Mum's finances if Dad goes into care

[Snowdrop2016]

My Dad is not well at the moment and it's looking increasingly likely that he will need some sort of care.

I'm trying to work out what this means for my mum financially. She has some money solely in her name and also a joint account with my dad. I assume (hope!) her money won't be taken into consideration?

Also my mum gave up work when we were born, I think she is entitled to a minuscule pension so they both live off my Dads. How does that work if he goes into care, or if he passes away before mum?

Any experience would be great, I'm new to all of this and finding myself trying to sort so many things out!

It would be worth doing a voluntary first registration of the house with the Land Registry as you do have the deeds. It is a fairly simple form and not too expensive, As someone upthread suggested get it done in both names as joint tenants.

Tenants in common would likely be better so it can be protected from being absorbed into fathers care fees on the event of the mother's death before father. To be blunt dad should will his half to wife (iif he's in care home and if not joint tenants and with no prospect of going home) and wife (not in care home) should will it anywhere else but her husband. Of course there are moral/philosophical/social implications of this approach.

They can be paid carer’s allowance but they can’t get both carer’s allowance and state pension. Since state pension is (usually) greater than carer’s allowance, this effectively means they can’t get carer’s allowance. Government advice here

If mother is 75, she’ll be on the old state pension.

Thank you all for the help, advice and messages of support. It's really helped, I'm sorry for others going through similar!

I've been looking into getting the house registered today, not sure how far I'll get if it is all in Dads name as he is being quite obstructive to anything that doesn't suit.

Mum is on the old state pension so that seems better than it could have been hopefully.

I don't have POA but it is signed and sent off so it's just a case of waiting.

They're both staying with us at the minute, their house is unsafe so we were in an impossible situation, Dad seemed to be improving but is going downhill again. He's refusing any sort of help or to help himself, I am worried he has an infection and delirium is resurfacing. I think it's going to have to be a call to 111, but not sure what we do if he refuses to engage.

It's all so tiring, trying to look after myself, and have a great employer thankfully.

Sorry that was a bit of an outpouring! Xx

Wouldn't be surprised if they're busy in the Treasury trying to find a way round this. This govt does seem to have pensioners with assets and inheritance very much in its sights. They can't make the joint owner move or sell if they are over a certain age, but they might try and claw something back with a charge on the property or something, so they can recover some of the care costs for the first person.

Dad has ended up in hospital again today, he's badly constipated and has delirium again.

He was awful when I phoned 111, telling me if he dies it will be all my fault :( I am trying to remind myself it was probably the delirium and he's not at all my dad at the minute.

I don't know where we'll go from here, they are talking about discharge back to our home with medication and carers but that's the same as 2 weeks ago, he agreed to get out and then point blank refused to take anything suggested or have any carers.

I've already said I can't have home back in the same circumstance as I've got a child to consider. He's definitely in for the weekend, I suspect I'll have a battle next week!

i am so sorry you are having to cope with this. In my experience this is where Social Care always falls down through nobody’s fault. The systems are in place, the family are trying to help but the older person just will not co-operate. You have to be a really strong person to say ‘get on with it then’. You cannot win what ever you do.

Thank you, it's so difficult.

I went in to see him this morning, they are looking at dols as they think he may want to leave and he really can't at the minute. He's not cooperating at all, not even eating or drinking by the sounds of it 😢

The hospital he is in are being great though, he is getting everything they can offer

That is a good step. Others always have more influence, I think it is easier for them disregard the help of the loved ones.

Parents married, Dad aged 91 in care home Mum 90 at home @ 100k in bank. My siblings want to 50/50 this money savings in the bank between the parents preventing this 50% going in the care home funds, I am advising them it's illegal as local authorities would see this and would expect payments until below the 14k to 23k threshold.

Nearly sure if it's a joint account the LA can only have access to half, to pay for the care of the person in the nursing home. Or is the account solely in your dad's name?

If it’s a joint account then it’s 50/50 so would be the correct thing to do. If it’s solely in his name then it would all be included in the financial assessment for care.

So your advice would be to transfer from joint accounts there are two, into two equal single accounts.

Attendance allowance is not means tested
They can both claim this separately

https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance