Paying for temporary care for my father

[moonglow52]

I have got to go into hospital soon for 5 days and I care for my father in my house.
My father does not have much money and he lived in Local Authority Housing.
I have contacted Social Services and they have said that they can arrange care but I will be liable for payment as I am going into a private hospital using my BUPA insurance.
It looks as if it will cost around £450.
I am not really worried about £450 but what does concern me is my friend who is a few months youger than me was in an NHS hospital recently for 77 days and I do not think it would be fair if I had to pay for 77 days care for my father being an unpaid carer.
The treatment is essential and would have to be done in an NHS hospital if I did not have private cover.
Does anybody know if I am liable for payment for my father's care when I am in hospital?.
As it happens Social Services know by father has had private treatment but I pay his insurance premiums.

Sarah

[bednobs]

well this is new *Chortlesplutters*
if your father has the money to pay for care then he should be liable (if he needs a carer then why doesn't he get attendance allowance? and if he does get AA then why can't he use that to pay for a carer?)

[moonglow52]

He has only got £9,000 which would mean he would qualify for Social Funding if he went into permanent care.
The Social Worker seems to be taking the attitude if I am willing to pay private health insurance for him I should pay for his care.

Sarah

[bednobs]

does he get AA or not then???

[moonglow52]

He does get Attendance Allowance and I get carers allowance.
As I have said £450 does not bother me but it could be a problem if I had to go into hospital for 77 days like my friend.
I understand my carers allowance would stop if I went into hospital for 77 days and attendance allowance would not cover that.
Really what bothers me is say I had to go onto hospital for 300 days which I know has happened to people.
Would I be held liable for that?.

Sarah

[bednobs]

but you don't have to go into hospital for 300 days, so really it's a moot point. You state you are an "unpaid carer" - but you get carers allowance and why doesn't your dad give you the AA? That's what it's for - to pay someone to help you do the things you can't do yourself.
If he's getting AA and not giving it to you, then i think he would easily be able to afford five days worth of looking after - the public purse has been paying him around 70 quid a week for however long and he's not been spending it on that (by your account). So instead of expecting SS to pay out MORE, just use the money the govt's been giving him already for this purpose

[themas]

I can't agree with bednobs answers to this so far as the principle is concerned. You can go ahead & pay if you decide that is what you want to do, but in my view any payment you make is entirely voluntary & you should record that in writing to Social Services & keep a copy for future reference if necessary.

I find what you say Social Services have told you almost incredible. It is just nothing to do with them whether you have private treatment or NHS treatment. Social Services have a duty to do a financial assessment - not of you, but of your father. Their decision on whether he qualifies for funding should be based on that alone, not on whether you help him financially by paying for health care for him etc. Your carer's allowance should not come into any assessment - it is yours. Your father's AA would come into the assessment, together with any other income he has & his savings.

I suggest you go back to Social Services & insist on them doing a proper assessment.

[bednobs]

Hi themas, we certainly do agree on the principle - the dad should pay for care he receives (or at least be assessed and pay towards it with the AA), not that daughter, as i said in my first sentance. However, as this whole post is made up again it's a moot point what the fictional social services conversation was.
I'm sorry if my answers seem harsh, but if the poster wants to discuss the princples of who should pay for care etc, i have no problem with that. What i do have a problem with is fictional scenarios pretending to be real.

[factor-fiction]

Sorry Janet I don't understand the bit about "As it happens Social Services know by father has had private treatment but I pay his insurance premiums."

[moonglow52]

Hi factor30

I am getting a little confused.
Social Services did visit my father when he was in a private hospital as there was thought a care package would be required.
They may have thought he was paying for the treatment but I was paying his insurance premiums.
I was suddenly retired early so it was not needed.
They did suggest I registered with the Carers Emergency Response Service but this only covers a situation where I am taken into hospital unforseeably or if something else happens like a car breakdown.

Sarah

[lcg]

social services are full of cr*p. your father needs a proper assessment and will probably only be liable for a contribution, but not the whole amount. it makes no difference whether you have private or nhs health care, as the result is the same - you will not be there to care for him. the social are trying to call your bluff and make you pay for care which he is entitled to and they usually say all sorts to make you stump up. i suggest making notes of all calls/contact and make a complaint/demand an assessment of need. be firm! x

[themas]

bednobs - I'd be interested to know the basis on which you say this case is fictional - i.e. that moonglow concocted it & it didn't actually happen.

[factor-fiction]

themas- here's an update.
http://www.theanswerb.../Question1143154.html

[bednobs]

themas - probably because "moonglow" has now forgotten to sign herself out on another post about her "mother" and fees for something else