Care home fees reform 2017

I understand there have been huge changes to the care home fee system and reforms set for 2017 give the authorities far reaching rights to help themselves to an individual's assets. This is subsequent to the recent change allowing pensioners to withdraw money from their pension pot.........hence more cash available for paying for care.

Is there anyone who knows the current rules and details about the reforms? And is there anyone who knows how to protect your assets?

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

Hi Linda, I found these articles that might help:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21507462

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/n...e-cost-of-care

With this being the most critical: http://www.theguardian.com/commentis...oners-benefits

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

Thanks Az

I've replied, but up in the Forum Help section - not sure if that's right or not? I think is this an important issue for anyone who has over the £20something limit and wants to leave it to their offspring. It will probably affect quite a number of people on here.

Linda

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

I replied in your other thread but will repost here too...

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

I'm always puzzled as to why people think that their own money shouldn't be used to look after them in old age. If you intend to leave the cash to your offspring, surely they should look after you - not the state? Why should someone else pick up the bill? After all, nothing's for free - somebody has to pay. Who do you suggest? Are we only socialists when it comes to our final years, and money-grabbing Tories in our youth? After all, if you have ample savings, it means that you had more than enough to live on at some time in your life, and saved the excess for a 'rainy day' i.e old age. I would be happy to have this dilemma explained to me please.

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

I agree totally with you 2wheeler! The reason people used to give for investing in property and saving was "to look after us in our old age" or "for a rainy day"! Why leave money to people who can't or won't look after you? there are two houses in spitting distance of here that have been empty for years, because the owners are in care homes & won't sell to pay for their care. Both are becoming derelict and will be bought, no doubt by the developers who have bought the last "empty house" next door to them which was an investment belonging to people who never lived in it! My ex lives in his parents house rent free so that they have free care in sheltered accommodation! People are living longer so by the time they go their children already have property or if not they can use what's left after the care is paid for to put a deposit on somewhere. This practice of hoarding property is helping to cause the housing shortage.

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

I'm not sure your attitude is in keeping with the ethos of the original post.

It is - in my opinion - extremely important we understand any and all the changes which affect people of our age. To understand, is to be prepared and to be prepared gives choice. If you do not understand, you will have no choices. Decisions will be made for you which you may not necessarily want or agree with - in fact, you may be extremely angry, but there will be absolutely nothing you can do.
I don't want to end up like that - do you?

Go on..........be boy scouts........stop thinking those who have worked like slaves, paid hugely high mortgage rates, had zilch in the way of extravagant lifestyles, never once cheated or scrounged from the benefit system, saved and been prudent throughout often going without holidays, meals out and general enjoyment to end up with zero interest on their savings and finally been cheated out of well earned and overly contributed to state pensions.............wouldn't want to blow the whole flipping lot on a world cruise, sports car, whatever floats your boat........but to enjoy your time before joining the ranks of grumpy old gits..............AND to be prepared for care of their choice of care in old age............but make one thing 100% certain......never again have enough money that it goes to supplement others!!! So go on........be prepared!

Re: Care home fees reform 2017

Well if they sell their properties I'm sure they will get the care they deserve and enjoy it, instead of them using state funds which could give better care the unfortunate folk who haven't been able for some reason to buy a house or save money through no fault of their own.