Paying for Care Homes

irri_tant

Care Homes / We aren't there yet but need to plan
We have savings in several accounts in our own names and in accounts in joint names but we aren't married
Would the local authorities have any claim on the monies in the others persons name if one of us went into care to use to care for that person?
If they do would the joint account all be used up and leave the other with no money or would the authorities only have claim to 50% of that account?
TIA

Torry_Quine

It's only money in your name and usually ½ of joint accounts.

Albermarle

You might want to take into account that if you can afford it you might want to fund your own care anyway. Council funded care places are not always the nicest .

irri_tant

Albermarle said:

You might want to take into account that if you can afford it you might want to fund your own care anyway. Council funded care places are not always the nicest .

So would this be only the money used up in a sole persons name as mentioned in the other reply?

irri_tant

I also have a works pension circa £450 per week and not yet but also the state pension. How would this be used if it was me that was in care?
She would only have the state pension and maybe a very small pension circa £50

bowlhead99

irri_tant said:

I also have a works pension circa £450 per week and not yet but also the state pension. How would this be used if it was me that was in care?
She would only have the state pension and maybe a very small pension circa £50

If you have a £450pw pension and up to a couple of hundred pounds state pension, that would pretty much cover the average care home costs in cheaper parts of the country (assuming easy residential care rather than nursing care) - places such as the north, west mids, wales or northern ireland. It would struggle to cover the UK national average fees which are exceeded by many of the places 'down south'. So unless you found a particularly cheap place, 'how it would be used' would be: it would be spent on buying your care.

The Benefits or Pensions & Retirement Planning forums might get you more comprehensive comments.

Zanderman

Albermarle said:

You might want to take into account that if you can afford it you might want to fund your own care anyway. Council funded care places are not always the nicest .

Indeed, the whole point of a care home is to be cared for - and you don't want to skimp on that care. 

So don't rely on council funding and shop around for a decent place.

bowlhead99 said:

irri_tant said:

I also have a works pension circa £450 per week and not yet but also the state pension. How would this be used if it was me that was in care?
She would only have the state pension and maybe a very small pension circa £50

If you have a £450pw pension and up to a couple of hundred pounds state pension, that would pretty much cover the average care home costs in cheaper parts of the country (assuming easy residential care rather than nursing care) - places such as the north, west mids, wales or northern ireland. It would struggle to cover the UK national average fees which are exceeded by many of the places 'down south'. So unless you found a particularly cheap place, 'how it would be used' would be: it would be spent on buying your care.

The Benefits or Pensions & Retirement Planning forums might get you more comprehensive comments.

As a guide when we were looking for a place for my mum we didn't find anywhere (in Gloucestershire) below 1000 a week so 450 plus a state pension wouldn't get close. Things may well be cheaper elsewhere -  but equally may well be much more expensive. 
  
But I would use 1000 a week as a rule of thumb, and be very wary of cheap places.  

noclaf

My father lives in what I would deem a good nursing home. The fees are just below £1000 per week so in line with some of the posts above. However I would assume the "nursing" component of his care is what drives up the costs as am sure residential care is cheaper...but not sure if "residential" care still exists as the govt seem to be continually closing them down.

cattie

A family friend had been in a care home untill she died recently. The care home was highly rated & in Bromley, greater London & her fees were circa £1750 per week. So depending on where you're located, you should be able to get a rough idea of what the current costs are in a decent home.