What if we can't pay the top up care fees?

[ChristmasLightLover]

Just this - what if we can't pay the top up care fees? Dad about to go into care. Mum has < 12 K in savings, as does Dad. We have < 12K in savings.

What happens if all the care homes around us require paying of top up care fees? They are around 250 a week - we're in East Anglia, in expensive area.

What happens to my Dad?

Get in touch with AGE UK.
They will advise you.
Briefly, from my experience:
Usually the state will pay if the person has no savings.
If your mum still lives in the property and it is in joint names they cannot be forced to sell.
However, if/when you mum needs residential care the house will have to be sold.
It is not your responsibility to pay top up fees.
If the care home is state funded you will have no choice about where your dad goes.

State funded residents are very heavily subsidised by the self funding residents, so there won't be top up fees.
Self funding residents pay about a third more.

If no one is able to pay the top up, you would need to find a home that doesn't charge one. Unfortunately this will greatly reduce the choice.

However if the needs are significant and complex they may qualify for CHC and then no top up would be payable.

The SW is likely to know which homes do not charge. I'm up north but there are a few options (mainly not great ones tbh)

www.ageuk.org.uk/home-and-care/care-homes/paying-for-permanent-residential-care/