Paying for care - is Grandad entitled to help?

[DontLoseYourFightKid]

I really hope someone can advise me!

My very elderly Grandad is now in need of a carer, and as I understand it, he would only be entitled to help from the council if his savings were below £23,250.

He currently has £50k, however he has an equity release mortgage, and if he was to pay this off, his savings would be well below the £23,250 threshold.

Is he able to pay off this mortgage and then be entitled to council funded care? We really don’t want him getting into trouble and then owing money!

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated!

We would prefer him to go into a care home but unfortunately Grandad is adamant he wants to stay in his own home and have a carer come to visit him. I’m not sure we have any power over this decision

What I mean is, if he is using his own money then he gets to make the decisions about his care. Private care homes and private carers.

It's like getting the bus or driving. They both get the job done but if you are driving your own car you have a lot more choices that are your choices.

What kind of support is he requiring?

Does he have capacity, if he does then its hos choice if he stays at home or not, personally I would spend the £50k on personal carers if he can,

Well aren’t you nice? NOT.

Firstly educate yourself, virtually EVERYONE has to pay towards their care now, even if their only income is benefits. I deal with this stuff daily and you clearly do not. I see the reality.

Secondly, despite working I have fuck all left to save . I work in a public facing job with vulnerable people. In a crisis I often fund stuff for people like food if I can’t get it anywhere else.

I get UC to top up my wage.

I won’t have savings if I need care because the cost of living is very high…or have you missed that?

How dare you suggest that I or anyone else in my position “contribute nothing”. I work and plug gaps left in the system to support frail and vulnerable people. But yeah I contribute nothing.

You are beyond disgusting

It's pretty shit advice anyway. Like @LadyGardenersQuestionTime says, you get what you pay for.

Council care isn't comparable to state care.

If the OP's grandad has fifty thousands pounds then he should spend that on his care rather than chance his arm on state care.

There's a lot of incorrect information/advice here. Different rules apply to domiciliary (at hone care) and residential care and how your finances are assessed.

How would you account for people who have severe disabilities?

So what is the correct information?

Unfortunately there will always be people who play the system, but maybe there will also be very wealthy people who live in a 5m house, have luxury holidays but only 10k in the bank who will receive state funded homecare..

Earlier I posted about carer's allowance, I meant attendance allowance which would help with costs and isn't means tested but I think you have to claim as it isn't just offered.

If he used his savings to pay off his equity release, leaving him with no savings to pay for carers, the LA will put a charge against his house to claim back the cost of them providing carers. So either way, he will have to fund his own care down to a certain amount. You’re a self founder if you have savings AND/OR property over the value of £23,250, then you'd be a part funder until that figure reduces to £14,250

I posted a link earlier to the Age Uk site which has all the info

My mother had a private carer for the last years of her life. She paid her £15 an hour. It was a wonderful arrangement. She started coming twice a day and by the end of her life was visiting 4 times a day (40 hours a week). They had a lovely bond and it was worth every penny spent.

People with disabilities have every right to be helped in any way shape or form that they need and/or want, and I would never ever suggest otherwise.

That was really useful thank you @BlanketsBanned I actually just spoke to a lovely lady from Age UK on the phone and she’s going to send me some information.

Thank you to everyone offering advice, I’m very grateful!

Grandad will require 3 visits per day from a carer, he needs help with all aspects of care due to poor mobility. He’s more than happy to pay privately for carers for as long as he’s able to, and we have found a company who are able to (although very expensive)! But it has got to be done for him to get the care he deserves!

We were just unsure of where he stands when his money runs out and he can no longer afford private carers, and he’s used up all of his savings to be able to pay off the mortgage. He’s not trying to pay off the mortgage to avoid paying carer fees but I realise that’s how it would look.

Thank you @Somanysocks i believe he is receiving attendance allowance x

Hi, has he claimed Attendence allowance? age UK can help with financial information. You say he has £50,000 of savings. Does he get pension income as well?
With AA, pension and savings that should last him quite a long time.

My Mum had to go into a home, dementia, and has had to sell her house to fund it, once the house money runs out she will not get any pension payments.

He may also benefit from a careline alarm and small adaptations at home to make life easier. He can request a care assessment at home from the physio and occupational therapist who can assess his mobility, care needs, falls risk etc. and see if he needs walking aids and adjustments, its all free up to about 1k I think. The assessment is free, some people find it easier to live downstairs if thats an option for him.

This is all great advice, thank you!

First step we’ll definitely arrange a care assessment, and financial assessment with social services too.

He does have a help alarm already thankfully. And the care company we’re liaising with sound very good!

He should claim attendance allowance. It's £60 a week and not means tested.

Was the AgeUK adviser able to say what the situation was with regards to paying back the equity release as I would be interested in the answer.

I'd make sure you check out the rules first!

I thought that disposing of capital/assets to access funded care wasn't allowed, same as it is with benefits. And in benefit regulations, if you're deemed to have got rid of assets to increase your entitlement, you can be treated as though you still have them.

Speak to AgeUK, OP, they know this stuff inside out.

Not for care at home

@DontLoseYourFightKid

there are two rates of carers allowance, lower and higher - make sure he is getting the correct allowance, as his circumstances may have changed

Thank you all. @oviraptor21 no unfortunately the lady I spoke to wasn’t sure, but she’s given me the number of their specialist finance department. They’re closed until Monday morning so I’ll call them then and let you know!

Very interesting thread. I need to look into it too.