Hi,
Both of my parents are in a care home. Mum has been there for 2 years (Council funded until now). With my dad it began with a trial period but the arrangement has recently become permanent. My brother and I have LPA for finance.
I had the form for financial assessment at the end of last week which I haven’t submitted yet (mostly filled out though). My parents have a house and some savings which I believe could last say 5 months on a self-funding basis (unless there’s something I’m not aware of as far as financial assessment goes).
I understand that we will need to consider either a Deferred Payment Scheme or equity release and I have a recommendation for a company who gives advice (specialising in the care sector). However I’m confused as to timescales. We are going on holiday soon, the financial assessment hasn’t started yet and there is the 12 week disregard, but should I be rushing to fit in a meeting with the advice company very soon or wait a few weeks or wait until the financial assessment has been completed? I don’t have a clue how it all works and haven’t been able to find any information as to whether there is a specific order to all of this (re financial assessment and applying for the DFS) and as to timescales.
Hope all this makes sense. I’m really stressed (especially over the last couple of years with everything which has come with my parents’ deterioration) and it has affected my physical and mental health. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
Hi @Walker_22031
good to hear from you.
I suggest you send a copy of your post in an email to the helpline for
If you have a more complex query or would like more detailed guidance, we suggest you contact our email Helpline (advice@carersuk.org), as we’ll be able to provide more information.
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Thanks for the tip Melly. I’ll do that.
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Start by looking at “Charging for Care” and liking at the .gov pages. How ill are your parents? Are you aware of NHS Continuing Heaithcare? Free care for the seriously ill. Are they both getting Attendance Allowance? Is anyone still living in the house?
Hi Bowlingbun. Thanks for your reply and for the tip. With my mum it’s advanced Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia and very poor mobility. With dad it’s dementia (but not advanced), mental health and a number of physical problems including cancer which is no longer being treated. CHC is apparently a possibility for dad based on challenging behaviours. However he’s recently started a med which seems to be calming him down so it’s unlikely he’ll be eligible unfortunately. They both get attendance allowance. Dad is higher rate and he receives his as he’s self-funding. Mum is currently lower rate but hasn’t been receiving hers as she’s been council funded. She will start receiving it soon though. I would imagine she’ll be eligible for the higher rate now, so I’ll look into that. There’s no-one living at their house now.
Has dad actually had a formal CHC assessment? If not make sure at least the checklist is done. Even if he is deemed not eligible, it’s very likely he will be in future, so a second assessment would flag up any decline. Is there any reason you are wanting to keep the house and arrange deferred payments, rather than sell?
No, he hasn’t had a formal assessment yet. Thanks for the idea re the checklist and the fact that he could still be reassessed as being eligible in the future. Definitely worth bearing in mind.
We wouldn’t be able to sell quickly enough anyway, plus they both say at times that they want to go home. Mum’s advocate is pursuing that (taken almost a year so far) and we may well be in the same situation with dad. It’s highly unlikely that it could happen for either of them because of their care needs but there is always an element of doubt and we can’t sell whilst there is that element of doubt.
If there is a plan to go back home then the value of the house should be entirely disregarded! Google Charging for Care and look at the .gov pages, then talk to our CUK helpline. Never trust a social worker talking about money without checking for yourself. I’m sure most have never read the rules. I once reclaimed £8,000 from Hampshire for mum because I knew the rules, they didn’t. They said I’d signed something. I hadn’t! My degree in Business Studies covered Law and Accountancy, comes in really useful here. Contract Law was my favourite subject, I don’t think SSD staff have ever had a lesson.
Wow. That’s very interesting. I will definitely look into that. We will be having a chat with the company My Care Consultant so I’ll make a note to bring that up.
Never heard of My Care Consultant. If they haven’t mentioned this to you I would question their competencies and motives I’m afraid. Just looked them up, £345 for an hour consultation!!!
@Walker_22031 Hi!
To add a couple of things firstly, free legal advice for carers https://carersuk.accesscharity.org.uk/
AccessAva is a Chatapp online orchestrated between Access social care and Carers UK, at the bottom of the page you’ll see a telephone based service.
