Debt and care home fees

[HateMyselfToo]

My mum and dad are both alive and up until recently were living in their own mortgage free home.
My Dad paid everything at home and for one reason and another, credit cards, living beyond their means etc, is in debt.
Downsizing is not an option due to what it would cost in fees and stamp duty etc.

He needs full time care since a stroke and going downhill quickly.

He is in a care home full time now and has been assessed by the council to be able to pay just under £400 A WEEK for his care (Think the full cost is around £1300 per week.)

In the meantime, I am trying to get control of his finances to start sorting the whole mess out. Have applied for LPA and waiting for it to come through.

His portion of the care home fees is racking up. His credit cards are set to pay the minimum each month, so at least not getting any worse. All the house bills are in his name and still going out each month.
My mum is using her state pension for day to day expenses like food etc. but is completely unable to comprehend that she has to take on all the house bills.

All this "If you have under £14k in savings you don't pay" is bollocks.
I'm so stressed seeing everything mount up, final reminder bills coming through from the council, despite them knowing I don't have access to his funds yet.

I'm really struggling knowing where to start to dig them both out of this mess.

Where in the UK are you? Scotland slightly different to England.

So sorry you are going through this do they have any savings at all.

Have you spoken to Age UK for advice, they might be able to help?

Not a thing. Everything was spent on trying to pay off credit cards, which are thankfully down to just under 4K.
Between them they also owe me about £3k which I'm unlikely to ever get back now as it will be seen as deprivation of assets if I give it back to myself.

My mother tried and was told if you don't have savings you don't have to pay. Think she has taken this literally and is burying her head in the sand.
I've not spoken to them myself.

To be honest, it would be easier if she needed a care home too, then I'd just get them to sell the house and use that to pay for whatever they need, but as it stands she still needs somewhere to live.

When the LA carried out a financial assessment, did they take account of his debt?
Also, don’t panic about the care home invoices, the LA have to send them, but won’t do anything to recoup the costs at the moment. Contact the credit card company and tell them what the situation is - when my stepfather ended up in care, his CC was written off by them as he did not have the means to pay it, due to care fees.
Unfortunately, it’s never been a case of not paying anything for care - any income you have, including state and private pensions, is taken into account. For him to have to pay £400 a week he must have a State and Private pension.

SE England

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/factsheets/fs10_paying_for_permanent_residential_care_fcs.pdf

If your dad's needs are primarily health related has he been assessed for NHS continuing healthcare? https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/money-work-and-benefits/nhs-continuing-healthcare/

Just want to add though your mum doesn't have to wait until she "needs" to go into a care home. Obvs don't know the home where your dad is but I know couples where one is funded and the spouse has moved in also (either double or adjacent rooms) on a self funded basis.

Have you applied for attendance allowance or ask the care home to do it

im sure if that’s all they have your mum stays in the house if your dad is over 60 and I’m sure his care fees get paid for

Also get your mum to do a benefit check
she may be untitled to pension credit or universal credit

They didn't take any of his debt into consideration, despite me sending copies of his credit card statements.

Credit card companies won't speak to me until LPA comes through.

Yes, state and private pension and I totally understand he should pay SOMETHING. £400 per week would feel manageable if it wasn't building up so quickly before I can get access to his accounts. I just see the bills from the LA every week and get terrified.

My mum is just going to have to suck it up and start paying her own way like millions of other pensioners do.

Yes, he's been assessed and I think the NHS pay for the diabetic nurse to come twice a day. That money goes straight from NHS to care home though I think.

Thank you.

As a PP says, now your dad is in residential care, him and your mother are treated a separate households for benefit purposes. So look at your mums income in isolation and if it is low enough, with no savings, get in an application for the single person council tax discount, council tax reduction, and pension credit.

OPs dad can’t get Attendance Allowance since the LA are contributing to his care home

Try CAB. They’re better at debt than AgeUK. But you may have to take your mum along.

How long ago did you apply for LPA?

Thanks for all the replies. I was just feeling overwhelmed the other day. New week starting tomorrow and I can just start ploughing through his post again, dealing with things one at a time.

I would never leave this kind of mess for my DD to deal with.

@HateMyselfToo wouldn't it have made more sense to do a bit of equity release on the house now your father is in care , draw down £40k or so - pay off any credit and any fees due and bank the rest for emergency needs for your mum and as a bit extra to draw on ?