Care home fees

[dogtired]

Hello, it's been a while!
I have been lurking though!
My brother is now in a residential home , has income from his state pension and a work pension from HMRC. He has capacity to make his own decisions,
Earlier today I had had a call from the home asking me if I had power of attourney ( I don't)
He had been to his bank and they said he did not have an account ( despite him having a Debit Card in his name, problem is he had forgotten his pin .They then said he had nothing in this account.
He is livid that his care home bills have not been paid and not much I can do as I now live in East Anglia and he is in Cheshire and he hasn’t got a working phone.
What, can I do. spoken to the home and they agreed to phone Social Services .

[paulajayne]

Sounds very iffy - Has someone had access? Cleaned it out and closed the account.

[dogtired]

Not sure but I agree. Time to get Social Services involved I think.

[dogtired]

It's been an frustrating day, Promised call backs have not happened Cannot get through at all to Social Services in Cheshire. Phoned the home again and they are doing their best to sort things out . Having worked in Care Homes it always frustrated me that.the system is flawed a person that owns property effectively has to sign the property over and when they die the fees are taken out of the equity. Less well off have a cap on savings and if over it have to pay, not sure what happens now when it dips below this. Wish I could help more as I strongly suspect there is something dodgy going on

[dogtired]

Update, Sicial worker has been in touch has promised she will visit him on Friday and hopefully appoint an advocate and try and get to the bottom of what is going on. She has also promised an update of what is happening.

[paulajayne]

Looks like moving in the right direction. Have you spoken to the bank?

[dogtired]

Looks like moving in the right direction. Have you spoken to the bank?

Not yet as I haven’t got power of attourney so I could be any one .
I now live in Norfolk and Halifax have closed a lot of branches so I would be unable to visit a physical building.

[seduraed]

Write to your brother, get him to sign a letter of Authority that should allow you to speak with the bank. Alternatively, get the bank to send a new pin number to him.

[dogtired]

Write to your brother, get him to sign a letter of Authority that should allow you to speak with the bank. Alternatively, get the bank to send a new pin number to him.

If the promised contact does not work, I will do that, thank you

[Guest]

Not yet as I haven’t got power of attourney so I could be any one .
I now live in Norfolk and Halifax have closed a lot of branches so I would be unable to visit a physical building.

I think you will find that most Halifax branches have closed the door temporarily because of the Virus, only contact is by telephone.

[dogtired]

I think you will find that most Halifax branches have closed the door temporarily because of the Virus, only contact is by telephone.

They permanently closed most of the bigger ones ours was only an agency within an estate agents. No ideas where round here there is on. Don’t know if any are stil running and as I don’t know any account details I’m a bit stuck. He needs to appoint an advocate where he lives ,hoping for some answers tomorrow

[seduraed]

Don't forget that Halifax are also "Bank of Scotland"

[des8]

also p/o Lloyds Banking Group

[dogtired]

also p/o Lloyds Banking Group

I know, one ofbthe reasons we changed Banks that and them closing down the nearest physical Branch and TSB one wanting nothing to do with on going problems.
Back to my brother no contact from Social Worker looks like I will have to call them on Monday

[dogtired]

Up date. Appointment did not take place as the Social Worker had had contact with Covid. However the Home Manager tells me they have had a payment, don't know how much.
Apparently my brother now has WiFi access so could has been able to do this by re registering with on line banking I simply do not know as he hasn't messaged me . The manager said not to worry and she would be back in touch.