You’ve attempted to shelter your assets; but will the Council actually pay for your care?
Elsewhere I have discussed Asset Protection Trusts, Wills and other means of attempting to shelter assets so that an individual becomes eligible for Council help with care costs, but will the Council help with care costs actually be forthcoming? One of the factors I have discussed in each of these blogs is Deliberate Deprivation and, if the Council can prove that this has occurred, then help with care costs may not be forthcoming. However, there is another critical factor that needs to be taken into account, which are the Social Care Eligibility Criteria.
Bottom line
You may well feel that Granny now needs care and, believing that you have successfully sheltered her assets, you go along to her Council and ask for their financial help, but this is when the above assessment kicks-in.
You may well think that Granny has Eligible Needs, but if the Council doesn’t agree, all the asset sheltering in the world comes to nought if you still have to pay for Granny’s care!
Post script
In Care of Elderly People Market Survey 2012/13, by Laing and Buisson, they state that the risk of being in a care home (or NHS long-stay hospital) increases with age. It is less than 0.1% for under 65s; less than 1% for those aged 65-74; less than 4% for 75-84 and just 16% for people aged 85+. This begs the question, “Is it worth all of the cost and disruption to try and shelter assets from means-testing just in case you are one of the 16%?”. Based on these statistics, the odds are that Granny won’t finish-up in care in any event!
What next?
Do you need more information specific to your own or a relatives circumstances? Complete the form below and I will be happy to answer your questions?
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0800 074 8755info@clivebarwell.co.uk