Going into care home from housing association flat

[Nottherightname]

DF has been permanently transferred to a care home from hospital today. He lives in a housing association flat. He and I are largely estranged and he had a social worker. I’m his only living relative.

These are the things that need dealing with:

Inform housing association
Clear his flat
Inform DWP as he receives attendance allowance and housing benefit

Did I miss anything?

I’m happy to inform people but I won’t be clearing his flat - will the housing association do this and bill him? Will the hospital/care home/social worker tell the housing association that he won’t be coming back?

DF and I have a complicated and difficult history and I have as little to do with it as I can because any contact gives me panic attacks. I’m happy to deal with things once he’s gone but while he’s alive it’s all a bit much. Thanks all for your wisdom.

Council tax, gas & electricity, tv licence?

Oh yes! I’m not thinking clearly about it all. Thanks!

Honestly, I would just tell social work exactly what you've said above and that you are unable to deal with any of this on his behalf. They won't like it but they will deal with it.

Thank you. They know I have almost nothing to do with him so I don’t think they’d be surprised. I’ll call his social worker on Monday.

BT (telephone provider) internet it he had it or Sky perhaps. Set up a mail redirection, there is a charge but saves a lot of hassle. Make sure that you end his tenancy in writing, he will be liable for the rent for the months notice and for clearing the flat. Inform his GP of the change of address, the care home may register him with their GP anyway. Cancel milk if he had a milkman, cancel newspapers if he still had these delivered (my inlaws did). Change address with the bank, now may be a good time for a POA if you don't have one already.

Does he have capacity? If he has, it’s his responsibility to inform everyone, if not, it’s the responsibility of the person acting on his behalf, and I see no reason why that person should be you.

Would he have contents insurance for his belongings ?

Redirection of mail?

He’s lost capacity. I should have mentioned that.

Thanks for all the answers, I hadn’t considered half the things listed. I only got the phone call yesterday evening so am still feeling a bit thrown.

If you don't have LPA, you can't end his rental contract or handle anything financial in any case.

It's for his social worker to arrange to do things legally - no matter how awful he is/was, he has the legal right to be protected and although you are a decent person, not everybody is; which is why you can't be responsible for facilitating any of it.

Oh that’s good! No, no LPA. In that case I will email his social worker and advise him without any further guilt. Thank you!

If you don’t have LPA and he doesn’t have capacity then leave SSD to deal with it. They will need to complete a capacity assessment, ask them to state that there is no family willing to take responsibility and they will then refer to an internal team that manage peoples finances in such instances. His case will be considered by the court of protection and they will no doubt grant a guardianship to SS. If you do decide to take on some tasks such as ending his tenancy then consider what you will and won’t do and be clear about your boundaries with the SW.

There are companies that will clear his flat and yes he will be expected to fund this.

Speak to the SW on Monday, be clear about boundaries and follow it up with an email. You do not have to do anything - and they will want you to.