CRANTOCK LODGE: FUNDING CARE - ADVICE The need for care often arises when least expected and many older people and their families are faced with important decisions on matter of which they have very little understanding. Whether your care costs are to be funded privately, or by the state, there are a number of issues which you may need to seek advice on. It is our pleasure to highlight the areas to ensure the whole funding process is made as simple as possible. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us . STATE FUNDING You would normally only be entitled to financial assistance from the State if your Capital, including the value of any property is below £20.500.00(will be updated in March) . There are circumstances however, when for example, if your care needs are very much of a medical nature, you could be entitled to continuing National Health Service Funding for all you care costs. THE MEANS TEST Once assessed as needing a care home place, your local social services department will ask you to claim any income/support benefits you may be entitled to and these, together with any other income will be taken into account in a means test to ascertain how much you can afford to pay. Normally, you will have to pay all your income towards your fees less £18.80 in England and £19.10 in Wales per week you must retain for personal expenses. If you have a capital below £12.000 you will receive the maximum help. If you have a capital of between the £12.000 and £20.500 you will also have to make a capital contribution of £1.00 for each £250 of capital between these figures. CHOICE If you are receiving help from your local authority, you will still have a say in where you choose your care home. It can even be in another county. This is as long as the home complies with the registering authorities terms and conditions. WHEN IS MY PROPERTY DISREGARDED? Your home is not counted in the means test if it is occupied by your partner or a relative who is aged over 60 years or is incapacitated, or is a child under 16 years who you are liable to maintain. There is also discretion to ignore its value if it is occupied by someone who gave up their home to care for you. IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE THAT IS NOT MEANS TESTED? A few types of income are not counted when calculating your contribution, including the Christmas bonus, the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance, some or part of any war pensions and some charitable payments. Attendance Allowance and the care component of Disability Living Allowance will usually stop after you have been in the care home for four weeks, (or sooner if you have been in hospital ) if the council are helping you with the cost. The council will make up the difference in the care home fee. IS THERE ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE WHILST I AM SELLING MY HOME TO RAISE CAPITAL? Yes, If your capital is below £20.500 you will be entitled to financial assistance from the local authority for the first 12 weeks of your permanent care. They will only assist you in meeting the cost to what they would normally pay but if you can afford it you will be able to self top-up in these circumstances. After the 12 week period, any financial assistance for the local authority would be charged against the value of your property and reclaimed when it eventually sells. At this point, it may be to your advantage to revert to being independent of the local authority and maximising your benefit entitlement for the Department of Work and Pensions. You should seek independent advice on what may be best for you. MEETING THE COST OF CARE Often, people who are identified as having to be responsible for their own care costs are left to choose their care home without proper guidance. It is essential when moving in to a care home that it is a) appropriate for your assessed needs. b) affordable over the long term. If there is a chance that your capital may run out, then this problem should be addressed at the outset. Will the social services assessment of my needs agree with the home I have chosen? Would the care home continue to accommodate me for what the social services is prepared to pay for? or, will I have to move to a smaller room, ask my family to pay to top-up my care fees or at worst move to cheaper accommodation. These are things you should consider. If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact us.