Help for Carers > Care homes > Meeting the costs

Meeting the costs

It is essential that the person you care for gets advice to ensure they are getting all the financial benefits they may be entitled to. Have a look at our pages on benefits

Money for paying for a place in a care home will come from two sources; the State (with possibly a Registered Nursing Care Contribution from the NHS) and / or from self-funding.

State Assistance

The amount of assistance you can expect from the state (via West Sussex) will depend on the cared for person's financial position - a test of their income and capital. The local authority only means test the person requiring care and 50% of any private pension must be returned to their partner at home.

From April 2008, capital in excess of £22,500 means the costs would normally have to be fully self-funded.
If the value of the capital is below £13,500 the person you care for will be entitled to maximum support though he or she will be expected to contribute all but £21.15 of their income towards these costs.
Capital between these two figures incur a £1 tariff for every £250 above the lower figure.

Capital includes the value of the person's former home unless if is occupied by a partner or relative who is over 60 or who is incapacitated. The first 12 weeks of permanent care will receive financial assistance if the capital is below that £19,000 figure.

West Sussex does not make carers homeless when someone goes into residential care. If someone is living in the property when the owner goes into residential care, the council may place a ''charge'' on the property, which is recovered if and when it is sold. However, people who were living in the same house as the person who has gone into residential care, and who were caring for them, may apply for the value of the property to be disregarded in any financial assessment. The council has a discretionary power to do this.

Self-funding

If the placement in a care home has to be self-funded to any degree it is worth checking whether funds will run out before this level of care is no longer needed. It is sensible to get an assessment of the care needs from Social and Caring Services department, Contact details for West Sussex Adults' and Children and Young People's Services (health and social care)

Be aware of the possibility that the contribution from the state may not cover the full costs of your chosen care home - it is worth discussing this with both the care home owner and the Social and Caring Services department to ensure the person your care for will be able to stay in their preferred home for as long as necessary.

Immediate Need Care Fee Payment Plans

There are some financial products which may be able to help avoid these circumstances. Immediate Need Care Fee Payment Plans are designed to provide enough money to cover current and likely costs of care in exchange for payment of a capital sum. The notes on this page were taken from the NHFA who can provide further information and advice about meeting the cost of long-term care.

These notes were taken, and further advice can be sought from:

The Nursing Homes Fees Agency (NHFA)
www.nhfa.co.uk - NHFA provides independent advice on the financial implications of obtaining and paying for care. Produces a range of factsheets available to download from the website

• St Leonards House
  Mill Street
  Eynsham
  Oxford OX29 4JX

Freephone 0800 99 88 33
Tel: 01865 733000
Fax: 01865 733001
Email: enquiries@nhfa.co.uk

You can get more information from:

The Citizen's Advice Bureau - A national voluntary organisation providing free information and advice on a wide range of issues. The website contains a great deal of useful information on a huge range of topics.

www.ageconcern.org.uk/ - information and advice section contains a range of factsheets and information sheets on finding and paying for care home accommodation

www.helptheaged.org.uk - advice and support section contains information about choosing and paying for a care home

www.housingcare.org - Elderly Accommodation Council

www.counselandcare.org.uk

Search

If you are having trouble finding the information you need on this website you could try using one of the following search options:

Local Search
You can use this facility to search the Carers Online database for organisations in West Sussex that may be able to help you.

Search this Site
You can use this facility to search the website for a particular keyword or phrase.