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

[onestepat]

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?

It's a new rule apparently because of covid that new residents get 6 weeks free care.

Even with small amounts of money doesnt someone have to have control if the person lacks capacity especially if they have moved residence. There will be pension and life insurance policies, tax, council tax and utility bills which either need stopping or changing of address. Money cant be withdrawn or moved around without a legal signatory.

@Pebblexox the way the social worker worded it was that it was only going to be her pension.
She said every week she will be left with £30
She said it takes the ease off families
At the time I wasn't even thinking of the tin,the bank accounts.
It was the same phone call she said my gran couldn't come home.
The day before the rehab unit had told me she was able to come home and they did a home visit to check for equipment.
I was crying when she told me and all I really heard was she couldn't come home.
I didn't care about anything else
Now things have settled down and I've been googling etc
I've realised what I agreed too

Don't let her go into the care home with any jewellery or valuables. I know the majority of people are honest, but my MIL's jewellery was all stolen.

OP have Social Services actually been awarded Appointees by DWP ?

No at the moment I'm still appointee with DWP

Have you spoken to the financial assessments department at your local council. They require documented proof of how much money your nan has, bank statements, pensions etc. If there is only £6,000 assests she should not be charged for her care, they just need proof.
They should be able to deal with you and your Aunt without P.O.A.
Not everyone is lucky enough to have an older relative agree to POA, often by the time they need someone to act for them they are very resistant, due to dementia etc.

Being appointed a deputy by DWP made it possible to sort out my dad’s finances. He stopped receiving benefits but was still being charged for his care, we were down to the last £300 before the local authority agrees to stop charging and backdate all the previous charges. Yes it’s all tax payers money, but I know my dad would much rather be healthy, working and paying tax, than very slowly dying in a care home at a relatively young age, he just lost the life lottery.

Well I rang up and told them on Friday that I didn't think I was no longer appointee as social services wanted too .

The life insurance policy is enough for a funeral so you dont really need to stress about that

You can say to dwp you dont want them to have control you will manage the money on her behalf still

Discuss it with the care home what's the "norm"

It just sounds a bit heavy handed

Under no circumstances hand over cash with no receipt put it in her bank give them a copy of the deposit slip

It's a new rule apparently because of covid that new residents get 6 weeks free care.

Ah, sorry I didn't realise that.

Just say you can’t find the tin?

What exactly did you say to SS about the tin? Did you admit it’s in your possession? Did you say how much it contains? Can you get away with saying “Well she said there was a tin but when we found it there was only £50 inside”?

Might be a good idea to contact age uk. They're usually able to help families and should be able to advise you what's best.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI67LN6Mj6QIVlO7tCh0asAVvEAAYASAAEgLJFPDBwE#

What exactly did you say to SS about the tin? Did you admit it’s in your possession? Did you say how much it contains? Can you get away with saying “Well she said there was a tin but when we found it there was only £50 inside”?

How can you possibly encourage OP to do this? Is it not obvious what it will look like if it's discovered? She will have stolen her grandmother's money - that might not have been the intention, but it will have been what happened.

@PleasePassTheCoffeeThanks The OP told social services there is a tin with £2000 in it. Then when they ask for it she all of a sudden can't find it. How does that look? Do you think they'll let it go? It's likely they'd get the police involved.

@onestepat what are you actually worried about? Do you think SW will take your Grans money and not return it when she dies? If so, I think any horror stories you say you have heard like this sound extremely unlikely. Everything will be documented and receipted.

As your gran has such a small amount saved, including her cash in the tin, the state will pay all her care home fees, but any pension income she receives will be offset against this.

I don’t think there is any likelihood of SW defrauding your gran.

I deffo wouldn't lie because I am the worst liar (and I'm talking stupid lies like il be 5 mins )
All I'm going to do is if the ring about this tin again,I will say yes there's still the tin but after speaking with other members of the family we think we are more than capable of managing.
See what they say

Say you've realised that its counterfeit money. It's now been destroyed.

I'm actually annoyed that the social worker kind of misled me into thinking I had no choice.
That one of us could have sorted it out.
It just doesn't sit right with me.

If you wanted to keep it you should not have told them about it. It's not your money and has to be used to pay for the care, you can just decide to keep it.

As it stands it should only be counted as part of her capital and if SS are funding and she's otherwise under threshold it won't be touched.

DWP appointee has no sway really you need POA to manage her money now.

I can't believe that people are telling OP to say such ridiculous lies. If it has been in the bank would you have told OP to withdraw it all and then claim it must have happened in a bank robbery?

Dont lie to them about the money in the tin. I thought your aunt hasnt been interested in your grans care so maybe she isnt the best person to take financial responsibilities.

When my Grandad went in a hospice he drew out £500 for every grandchild and put it in an old coffee jar. Told everyone he’d done it because he still wanted us to have our Christmas present after he was gone. Bank statement confirmed the withdrawal of £4000. The jar was never found - someone obviously pocketed it. Family member, friend, cleaner, neighbour - who can say who took the jar. The police didn’t give a shit, just took a statement. If OP’s tin disappeared there’s very little SS or police could or would do.

If you have told them about this money it will have to be handed over. It doesn't make any difference if it's in a tin or the bank AFAIK. I don't think it means they can spend it just take control and deposit it in a bank account. In any case aren't you allowed £16k savings.

Surely it would just be used as savings for a financial assessment? They wouldn't take it from you, as far as I'm aware.