Advice required

berbatov10

I am not sure if this is the right forum, please feel free to tell me if not. My mother owns her own house outright, she is 83 and of fair health.She like most elderley people dont feel that having paid in to NI all her life that iif she fell ill and needed care that her house can be sold to pay for such care. Is there anyway her home can be put into a trust of any sort to avoid this happening

dmg24

The property could be transferred to somebody else, however if she requires care within (I think) seven years of the transfer, then the money would be recouped back. Also, he property would not necessarily be sold, but a charge put on the property for when it is eventually sold.

This information may differ if there are any others living in the property?

mountainofdebt

I think if your mum did transfer her property to someone to avoid home care charges it would be viewed as deliberately disposing of her assets and she would be liable for them anyway.

The other point is that if the house was transferred to someone else what would she do if that person decided to sell the property or was some how forced to sell the property due to a change in their circumstances?

LittleVoice

berbatov10 wrote: »

I am not sure if this is the right forum, please feel free to tell me if not. My mother owns her own house outright, she is 83 and of fair health.She like most elderley people dont feel that having paid in to NI all her life that iif she fell ill and needed care that her house can be sold to pay for such care. Is there anyway her home can be put into a trust of any sort to avoid this happening

Well, as a matter of fact she would not have done that (paid into NI all her life that is).

For the financial contributions she did make via the NI scheme she has no doubt benefited from 23 years of pension payments already and NHS healthcare for many years before that too. I would guess that has been a very good return on her investment.

Why should she not pay for her residential care if she needs it? Why do people think they should pass all their estate to someone else when they die rather than use it for their own benefit when they are alive?

jackomdj

Sorry LittleVoice but I agree with the OP in principle, why should they have to use their (family) assets when someone else who has not worked, so not contributed to the state (but possibly taken constantly) gets their care fully paid??

OK so she has not paid into NI all her life (you forgot to say she probably had 16 years before she started contributing(!)) but NHS Healthcare & pension are everyones right within this country not just those due to people who work.

Sorry OP I have no advice other than what has been given already.

LittleVoice

I know we have gone off topic (my fault) but I feel that people should pay their way when they can.

PS I didn't forget about the early years of paying NI - and I think it would have been for more than 16 years at the beginning - I simply said it would not have been for all of her life - that covers time early and late and (given she has a child) during her life so far.

jackomdj

I think we are going to have to agree to disagree on this one!

It is one of my pet hates, within our (extended) family we have my Dad who has worked hard all his life, 27 years within the services then the balance working away from my Mum during the week, to maintain a reasonable level of income. Like many people who bought their property 30ish years ago it has appreciated in value substantially although he worked hard to afford it in the early years. If they need care they will have to sell it (I suspect). Then we have Aunties & Uncles who have hardly done a days work in their life, they can afford holidays and other things (eg cigarettes, sky, nights out etc). They have had their accomodation paid for & not been seperated for long periods of time (due to work).

I just feel that it is often those who work the hardest in this country that are penalised the most. I will get off my soap box now! It is not you (LittleVoice) that has made me stroppy tonight (I am not usually) but this is one of those things that just annoys me!!:mad: :mad:

Nicky

Biggles

berbatov10 wrote: »

My mother owns her own house outright, she is 83 and of fair health.She like most elderly people dont feel that having paid in to NI all her life that if she fell ill and needed care that her house can be sold to pay for such care. Is there anyway her home can be put into a trust of any sort to avoid this happening

A very complicated question without a simple answer.

She should consider the fact that elderly people are often dissatisfied with the care home that is paid for by the local authority, and would rather be in charge of their own affairs and choose their own care home. With the funds from her house sale, she could afford to do this.

There is also the fact that she will have a not insignificant income from her pension and attendance allowance etc and, with a one-off payment into an immediate care needs annuity, could be self-funding and self-supporting in the care home, and still leave an inheritance for her family. Though she should not be put in the position (by the family) of feeling that she 'ought' to leave a inheritance.

berbatov10

Thank you all for your views, which were quite diverse! To answer the main points there is no pressure on my mum to do anything, i told her to blow everything on a world cruise, but she doesnt fancy it. I know there are those of you who feel she is trying to evade liability, but as pointed out she just feels its wrong to be forced to seel, or to have a charge put on her home.The best thing is that she outlives me and my brothers and sisters, goes mad and leaves it all to a cats home or something similar! If anyone does have any useful info please keep posting! Thanks Nick

Glad

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