UNPARALLELED ADVICE ON MEETING THE COST OF CARE FEES It has always been a fundamental concern of Care Directions that people should be fully prepared to be able to make the best choices - whatever the care needed, for themselves or their loved ones. All too often, a 'head in the sand' attitude results in crisis management - with resultant heavy costs to pay in both financial and emotional terms. The following information is provided by NHFA, the UK’s leading specialist care fees advisory practice. When moving into a care home fully understanding what the State provides and being certain about costs and affordability is essential for all involved. Seeking independent advice is important – and here we seek to answer some of the most commonly asked questions. Who pays for what? State funding  Who qualifies for local authority  financial assistance?  If you have been assessed as needing a care home place and your capital is below £23,250, you should be entitled to financial support from your local authority. If you have capital below £14,250 you will be entitled to maximum support, although you will still contribute your income less £22.30 a week retained for personal expenses. If you have capital between £14,250 and £23,250 you will also pay a capital tariff of £1 per week for each £250, or part thereof between these two figures.  If the State is paying do I have a choice  of care home? Yes and it can even be in a different county. The home you choose must be suitable for your assessed needs, comply with any terms and conditions set by the authority – and not cost any more than that authority would usually pay for someone with your needs.  What if the home costs more than the  local authority is prepared to pay for? The local authority will allow the fees to be topped up by a third party, who is able to do so over the long term. You are not allowed to top up the fees yourself from capital below £23,250.  My partner needs care, how does this  financially affect me? Only the partner requiring care should be means tested. Property occupied by a partner is disregarded and only 50% of any private pension should be taken into account. The Local Authority will take into account 50% of joint savings. To accelerate financial help, therefore, it is better to have separate single accounts meeting care costs, from the account of the person in the care home. Self-funding  Will social services pay my fees whilst  I am selling my former home? If, apart from your property, your other capital is below £23,250 and your income is insufficient to meet the care home’s fees, the local authority can assist with the costs – as if you were funded by them for the first twelve weeks of permanent care. Beyond that period, any financial help will be charged against the value of your former home and recovered from the eventual sale proceeds.  Do I have to pay council tax on an  empty property? If you move into a care home and your property is left empty, then you should receive full exemption from Council Tax until it’s sold.  Is there any financial help that is not  means tested? If you are self funding, Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested, non-taxable allowance – paid at the lower rate of £47.80 per week for those needing care by day or night – and at a higher rate of £71.40 per week for those needing care by day and night. Also, whether your stay is temporary or permanent, if you receive nursing care in a nursing home you should be entitled to an NHS Nursing Care Contribution towards the cost of your nursing care. This equates to £108.70 per week, which is paid direct to the nursing home towards the fees. If your needs are primarily health care needs, you may be entitled to full funding from your local Primary Care Trust (PCT), following an assessment under their continuing care eligibility criteria. The above applies to England only. Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland pay different amounts. Visit www.wales.gov.uk, www.healthandcareni.co.uk and www.scotland.gov.uk for more information. Benefit rates usually change once a year, in April. Rates may also be subject to change throughout the year. The rates quoted on this page are based on NHFA's understanding as at April 2010.  What happens if I move into a care home  independently and run out of money? Once your capital reduces to £23,250 you can seek local authority assistance. If this is likely, you should seek an assessment from the local authority well before your capital falls to this threshold. In these circumstances you may find that the home costs more than the local authority usually pays and, if it won’t reduce its fees to the local authority rate, you may have to find a source of top-up, or seek less expensive accommodation. Moving care homes could be detrimental to health and wellbeing and should really be avoided unless it’s absolutely necessary.  What can I do to avoid this situation? There are specially designed financial products available that can undertake to meet care costs for as long as care is needed, often requiring just a part of your capital – so releasing the remainder for the eventual inheritance that so many older people wish to leave. NHFA specialist care fees advisers will provide financial advice to help you understand any State help you are entitled to. This advice will also help you make informed decisions as to the optimum solution to enable you to afford the best quality care in line with your individual circumstances – whilst also preserving your capital as far as possible. For expert advice on all aspects of paying for care or a free copy of NHFA’s Long Term Care Guide, please complete and submit the form below. Please click as many as appropriate I have a particular query I wish to discuss with the NHFA Care Advice Line. I am privately funding care and would like one of NHFA's local Care Fees Advisers to contact me to discuss particular circumstances and the financial products available to meet care costs. I would like to receive a free copy of NHFA's Long-Term Care Guide please   Fields in bold must be completed. First name   Surname   Address   Postcode   Telephone (day)   Telephone (evening)   Email   Please enter here any particular query relating to your care NHFA can help you with, or further information you would like.     Data Protection To enable NHFA to conform with the Data Protection Act 1998 I agree that NHFA may use the information I have supplied to recommend appropriate schemes and administer my application (should I decide to apply for a scheme). Any personal information I provide will be treated as private and confidential, and held and processed, on computer or otherwise, by NHFA as a result of my application (whether or not it proceeds) or any subsequent agreement. NHFA may analyse the information they hold about me to help them improve their service to me, to monitor their business and for market research so they may identify any products or services which may be of interest to me. From time to time NHFA, its associated companies and carefully selected third parties may then contact me by letter, telephone, email or other appropriate means with offers reflecting my preferences. I understand that no future products will be marketed to me if I tick this box Only if I decide to proceed with a product will my personal information be disclosed to potential providers and their agents or to any person in circumstances where the disclosure is required by law.