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Care fees, self-funding and other parent moving house

ConfusedAndConcerned
Posts: 2 Newbie

Apologies if this has been covered in another thread but I couldn't find an answer to the specific questions I have and would value guidance/input on these.
My parents have found themselves in a situation where my father is now facing an ongoing care requirement post stroke and they have just over than £50k of savings so will be required to self fund this. They were already considering moving to a warden supported home because their home is not really suitable for them both and this situation has crystallised that because it is highly likely my father could be cared for in the current house (configuration would be very difficult).
My brother and I both have LPAs so are helping my mother to access finances and manage the situation and we believe, whilst my mother remains in the house, it is not considered for funding care but we wondered if moving house would trigger anything and if so what.
So my questions that I could really do with help on are:
My parents have found themselves in a situation where my father is now facing an ongoing care requirement post stroke and they have just over than £50k of savings so will be required to self fund this. They were already considering moving to a warden supported home because their home is not really suitable for them both and this situation has crystallised that because it is highly likely my father could be cared for in the current house (configuration would be very difficult).
My brother and I both have LPAs so are helping my mother to access finances and manage the situation and we believe, whilst my mother remains in the house, it is not considered for funding care but we wondered if moving house would trigger anything and if so what.
So my questions that I could really do with help on are:
- I believe the first 28 days post discharge from hospital is funded by the NHS Trust/Local Authority to give us time to sort affairs etc?
- I note that any pension he has is included in the assessment but would they pool his pension and my mothers (she has a larger pension than him) and expect half of the sum? And do they take into account living expenses before that calculation?
- If my mother finds a new home that is more suitable for her, and potentially my father, to live in, would she be able to use more than half the value of their house to buy it? I.e. if their house is worth £250k and she finds a suitable property for £200k, can she use the house capital for that or is there an expectation she could only spend up to £125k (which means she is stuck where she is because there are no properties around for that price)?
- Assuming she can buy it, if the property she moves to needed some remedial work to make it more suitable for her and/or potentially my father to move into (eg replacing bath with walk-in shower and refurbing the bathroom for £5k), can some of the house proceeds be used for that or not? [in this example, they sell the house for £250k, buy the new property for £200k, incur fees of £10k and spend £5k on refurbs, leaving £35k residual)
- Is the remaining balance (the £35k above) then split in half or would the whole remainder be considered realised equity for my father and included as part of his contribution funding pot?
- Finally, once my fathers share of their savings is depleted below, or close to being depleted below, £23,250, I believe he would be reassessed, does that mean he would be removed from whatever care/nursing home he was in or care package withdrawn or would the state now fund or would they expect my mother to contribute??
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ConfusedAndConcerned said:Apologies if this has been covered in another thread but I couldn't find an answer to the specific questions I have and would value guidance/input on these.
My parents have found themselves in a situation where my father is now facing an ongoing care requirement post stroke and they have just over than £50k of savings so will be required to self fund this. They were already considering moving to a warden supported home because their home is not really suitable for them both and this situation has crystallised that because it is highly likely my father could be cared for in the current house (configuration would be very difficult). Assume you mean UNLIKELY.
My brother and I both have LPAs so are helping my mother to access finances and manage the situation and we believe, whilst my mother remains in the house, it is not considered for funding care but we wondered if moving house would trigger anything and if so what.
So my questions that I could really do with help on are:- I believe the first 28 days post discharge from hospital is funded by the NHS Trust/Local Authority to give us time to sort affairs etc? Not in my experience. This may be different if there is a medical need for the care in which case NHS would be involved. Otherwise it's the LA only and, for us, didn't give any "free" days.
- I note that any pension he has is included in the assessment but would they pool his pension and my mothers (she has a larger pension than him) and expect half of the sum? And do they take into account living expenses before that calculation? Good questions - I believe that they would need to consider both incomes if mom couldn't survive on just her income. Expenses don't get considered. Except in retrospect - i.e. 6 months back did dad suddenly drop £20k on the vintage car you are now driving.
- If my mother finds a new home that is more suitable for her, and potentially my father, to live in, would she be able to use more than half the value of their house to buy it? I.e. if their house is worth £250k and she finds a suitable property for £200k, can she use the house capital for that or is there an expectation she could only spend up to £125k (which means she is stuck where she is because there are no properties around for that price)? Presumably it's their home (not strictly half his and half hers) so if she (& you on dad's behalf via the LPA) sell the house to enable a smaller (?) more ergonomically friendly place then that they can both live in then that's to the LA's benefit as well as theirs. No one should object to that. And of course they then have more savings so the LA is even less concerned than previously.
- Assuming she can buy it, if the property she moves to needed some remedial work to make it more suitable for her and/or potentially my father to move into (eg replacing bath with walk-in shower and refurbing the bathroom for £5k), can some of the house proceeds be used for that or not? [in this example, they sell the house for £250k, buy the new property for £200k, incur fees of £10k and spend £5k on refurbs, leaving £35k residual) Yes but an occupational therapist via the hospital should do an assessment and possibly pay towards renovations (even ones you might not want) prior to dad being released from the hospital or care home. But if they want to go ahead and do things with their money that's their right. It would be considered "good" use of the money.
- Is the remaining balance (the £35k above) then split in half or would the whole remainder be considered realised equity for my father and included as part of his contribution funding pot? Put it in a joint account and it's both their money so £17.5k each.
- Finally, once my fathers share of their savings is depleted below, or close to being depleted below, £23,250, I believe he would be reassessed, does that mean he would be removed from whatever care/nursing home he was in or care package withdrawn or would the state now fund or would they expect my mother to contribute?? It depends. If the LA pick the place (cheapest that suits his needs) he is very very unlikely to be moved unless his needs change. If you and mom pick the swishiest place in the county which uses up his savings in 2 months then he's likely to be moved unless mom (& you) wants to make up the difference. LA doesn't care unless they are having to fund.
Hope that makes sense. Difficult times.... Maybe have a good think about the type of house mom might buy. Some of the more specialised homes are very difficult to sell due to buyer restrictions (minimum age etc)
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"Never retract, never explain, never apologise; get things done and let them howl.” Nellie McClung1 -
Do they own the house jointly or as tenants in common?0
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These are my thoughts bearing in mind I’m not a solicitor and it may not be entirely accurate.
If your parents are moving together, then they are moving from one house to another so the new property would be disregarded.
The whole thing about deliberate deprivation of assets is it is where people are purposely getting shot of money to avoid care fees. Spending money to make a property accessible, as long as it was within a reasonable limits and not with gold plated taps and Jacuzzis, should be fine.With regard to the Hospital discharge route and funding, that does very much depend which discharge pathway he is on and that is a question that you need to ask.More details about what happens as the 23K limit is reached here, you might also want to try their advice line with your more specific questions.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.1 -
sheramber said:Do they own the house jointly or as tenants in common?0
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Also for information:
Disabled Facilities Grants: Overview - GOV.UK
You have to have the intention to stay in the property for 5 years otherwise there may be money to pay back. Note that it's the intention so if life gets in the way and you have little option but to move, then that can be disregarded.
Also note (genuine example) that if the person has applied for a grant and insisted they plan to stay for the 5 years, it's then not a good idea to have a "for sale" sign up when the council come round to measure up.All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.
Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.1
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