Limiting care home costs by taking up resi

[satprof]

My widowed father-in-law (aged 89) has recently lost the little sight
he had. Together with several other disabilities and his generally
confused mental state, this has meant that he has had to go into a
care home. Currently, the home costs are being paid from his savings
by means of an Enduring Power of Attorney held by my wife.

As his daughter (my wife) is now over 60, if she goes to live in his
house, it appears that the value of the house can't be taken into
account by Social Services when his savings are reduced to the £19,500
level at which Social Services will start to contribute to his costs.

Does anyone have any experience of this having been done? Are there
any pitfalls?

All contributions most gratefully received.

Russ

 

[Rob]

My widowed father-in-law (aged 89) has recently lost the little sight
he had. Together with several other disabilities and his generally
confused mental state, this has meant that he has had to go into a
care home. Currently, the home costs are being paid from his savings
by means of an Enduring Power of Attorney held by my wife.

As his daughter (my wife) is now over 60, if she goes to live in his
house, it appears that the value of the house can't be taken into
account by Social Services when his savings are reduced to the £19,500
level at which Social Services will start to contribute to his costs.

Does anyone have any experience of this having been done? Are there
any pitfalls?

All contributions most gratefully received.

Russ

Also looking at this topic - but I too read that relatives over 60
living in the house will put it outside the means test. I also
understand that if needs are primarily health care needs, one may be
entitled to full funding from the local health authority under their
continuing care eligibility criteria
if care is for medical reasons.

http://www.nhfa.co.uk/modules/standard/viewpage.asp?id=1
http://www.thisismoney.com/undated/in605.html

 

[Tumbleweed]

(e-mail address removed) (satprof) wrote in message

Also looking at this topic - but I too read that relatives over 60
living in the house will put it outside the means test. I also
understand that if needs are primarily health care needs, one may be
entitled to full funding from the local health authority under their
continuing care eligibility criteria
if care is for medical reasons.

http://www.nhfa.co.uk/modules/standard/viewpage.asp?id=1
http://www.thisismoney.com/undated/in605.html

The main pitfall would be if they enquired into how long she has been living
there, and whether she needs to. Otherwise, this would be an easy loophole
and no one would lose their home in these circumstances.