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Let us help you secure care funding

Call our team of experts at Compass Continuing healthcare today to see if your relative is entitled to free care: 0121 227 8940.

Who is responsible to pay the cost of care homes?  Will the government contribute anything towards the costs? How much will I have to pay?

All of these questions and more are often raised when an elderly relative becomes unwell and requires full time care. For many, the complex area of funding the cost of care homes is something they have never encountered before and they have no idea where to start and who to turn to. Unfortunately often Social Services via the Local Authority are the first people funding issues are discussed with and a very limited explanation of a complex area can leave people more confused than before they started. Compass continuing Health Care have encountered numerous instances where individuals have been provided incorrect information by the Local Authority regarding funding.  Some have been informed they have to fund the cost in full privately and the family home will have to be sold to meet the care costs, all before it has been determined or even considered as to whether the patient’s need for care is a health need.  This is a crucial point:

If the need for care is a health need then funding should be provided by the NHS to meet the cost of care homes in full.

This funding is called continuing health care.

Often this fact is completely ignored by the Local Authority and matters are immediately steered towards asking questions regarding the patient’s wealth, what assets they have and whether they own their home.  When faced with this situation the immediate response should be to refuse to answer any questions relating to monetary matters until it has been determined that the patient’s need for care is not a health need.  Then and only then is it of any relevance whether they exceed the means testing criteria and what assets they have.  Clearly whether or not they own their own home has no relevance to their health needs and the social worker involved should be reminded of this if it is necessary.

The fact that issues relating to assets is something that the Local Authority are keen to discuss before a determination has been made as to whether the individual’s need for care is a health need is problematic as it indicates a reluctance to adhere to the protocol and procedure relating to continuing healthcare funding.  It creates the impression that an entitlement to NHS funding to meet the cost of care has been discounted before ever having been considered.

The position in the absence of funding is an individual will have to meet the cost of their care in full if they have assets exceeding £23,250. Once their assets fall below £23,250 they have to part contribute to their care costs until the assets decease to £14,000.  Even when the capital assets have reached £14,000 they have to pay towards the cost of their care from any income they receive.

All of this is however irrelevant if it can be established that the patient is eligible for continuing healthcare funding as the need for care is a health need.

As such it is crucial to seek advice and assistance from an expert who is able to guide you through the complexities of the continuing health care procedures.  It is often necessary to implement the full NHS appeals procedure as individuals needs can be incorrectly assessed, downplayed or underscored so they are determined incorrectly to not be eligible for the funding.

In such cases it is necessary to gather the relevant evidence, construct cogent arguments and representations, and build a case that undermines the incorrect assessment by the NHS to overturn the negative decision so that the individual receives the continuing healthcare funding to meet the cost of care homes.

If your relative is paying privately for their cost of care homes contact the Compass Continuing Health Care team today. Complete our FREE, online assessment and a member of our team shall contact you. Alternatively you can contact us directly on 0121 227 8940.

Author: Tim Davies LLB

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