Before signing any finance related documents get legal advice from the experts
a hefty warning from what I’ve seen, and am aware of - IF you do an equity release the house remains, but money is borrowed against the value. When your parents die and probate is started, the ‘debt’ starts to accrue interest. As it takes on average a full year to clear all papers - AT LEAST, the interest can build quickly and easily - so NOT ONLY is the house not yours because it’s paid for care, you have debt potentially on TOP of no house and additional admin.
Decisions are the toughest at this point. Don’t let people push you into something that appears logical now, but you’ll literally be paying for for years!
You have the LPA, you have their best interests from what you’ve said the tough decision question - if they can’t live independently with support at home (think overnight not just day) …IF the risks are greater than the benefits then …as @bowlingbun says often…it’s not a question of what they wish or want but what they NEED.
I completely understand you feel under pressure BUT Go on holiday - you need it and deserve it. The space and perspective will help. There are some really good resources around that you can leverage before you seek paid advice!!
Sending calming breathing, and hugs…you’ve been doing a brilliant job believe me the financial assessment may take a while…having Carers UK, Access to Social Care and the legal advice and any other advice around you is key…no point trying to figure out this complex maze yourself!
We haven’t spoken to them yet. That is part of my dilemma, whether to try and act fast before we go on holiday or whether it could wait a couple of weeks. I haven’t returned the financial assessment form yet. We know a financial advisor who has dealt with the company and advised a couple of his clients who were in a similar situation re care/property to speak to them. They are very good apparently. Expensive though.
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Go on holiday, you need it. I go to Greece for a fortnight every year, come back feeling 10 years younger. Maybe take a notebook with you and jot down things you need to clarify as they occur to you. There is no rush, assessed needs must be met.
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@Walker_22031 Before you go on holiday talk to Access to social care via the app or telephone and Carers UK - get some bearings and reference points into the notebook as BB has suggested, then go on holiday - that’s my advice
Don’t fork out lots of money when there are experienced charities and support for free when their PURPOSE and mission is to help people like ourselves…why pay someone expensive to tell you the same thing…plus who knows if they’re getting commission for selling certain equity release policies!!
All the paperwork and admin needs expert support, you don’t know the ins and outs of it all… who knows what leads to what…
I bet that lots of people will want to push things BUT resist, figure out who you can really trust for advice, credentials, experience, motives…
I’m not sure what you mean by company…and a financial advisor who’s dealt with them - but given my experience this usually means someone who has FCA accreditation (Financial Conduct Authority) to give advice and a separate Equity release company - who could basically be any company - NOT just one…there are MANY different rates and contract terms and conditions…so if that advisor is only suggesting one…that smells a little to me…And expensive advice??
Get all the free expert advice you can…and see if anyone’s heard the names of these people
Thanks Bowlingbun and Victoria.
I’ve emailed the advice team at Carers UK and Access Social Care. Access Social Care mention on one part of their website that they advise re people living in England. We live in Wales so that might be an issue. I’ll have to wait to hear back from them (about 10 days for Carers UK).
I’ve also contacted Age Concern (Wales). They will arrange for a senior advisor to contact me in about a week as it’s complex. The lady on today’s call advised me not to send off the financial assessment form before I’d spoken to the senior advisor. She suggested that if I need to speak to someone about equity release, I should speak to The Society of Later Life Advisers.
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@Walker_22031 That’s good. If you need some immediate reassurance you could always ask Citizens Advice. I hadn’t realised you’re in Wales. I hope you get some more info and the support you need.
I hope you can have a good holiday and relax
Keep us posted!
Thanks. I was wondering about Citizens Advice. I’ll give them a call tomorrow too. Yes, I’ll keep you posted. It feels like pulling teeth at the moment. Everything seems to be moving so slowly.
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YUP system=snail, until they want something and you get pressured to reply immediately…hence why it’s good to get everything lined up…Other folks are MUCH more experienced than me on this but from what I’ve seen it’s good to have a general strategy and scenarios clear for yourself before doing any paperwork…
best wishes, have a great holiday!!
Thanks Victoria. It would be nice to switch off completely. Every time we’ve gone away for the last 4 years something has happened to do with my parents and I’ve had phone calls or emails.
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I don’t really want to suggest this @Walker_22031 because a full switch off would be great - but perhaps instead of being on edge the whole day, agreeing to a check in time every other day could compartmentalise things and ensure you don’t get bothered for ‘small things’? It may ease everyone’s minds…just a thought