When it comes to care home fees and how they are funded, there is a lot of misinformation out there.
The rules are relatively complex and changed last year with the implementation of the Care Act.
A planned cap on care fees has been postponed and won’t now be considered until at least 2020. Knowing how you could be affected and the steps you could take to protect your home and savings, could make a big difference to the inheritance you pass to your loved ones.
It is a common misconception that where a couple live together and one requires residential care, the home could be sold and one of the couple left homeless. This is not the case. There are some circumstances where the home is safe from care fees – one being when it is occupied by a spouse/partner.
That’s where the good news ends. If you have to go into care you may be ‘means tested’ by your Local Authority to assess your ability to pay for that care. Under current rules, if you have assets that total more than £23,250 (in England), which would include the value of your home, unless it is subject to a disregard like the one referred to above, you will be required to fund your care in full – a care home will cost £25,000-40,000 a year or more depending on where you live. Indeed research suggests one in 10 people will suffer care costs of at least £100,000 (Dilnot Commission 2010).
Is there anything you can do to protect your assets?
Yes, possibly. However, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution and you should take advice from a specialist. Step one of how to protect your home from care home fees is to contact Collective Legal Solutions so they can send you some further information.
Call 0800 110 5421 and quote reference ‘GLOR2’
For more information please visit collectivelegalsolutions.co.uk
