The Governments promise to cap residential care fees has been broken – but you can still protect your savings if you need to go into care.
A government health minister has admitted that social care reform will not take place in 2020, breaking a promise to protect people’s savings as they enter the care system.
People requiring nursing home or residential home care were promised a cap on care fees in 2016, meaning that the maximum anyone would have to pay for care would be of £72,000.
However, in a move which has angered care providers as along with those needing help, it has been announced that there is still no change on the horizon.
This does not mean that there is no solution; there very much is and Steene Law will be happy to explain to you in detail what that solution is.
For immediate assistance please call us now on 0203 653 0623 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and let us explain how you can protect yours or a loved ones savings from being eaten away by care home fees.
“First class service. Prompt courteous replies to all questions. Excellent advice given with great patience. I would, without hesitation, recommend Steene Law Ltd. They have helped me and my family through a very difficult time.”
M.S.
The History Relating To The Promised Cap On Residential Care Fees
Before he came to office, Prime Minister Boris Johnson promised to end the social care crisis. We believe this should include a limit on the amount any individual should have to pay towards care in their later years.
The failure to put the cap in place means that if you need care and you have assets in excess of £23,250, you will be asked to pay in full.
Average care home fees currently stand at between £1,200 and £1,600 per week, although many homes charge considerably more. Those who fund their own care are charged more than those who are funded by the local authority or NHS.
The Proposed Care Fees Cap
A cap on care fees of £72,000 was included in the Care Act 2014 and was originally due to be introduced in 2016, but has been repeatedly delayed.
The proposed cap is intended to relate to the costs of any services an eligible person may require for their care and support. An eligible person will be one whose care needs have been assessed as being very high.
Around 1 in 10 people who enter the care system end up paying in excess of £100,000 for their care. Because care is funded by the local authority, at least in part, once your assets fall below £23,250, the system currently penalises those who have worked hard and saved throughout their lives.
We believe this is wrong and we speak to people every day who are being asked to pay for care from their life savings.
If this has happened to you, please call us now on 0203 653 0623 or complete a Free Online Enquiry and we will do everything in our power to protect your home and your money from being swallowed up by care bills.
Protecting Your Savings In The Face Of Social Care Costs
If you have assets in excess of £23,250 you are at risk of losing them if you enter the care system. There are ways of lawfully saving your home and savings, or that of your elderly relative, however you should act quickly once nursing home care is needed.
At Steene Law we are experienced in legally protecting your money and your property. In particular, if you have been told you must sell your home, we recommend you speak to us before doing so as in many cases it may not be necessary. We have an in-depth knowledge of care fees and the residential or nursing home funding system and we have helped countless clients protect their life savings.
We understand what a difficult time this is for you if you or your elderly relative is entering the care system. You need someone on your side to explain your rights and to protect your assets. We will work on your behalf to do this. We will make sure we are always available to speak to you and talk about your care situation, explaining the process to you throughout.
Every Day That Passes Could Be Eating Into Your Savings Unnecessarily
Please do not delay in getting in touch with us. All initial enquiries to us are free of charge and without obligation.
At Steene Law we specialise in elderly care law and nothing else. Our knowledge is extensive and we have in-depth experience gained over many decades in every aspect of care and funding.
If you are being asked to pay for your care, speak to us to see if there is a way to protect your home and assets.
We understand how difficult it is dealing with bureaucracy alongside the emotions involved in entering the care system or caring for an elderly relative and we will offer all the help we can in finding the right solution. We strongly believe that savings built up over a lifetime should be protected and we will do all we can to help you safeguard them.
Call us on 0203 653 0623 or complete a Free Online Enquiry for a free*, initial telephone conversation.
We are available from 8am to 7pm, Monday to Friday.
*The only cost to you is the phone call at standard call rates but the initial conversation with us is free and you will not be billed for our time.
“I cannot thank David and Dianne enough for the effort and knowledge they displayed helping me deal with my Grandfather’s care and the subsequent legal battle that came with it.
I had a complicated and, to me, bizarre yet worrying situation that David and Dianne both worked tirelessly on.
My Grandfather was a WWII veteran and was neglected and treated as a statistic by a care home and a rather unforgiving council.
I’m grateful that David and Dianne not only got the result I needed, but made it simple to understand and took away a lot of stress. I have recommended them to many others and will continue to do so. Forever grateful!”
C.W