insideKENT Magazine Issue 77 - August 2018 | Page 169

SHOULD YOU BE CONCERNED ABOUT LONG-TERM CARE? Q&A DAVID SUMMERS , CHARTERED FINANCIAL PLANNER OF SEVENTYSEVEN WEALTH MANAGEMENT Why is it important that a medical assessment is carried out when my loved one leaves hospital and can’t return to our family home? The medical assessment determines how much, if anything, the NHS will contribute towards the cost of the care. In some cases the NHS will take on the whole of the cost of the care. This is known as ‘continuing care’ and is a tax free, non-means- tested benefit. In other cases, the NHS will pay a weekly sum towards the nursing home costs. This is known as ‘funded nursing care’ and is a tax free, non-means- tested benefit. If the NHS will not agree to continuing care or funded nursing care, the person in care will be responsible for the costs of care. If they approach Social Services for help with funding the care, a means test of their assets and income will be undertaken. If they have assets above the means test limit, they will not be helped with the cost of Care until their assets fall to this limit. Are my assets taken into account when my spouse’s capacity to pay for care is assessed? No, only the assets of the person going into care are included in the means test assessment. Will I be required to make a third party contribution towards the cost of my spouse’s care? There is no legal requirement for you to contribute towards the cost of your spouse’s care, but you may be asked to do so by your local authority if there is a shortfall between their income and the cost of the care. If you or your family agree to make such third party payments, you may be asked to sign a legally binding contract to pay for the rest of your spouse’s life in care. Will the value of my house be included in the means test assessment for care? This depends upon how you receive the care. If you move into a care home – if you live alone, i.e. you are single, divorced or widowed, the house value will be taken into account in the means test assessment. If you live with your spouse (or in some cases with a dependent relative), the value of the house will be completely excluded from the means test assessment. If your circumstances change the situation could be reassessed. If you receive your Care in your own home – i.e. carers come in each day to help you, the value of the house will be excluded from the means test assessment. The subject of long-term care will be addressed at our forthcoming introductory events. Please see our website for more details, or alternatively contact Clare de Jersey-Lowney on 01892 770077, or via email at [email protected]. www.77wm.co.uk 169