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!

@rwalker sadly this is 100% true. I see it every day in my job and it is so so frustrating!

This has been the only relevant information that I’ve found so far in writing… But I’m still unsure as to whether the equity release mortgage would count as a debt in this scenario.

Sorry the image is really bad quality! I hope it’s just about legible.

Why do you fe old age is any different from any other age? Most people pay their way in life. Some don't, they rely on hand outs. It's no different when we are old. Why do people think suddenly just because they get old they are no longer responsibilities paying their way and suddenly think the state should pay? In my mind this is no different from people relying on the state when they are younger.

It's all so wrong. But I agree maybe she's better paying off the equity release now.

I agree @deedledeedledum . I don't get it. Why would people want to live their lives sitting on a pile of cash whilst in a council home when they don't have to be.

It may come as news to you but some people work hard all their lives but in low paid jobs and never get thr chance to build savings.

Take for it what you will .
If your paying from benefits the state is paying so don't see any point of that comment .
I have no problem with the state paying for anyone . The problem you work and support yourself you get nothing if you've saved
The best example I can give

my parents worked all there life contributed lived very modestly every single penny went into there house. The saved and guess what when it come to paying for care they have to pay till there saving were depleted .
my parents friends way out earned my parents he was a builder her hairdresser both self employed most of it went in there back pocket .
Burned through there money holiday, cars,caravans and plasma tele's and guess what the state paid for them .

Too busy racing to the bottom to see the point don't penalise people who have tried to do the right thing .Give to the people who have put in not those who haven't. Can't see why that makes me beyond disgusting

that isn't a problem but penalising people who do is

Pay for everyone or pay for no one .

I firmly believe that those who can pay should pay for their own upkeep. I'm in my 60s and will be a self funder. MIL is reliant on state funded care ( ILs both always worked but low pay) ,mum is a self funder and I'm much happier knowing I can make my own choices even the time comes.

I find myself agreeing with both points of view re paying for care. Obviously if people have no assets then the state has to step in, but I do find it unfair that people who have worked and been thrifty all their lives and have a modest property they hope to pass on to their children will have to sell and pay out all their assets until they reach the £23,000 ish limit.

There was the intention to limit how much people would pay (think £86,000 was mentioned at one time) but that seems to have been kicked into the long grass politically and until we have a government who genuinely want to pass the legislation it won’t happen.

Pay for everyone or pay for no one .

Well yes I suppose we could have systems like other countries where everyone gets a certain amount of money from the government through their whole lives.

But we don't have that system, we have one where either people work and have choices about where they live and how they live and the colour of their front door or they are on benefits and they have very few choices. Whether they are young or old.

The OP's grandad is in this situation right now. So he can't wait until you have campaigned for ' Pay for everyone or pay for no one ' to come in and then be implemented.

Most people work and pay their own expenses.

Its so difficult but I am beginning to think that homeowners should pay for the accommodation side of care, if they were just to downsize and move you wouldnt expect the state to pay. Families can no longer expect to inherit and it feels like some people are happy to inherit but are not willing or able to look after their elderly relatives. I think its very unfair for people to earn good money then spend it all, never own a property, dont save anything and then be given fully funded help. Also self funders should not be paying more to subsidise the council.

@rwalker
Pay for everyone or pay for no one
Do you mean throughout life or just in old age? Do you mean you don't think anyone should receive benefits ever? Because that's a whole different system of government. If you just mean for old people then why? Why do we live in a system where most people make their way in life and done don't and rely on handouts, but then When we get old suddenly expect the state to provide for you?

Of course people should get benefits . My point is you shouldn't penalise people who have tried to be responsible and done the right thing .

my parents worked all there life contributed lived very modestly every single penny went into there house. The saved and guess what when it come to paying for care they have to pay till there saving were depleted .
my parents friends way out earned my parents he was a builder her hairdresser both self employed most of it went in there back pocket .
Burned through there money holiday, cars,caravans and plasma tele's and guess what the state paid for them .

I second this, the social care was appalling for my more, sometimes she'd be in bed until lunchtime waiting for the morning carer turned up and then the lunch time one would come half and hour later and £22 per hour but in reality they were there a few minutes.

Mum now has 3 home helps and this is advisable in case one is ill. I think she pays £12 per hour and they do a bit of shopping, keep the house clean and just help out generally. It works out really well.

Attendance Allowance not carers allowance.