If you need care and finances?

[Rayn22]

Scenario!
My friend is only 60 and recently retired from been a postman.
He has found out he has a degenerative illness and has around 4 years to live at the very most! This illness means he will require round the clock care at some point.
He is married, own modest terraces house which they own and some savings. His wife has always worked as a school cleaner and they have been frugal and looked forward to retirement.
Due to the fact they have savings and a house they have been informed that they will have to pay for the care team to go in. They are not loaded by any means.
They have saved to enjoy retirement and he is so upset as it means that his wife will be left with nothing! Does anyone know if they will have to sell the house for care or will his wife be able to live there? It just seems very unjust.

Has he had a continuing care assessment by the health service. I'm assuming he has MND? If so, his care needs may well be covered by the nhs under continuing care but he will need to ask for this assessment. If it's MND the MND association are a good source of advice and support.
Has he applied for PIP and other benefits?

They will not need to sell the house for care as it's his wife's home

They won't have to sell the house and the savings pot (if joint) is split in half so they'll only be assessed on half the amount - or it used to be that way. They must have in excess of £25k if they have to self fund but once they hit around £15k they can keep what's left.

Sorry he's so unwell, life is cruel sometimes.

I agree I think if his wife is living in it they don’t need to sell the house. He should be receiving PIP, and they can probably get motability for a wheelchair. He needs someone to go through every tiny bit they are entitled to.

They won’t have to sell the house for home based cate and for residential, not if it is also his wife’s. They will only have to contribute to the cost of care if they have over £24,500 in actual savings (not house). He can also request an assessment for continuing care funding.

There is just not the money available for the state to fund care for every person who has considerable savings. They won’t lose their home.

I work in social care.

Also ensure he is claiming PIP. As someone else says, as soon as savings drop below £24.5k, the state willl start to contribute.

Thanks! It is MND. Good news about the house! I think that was their main worry. it's only probably worth around 150k.

Forgive my bluntness but with MND he's unlikely to live long enough to wipe out their savings (if they are substantial) unless the house needs some serious adaptations doing to it and they aren't eligible for a disabled facilities grant to pay for them.

Also with real gentleness encourage him to make his funeral plans and pay for it before he dies so it's one less stress for his wife.

I suggest he apply for a social services (SS) assessment for care and support under The Care Act 2014. Even if he has to pay for the care himself, it still needs assessment. SS will inform him, they will do a financial assessment and if he has savings over £23,250, then he would have to pay for care in full, savings below that is on a sliding scale for charges down to around £14,000. Below that and care is free. Then, when it’s under way, he should ask the social worker to fill in for him the NHS Screening Checklist for Continuing Healthcare Funding:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1099597/NHS-Continuing-Healthcare-Checklist-guidance-2022.pdf

If a person’s needs for care arises from a primary health condition, as his will, then he can be assessed to see if he meets the criteria for Continuing Healthcare Funding (CHC). The NHS is free at the point of use, and CHC funding for care is likewise free. There is no means testing for CHC - how much money or what other assets he has, are irrelevant.

People who have terminal conditions, with less than 6 months to live, can be Fast Tracked. That won’t apply yet, from what you say OP; but even if he doesn’t meet the criteria now, he could reapply later, as the condition progresses.

I’d also look into applying for PIP, and even if he’s not affected enough yet to qualify, that too can be Fast Tracked for people with less than 6 months to live.

Sorry, savings limit has clearly gone up to £24,500! DD gets CHC funding, so I haven’t had to think about SS for years!

This is fabulous and Thankyou!

I think they are in discussions. So sad.