
did he own a property?
if not then no one is liable and they can’t have anything, tell them to cease and desist from harassing you.

Ihatechoc345

No, he didn’t own anything. 

Ihatechoc345

We were harassed to pay what the council called short term care fees ( dads contributions) for duration he was in care home up to point he was assessed as needing 24hr care.  This was payable as was his pension was going in to bank apparently.  We were told it was a debt my dad had to pay or the council threatened court action.  Dad has been in the care home 9 months at that point and was in the home for a total of 18 months.  Also the care home are going to apply a daily Admin charge of £1,000 if bill not settled in 14 days.  

billy2shots

Your dads contribution will be based on his pension/benefits income. It is not the whole fee as social services will pay the majority of the cost ( in your dads situation given the info you supplied). 

A financial assessment should have been carried out and his contribution would have been worked out from there. The money sounds like it is sat in his bank account. Who has control over that?