Why is it that as we get older time seems to pass more quickly? We all worry about getting older, our own need for care and the care our families will need as time goes by.
The Care Act was introduced in April this year and includes rights for those receiving care and those who provide it to their loved ones.
Four major changes being introduced are:
- The Act includes a national eligibility criteria establishing when someone should be entitled to help. Until the Act came in it was up to councils to set their own criteria
- There is a duty on councils to offer schemes by which those who need to pay for residential care can get a loan from their local council, which is then paid back from their estate after death
- The Act gives rights to carers to assessment and support as the people they care for.
- Those people who are having to fund their own care "self funders" will be entitled to go to councils to get advice and information about the care system.
To help protect people's assets, a cap on the care costs they have to pay for - set at £72,000 for the over-65s - will kick in from April next year. Many articles have concentrated on the cap to be introduced. However only costs incurred after the introduction of the cap will count towards that cap and it will only be at the rate the local authority would have paid. It will also not include monies paid towards "hotel costs". An individual could still pay £135,000 towards their care before ever reaching that cap and those already in care will not be paying towards that cap until April next year.
At Ward Gethin Archer we have a wealth of experienced, friendly and approachable members of our Private Client Department who can help families with the complexities of the new Act and also give advice with regard to Wills and Lasting Powers of Attorney. As the saying goes "forewarned is forearmed".
We can also help clients to manage their personal affairs, including:
- Assisting with Pension and Attendance Allowance entitlements
- Finding them care home or residential accommodation
- Advising on ways to legally avoid expensive contributions to the cost of care
- Advising in relation to the legal aspects of financial options such as equity release schemes
If you require further information on the above or any other Private Client matter, please contact a member of our team at your nearest office by clicking here.
