Deprivation of Assets

elsien

sheramber said:

Black_Monk said:

Dear All

Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my question.  Unfortunately my mother had a dementia diagnosis before the first gift was made so, although it was not our intention, it would be seen as DOA.  I guess I will just have to set aside some money for that eventuality.

I do not think it is unreasonable to be asked to contribute to your care costs.  What I do find unjust is people like my parents who worked hard all their lives and made sacrifices to put money away for a rainy day will lose most of their estate if they have to go into care, whereas someone who squandered their money will receive the same care for free.  Not a good incentive to save for your retirement.

Kind regards

Black_Monk

whereas someone who squandered their money will receive the same care for free. 

On the contrary, the standard of care provided by the council can be pretty poor.

No choice of location. You go where they send you , which may not be near family.

It will be in the cheapest care home available which will not be comparable to waht a slef funding person canchose.

There are no extras that those paying their care can choose,



https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/care-homes-and-benefits/frequently-asked-questions#:~:text=You will still get your,to the cost of care.

You will still get your Basic State Pension or your New State Pension if you move to live in a care home. However, if your care home fees are paid in full or part by the local authority, NHS or out of other public funds, you may have to use your State Retirement Pension to pay a contribution to the cost of care. 

You should always be left with a weekly personal expenses allowance of at least:

England: £28.25
Scotland: £32.65
Wales: £39.50
Northern Ireland: £27.19 

That isn’t entirely accurate. Still an obligation for the local authority to follow the mental capacity act and best interest processes. And if that means a slightly more expensive home closer to family, which can be evident as being in the persons best interests, that is what they have to do as long as it’s still within the financial bands that they will pay. 

And there are certainly places where local authority funded people and self funders live side-by-side. 

MEM62

Black_Monk said:

What I do find unjust is people like my parents who worked hard all their lives and made sacrifices to put money away for a rainy day will lose most of their estate if they have to go into care, whereas someone who squandered their money will receive the same care for free.  Not a good incentive to save for your retirement.

The alternative view is that, as this type of care is not provided free of charge, those that cannot afford it are supported by their local authority so that their needs in their twilight years are met.  Not everything is provided by the state (and you would be complaining at the level of taxation if it was) so it is right that those that can self-fund should do so. 

There are many areas where support, financial or otherwise, is provided by the state to those that need it.  The suggestion that we should not amass any assets or savings just so we are entitled to any and all benefits that are on offer just plain silly.  There are there for those that need it, not for those that don't.   

OhWow

elsien said:

sheramber said:

Black_Monk said:

Dear All

Many thanks for taking the time to reply to my question.  Unfortunately my mother had a dementia diagnosis before the first gift was made so, although it was not our intention, it would be seen as DOA.  I guess I will just have to set aside some money for that eventuality.

I do not think it is unreasonable to be asked to contribute to your care costs.  What I do find unjust is people like my parents who worked hard all their lives and made sacrifices to put money away for a rainy day will lose most of their estate if they have to go into care, whereas someone who squandered their money will receive the same care for free.  Not a good incentive to save for your retirement.

Kind regards

Black_Monk

whereas someone who squandered their money will receive the same care for free. 

On the contrary, the standard of care provided by the council can be pretty poor.

No choice of location. You go where they send you , which may not be near family.

It will be in the cheapest care home available which will not be comparable to waht a slef funding person canchose.

There are no extras that those paying their care can choose,



https://www.turn2us.org.uk/get-support/information-for-your-situation/care-homes-and-benefits/frequently-asked-questions#:~:text=You will still get your,to the cost of care.

You will still get your Basic State Pension or your New State Pension if you move to live in a care home. However, if your care home fees are paid in full or part by the local authority, NHS or out of other public funds, you may have to use your State Retirement Pension to pay a contribution to the cost of care. 

You should always be left with a weekly personal expenses allowance of at least:

England: £28.25
Scotland: £32.65
Wales: £39.50
Northern Ireland: £27.19 

And there are certainly places where local authority funded people and self funders live side-by-side. 

I've seen one, when I used to take a dog as a PAT (pets as therapy) dog - and that should be a warning to everyone! Old age is when you need your money.

The self funders had the top floor, where bedrooms were large, had sofas etc and their own en-suite. The self funders also had their own shared lounge on the ground floor; large, glass on one side with french doors leading to the garden,  nice tables and chairs around the centre of the room and comfy chairs in another area with coffee tables.

The state funded had tiny bedrooms on the ground floor, single bed, with just enough room between the tiny wardrobe and bed, to fit a tiny table and chair if they didn't want to go in their shared lounge where the screamers also were. Their shared lounge had chairs around the edge of the room and was next to the kitchen. They only had a few toilets and bathrooms off the corridor, that all the state funded shared. 

The person that really got me upset, was an old lady in the state funded area who, based on the nice (but stained) clothes she wore, must have had money at some time. I was told that she had sold her house and gave the money to her son years ago. He never came to visit her. She sat in her room alone.

One of the self funders had the right idea, she told me that she told her realtives that they are in her will.  She had lots of visitors.