Care Home Fees

[Woolfie]

My father (97) is currently in residential care, while my mother (89) continues to live in the family home. Mum has recently been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and while she is able to cope at home with two care visits per day and Meals on Wheels, we feel it would be better for my son to move in so she has him on hand. My son is in receipt of PIP and is currently living in rented accommodation. If he gives up his rented flat, moves in with Mum and then subsequently she has to go into care, will we have to sell her house to pay for her and Dad's care? I have done a bit of digging, and it appears that the family home will be disregarded as an asset if a family member who is incapacitated still stays in the property. My concern is that the council will look at it as a deprivation of assets and say we only moved my son in to avoid paying care home fees. This is not the case. We just want to keep Mum at home as long as possible, as has always been her wish!

Can anyone advise?

TIA

[Woolfie]

Much depends on your mother's will if she has one. If she hasn't it is now too late to make one
When she passes, either the terms of her will should be followed regarding her estate including the property, or the rules of intestacy apply
Hopefully your son can carry on living at the property meaning the LA cannot force a sale. Sorry i am unable to advise about contesting the DPA if the property is sold

Thanks again - I am only child so everything comes to me once both parents have passed.

[Pezza54]

Much depends on your mother's will if she has one. If she hasn't it is now too late to make one
When she passes, either the terms of her will should be followed regarding her estate including the property, or the rules of intestacy apply
Hopefully your son can carry on living at the property meaning the LA cannot force a sale. Sorry i am unable to advise about contesting the DPA if the property is sold

[Woolfie]

The LA will not take the value of the property into account in the financial assessment (means test) and not force the sale if your disabled son is living at the property when your mum has to move permanently into a care home
I don't believe the LA would consider this scenario as deprivation of assets but may want to discuss a Deferred Payment Arrangement with you

Thanks for that. Do you think we could fight the deferred payment arrangement or just leave my son in the property and rent it to him?

[Pezza54]

The LA will not take the value of the property into account in the financial assessment (means test) and not force the sale if your disabled son is living at the property when your mum has to move permanently into a care home
I don't believe the LA would consider this scenario as deprivation of assets but may want to discuss a Deferred Payment Arrangement with you