Care Home Costs

[katzwhiskaz]

My mother died a couple of months ago,she was in a care home and the costs were coming out of her and my late father's savings. The social services had control of all my mother's finances. I understand that anyone with assets below £23,250 the state would pay the care home costs. I have found out that there is less than £17,000 left in my mother's estate how can this be? I'm really angry about this as i know my parents were well off, where has all the money gone! She was in the care home for about 3 years.

[woofgang]

Go and talk to social services and ask those questions there.

[pixie373]

Is it possible she spent £140 a month on personal things? Hair appointments, transport, birthday /christmas presents, toiletries, papers etc? I do think you need to speak to Social Services to find out exactly what's happened.
sorry for the loss of your mum x

[tamborine]

check the bank statements

[katzwhiskaz]

Thanks for your replies. How do i go about getting the bank statements, as mums finances were controlled by social services so i'm not sure if i have a right to ask to see them. At the moment it's going through probate as she didn't leave a will. Should i mention it to my solicitor?

[pixie373]

Yes, if you have a solicitor, it's definitely worth checking out.

[gness]

Hi Katz...My mum is in care. There was a charge against her home and when we sold it had to give everything bar £23,250 towards her past care. We are now paying a small sum each month from that money towards care until it gets down to £14,000 which she can keep.
This could be what has happened to take your Mother's funds down to less than £17,000.

[katzwhiskaz]

Pixie. She never spent much, just the usual toiletries and the hairdressers every week, she had plenty of clothes so really she spent very little. The cut off point is £23,250 so why is her estate less, that's what i would like to know. Thanks for your condolences.

[Tilly2]

I think you might find that your mother had to pay a contribution to her care costs. This happens until the assets reach £14,000 and then the social services will pay it all.
My Dad has less than £23000 and more than £14000, he pays a fee (Client contribution) every month.

[pauln90]

Once savings drop to £23,250 your late mother would still have to make a contribution towards her care of £1 a week for each £250 of assets between the lower and upper limits. Once savings drop to £14,250 then the state pays. So it would appear Social Services have acted correctly.

[katzwhiskaz]

Tilly2. My mother was paying for her care home costs each month.

[Barmaid]

When the capital falls below £23,250 but above £14,250, for every £250 above £14,250 the resident is assessed as having £1 of income. So she would still be making a contribution until the savings fell below £14,250.

Assuming you are the personal representative once your solicitor has the Grant of Letters of Administration, you simply ask the Council to deliver up her papers to you. If they wont you get copies from the bank to see exactly what has been going on.

[Barmaid]

Sorry, must type quicker.

[katzwhiskaz]

gness. it's such a shame that your inheritance has almost gone just like mine. My parents paid into the system (NHS etc) all their working lives and saved each month. Then they take it all off her. Sorry to rant but i think it's wrong

[Tilly2]

My 'inheritance' has gone too but my Dad is being looked after very well and that's o.k. by me.

They are doing a much better job than I could do and they've been doing it for nearly ten years.

[katzwhiskaz]

Don't get me wrong i do think she should have contributed a small amount of the care home fees but not as much as she had done. Don't know how much they were a month. There seems to have been a hell of a lot of money taken out of her bank account in just 3 years

[Tilly2]

My Dad's fees are £1,162 per four weeks and I have to pay a 'top up' on that. That's another £400

[katzwhiskaz]

Tilly2. Can believe that. I have been so naive

[katzwhiskaz]

Tilly2 I meant to say CANT believe that

[Tilly2]

I knew what you meant, katswhiskaz. I hope that explains where the money has gone.

[katzwhiskaz]

Thanks for all your answers. Tilly 2 cute dog