what happens to the house if one person from a couple goes into care

[CrowsInMyGarden]

My neighbour is very unwell. She had a huge stroke and it looks likely that she will be going into a nursing care home. Her husband has said that the council will take half of their house they own to pay for this. I thought that if he was still living in the house it would not be used to pay for the care but he is sure that he can still live there but upon his death the care home fees will have to be paid from the sale of the house. Can anyone give me any guidance.

He’s right. They won’t force the sale of the house while he’s still alive & living in it, but they basically put the debt against it so when the house is sold the get their money.

I assess for care, the house is ignored completely if there is a partner living in it, it will only be considered if he died

I always thought this was the case.

If you're not sure of the answer you can always decide not to reply.

No. Completely disregarded when he still lives there.

Blimey, not at all correct!

Here's a link to the Age UK fa t sheet that covers all this in detail
www.ageuk.org.uk/siteassets/documents/factsheets/fs38_property_and_paying_for_residential_care_fcs.pdf

This, also joint savings only half will be used for financial assessment.

In Scotland the house wouldn’t be touched, the person in care’s pension would be taken towards the cost of the care home.

Incorrect. My mum is in this situation, the house belongs to her and the council has no claim.

What happens where there is joint account that has several Isa’s but in the the wife/husband name only who is not going into care

You can’t have joint ISAs - they belong to the person whose name is on them, so if that’s not the person going into care, then they aren’t considered.

Absolutely not correct. House is disregarded. They will take into account her state pension, any occupational pension and saving above £14,250. Savings held jointly are normally divided in half. So as an example.
care home fees £1200 per week
her state pension is £850 4-weekly
Occ pen 1200 per month
£50k in joint savings

her weekly income is £512.50 per week.
less her personal allowance of £28.25
Savings assessed as 50k/2 = 25k

she will have to top up her income from savings until she gets down to £23.500 then the council will have to contribute. She will have to pay a small tariff income between £14,250 and £23,500. Once savings reach £14250 then she only pays her income but if the care home she is in is considered too expensive for the local authority then family or other 3rd party may have to make a contribution or she will have to move to a place the council agree to fund entirely.

The house is not considered until /if he also needs to go into a care home.

The property will be disregarded. Savings will be taken into consideration - any solely in her name and half is joint savings. They cannot touch the last £24,000 though.

Are you on glue?
Talk about scaremongering!
Why would you put this in a reply when the absolute opposite is actually the truth?
OP have a look on the Age.uk website, they have lots of information about care home fees and financial assessments. The house is disregarded if a spouse will be remaining in the property.

That was my understanding too.