Old Age & Long Term Care
Understanding about Long Term Care
It’s a fact, we’re living longer (www.statistics.gov.uk) which is great - but it means that we will be spending more time at an older age. However increased longevity does not always mean that we will be in good health and this will often require some form of long term care. The changes in political and social trends are putting pressure on local Government spending, so relying on Social Services to automatically pay for it is not always advised.
Long Term Care is needed when a person becomes ill or suffers a disability that makes them unable to carry out their daily activities, with the probability that this disability will continue over the long term. Long Term Care may also be required if a person is mentally impaired.
Who pays for Long Term Care?
Many people believe that the State will pay for their long term care - which was the original idea behind the National Health Service - but this is no longer the case. The provision of long term care outside hospitals is now the responsibility of the Local Authority and is not free to everyone. However all nursing care, whether at home or in a care home, should be provided free.
If your Local Authority agrees that you need care home care it will assess your means to work out what proportion of the costs is your responsibility, and what the Local Authority will pay. The size of your contribution will depend on the assessment of your wealth by a means test.
Means Test Limits
|
|
England |
Wales |
Scotland |
N Ireland |
|
Upper Means Test Limit |
£21,500 |
£22,000 |
£20,750 |
£21,500 |
|
Lower Means Test Limit |
£13,000 |
£17,250 |
£12,500 |
£13,000 |
What is taken into account?
Assets and Savings
All of your assets will be included and if they are jointly owned then the value will be shared equally among the owners - but only the value of your own share can be included.
If you are moving into a care home permanently then the value of your house will be disregarded for the first 12 weeks or if it is occupied by:
- A partner or spouse
- A relative who is aged 60 or over
- A relative with an incapacity
- A dependent child under the age of 18
Income
If you are on your own then the Local Authority will expect you to contribute all of your income less the Personal Expense Allowance (the small amount the Local Authority will allow you to retain after you have contributed all your income towards the cost of your care) towards the cost of your care in a care home.
If you have a partner then the Local Authority will expect you to contribute all of your State Pension and at least 50% of any Personal or Company Pensions you may have. The other 50% may be disregarded providing it is paid to your partner in order they can afford to continue to live at home.
To find out more about any of
the services we’ve mentioned
simply:
- Contact your SFS Financial Adviser
- Call a member of our Client
Help Line on 0800 137 832 - Visit your local Skipton
Building Society branch to
arrange an appointment with
an SFS Adviser
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