Care Home Fees and Financial Assessments
Reasons to choose Wilson Browne
The majority of people who enter permanent residential care are described as ‘self-funders,’ meaning they fund 100% of their care placement.
However, when their assets fall to £23,250, the Local Authority has a duty to step in and assist with funding their eligible care needs. The Local Authority will need to carry out a care needs assessment and a financial assessment to determine the level of care needs and the level of contribution from income and remaining capital.
The Local Authority will have a rate they deem appropriate to meet the care needs which may be less than a private rate charged by a care home or a private care provider. If the assessment is less than the fees paid as a self-funder, some changes may be required such as moving rooms or care home, or a friend or family member may be asked to ‘top up’ you care fees from their personal funds.
It is important to ensure that the care planning for any individual has been done correctly. All care planning should be person-centred and must meet the needs of the person while also considering their wishes and feelings. It can be argued that, the Local Authority should not set arbitrary upper limits on costs that they are willing to pay as this does not support the person-centred approach to care planning for an individual. Each decision must be made based on the individual’s circumstances and the chosen option must deliver the best outcome for the individual.
There are certain assets and income that should or can be disregarded from a local authority funding assessment, such as an element of private pension, insurance based policies and personal chattels. Advice can help you understand if these have been applied properly.
Questions may be asked about property previously owned; it is important to be honest in an assessment and seek advice if you are unsure how to answer.
If you do not agree with the outcome of the assessment or that the assessments were not completed with you or your loved one’s best interests in mind, then you can ask for the decision to be reconsidered.
If you would like assistance with requesting a reconsideration of their decision, we have an experienced team who would be able to advise and assist you.
