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Original poster

Social services asking for money..what rights do I have ?

180 replies

onestepat · 02/06/2020 14:21

I was my grans appointee with DWP
She has moved into care home.
They've taken control of finances as it will be government funded
I have gave them bank account details as she has a few thousand in.
She has a tin which has two thousand in.
After speaking with aunt we decided that money (tin money )would be kept with her insurance books and use that when she passes away (hopefully not for years ) to give her a lovely funeral.
Now social services have asked for that tin.
Do I have to hand it over?

OP posts:
cptartapp · 02/06/2020 15:44

She'll be left around £16k I think so no, social services don't take every last penny. This, and her £2k in a tin should be more than adequate to cover a funeral with thousands left over.
If taxpayers are effectively subsidising your nan's care you are morally obliged to declare everything. People are happy to live longer and longer but care is expensive.

Oldbutstillgotit · 02/06/2020 15:44

I have an Aunt in a Care Home and I am still her DWP appointee. You don’t have to allow Social Services take over ( although I was put under a lot of pressure) ). I receive her pension , her care home fees are paid, I buy her clothes etc and I ensure she has money for personal spending . I think the savings limit is about £23,000 so not sure why they want this tin .

MuthaClucker · 02/06/2020 15:45

@Footywife

It sounds to me like they have some concerns over you...that somehow the money would "go missing" if you kept it.

DO they have any cause to be concerned?

That’s a total reach, it doesn’t sound like that at all.

OP I had the opposite experience, SS were very loathe to take control and instead wanted a family member to have it instead. It was a different situation to your relationship with your gran though, and we pushed back

TooTiredTodayOk · 02/06/2020 15:47

I would seek legal advice with regards to control of her finances.

If you do have to hand over the tin, fill a tin with £10 worth of one pence pieces, and tell them you made a mistake about what was in it.

Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 15:47

They have no reason to be concerned no.
If they did why would I have told them about the tin in the first place??
I could have quite easily have said what's in the bank is everything.
I thought being honest was the right thing to do.
They are trying to become her deputy.
They never told me I or family could become deputy.
They made it sound like it was standard procedure.
No that I know it's not standard procedure I'm not happy with it.

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 02/06/2020 15:48

I think the savings limit is about £23,000 so not sure why they want this tin .

Because it's a financial asset and they are controlling her financial assets. Believe me, no SW goes into it because they want to deal with the finances. They have to because of budgets. Everyone wants there to be excellent care, no one wants to pay for it.

Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 15:48

*now

OP posts:
NerrSnerr · 02/06/2020 15:49

As PP have said, social services won't use every penny, she'll be left up to approx £16k. They will try to get all her money in one place so it's easier to keep track of. It's hugely risky to have £2k in cash in a jar and imagine what would happen if there was a burglary and it was stolen and social services were supposed to be managing her money. They're trying to protect it.

It won't be used for top ups.

granadagirl · 02/06/2020 15:57

First
As your gran got more than 23,000 in the bank ?
If not you don’t need to worry, anything above 23k they will use

So even when the time does come, any money she as under 23k will go back to the family.
So she will have the money for funeral

NoHardSell · 02/06/2020 15:59

Use some of that money to get some legal advice about regaining control of her finances. Not the same but I used to use mencap, they had a list of solicitors in my area who were experienced with helping families with issues around trusts and appointeeships. I imagine it's very similar so you could try there or see if eg AgeConcern do something similar

The tin - don't know what you were thinking! Either tell them and hand it over or keep quiet! Now, I don't know, they might ask your gran etc. Use it now anyway to pay for legal advice, it won't be too much.

granadagirl · 02/06/2020 16:02

Here’s the 2020 rules
Your capital What you will have to pay
Over £23,250 You must pay full fees (known as being self-funding).
Between £14,250 and £23,250 The local council will fund some of your care and you'll contribute to the rest.
Less than £14,250 This will be ignored and won't be included in the means test – the local council will pay for your care. However, they will still take your eligible income into account.

curtainsforme · 02/06/2020 16:09

Use some of that money to get some legal advice about regaining control of her finances.

Don't do this. It is not your money to spend.

Success1986 · 02/06/2020 16:14

If your putting it towards her funeral and u have no other means to oay for funeral then id say someone in the family claimed the tin was theirs

curtainsforme · 02/06/2020 16:15

If your putting it towards her funeral and u have no other means to oay for funeral then id say someone in the family claimed the tin was theirs

The money will form part of her estate, which the funeral will be billed to.

Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 16:18

What about if I give it to my aunty to keep?
As she has insurance policy details.

OP posts:
curtainsforme · 02/06/2020 16:25

What about if I give it to my aunty to keep?
As she has insurance policy details.

You can't.

Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 16:27

Why not ?

OP posts:
highmarkingsnowbile · 02/06/2020 16:35

I can't believe you told them about it. I'd pre-pay a funeral and tell them it was spent on that.

NerrSnerr · 02/06/2020 16:42

How much money does she have in the bank OP? Have you understood that they won't use all her money for her care? If she only has a few thousand it will stay in her bank and can be used for her funeral.

Why are you so resistant to it going into the bank account. You understand that social services won't be pocketing it don't you?

Pebblexox · 02/06/2020 16:44

Why are you against handing them the money? They won't take all her money, and she will be left with some to ensure you can pay for her funeral costs etc. They aren't taking it to spend on themselves, they will just look after it and as you've said they have control over her finances that means ALL her finances. If you don't have it over, that can be seen as theft.

Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 16:44

I've heard lots of horror stories
That because my gran doesn't have a will or poa we might not get it back and we wouldn't have enough to pay for funeral.
That is the worry.

OP posts:
Original poster
onestepat · 02/06/2020 16:45

Like I've previously said
They didn't explain they wanted to control all her money
The social worker didn't explain we could still become her deputy.
My aunt would rather do it than social services
I feel like they've misled us
I actually don't trust them at all

OP posts:
Pebblexox · 02/06/2020 16:45

Instead of listening to and ready horror stories, have a conversation with them. Explain your worries, and let them explain to you why.

NerrSnerr · 02/06/2020 16:48

It will be there when she passes away. Social services are not villains trying to steal old people's money, they are trying to work within the law. As I said upthread, all hell would break loose if the money went missing from a tin when the authorities were supposed to be managing her money.

curtainsforme · 02/06/2020 16:48

That because my gran doesn't have a will or poa we might not get it back and we wouldn't have enough to pay for funeral.

It's her money. Whatever is left in her estate will pay for her funeral.

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