Funding Your Care

If you have capital of more than £23,250 you will generally be liable to fund your own care. We can advise you on what is taken into account in any financial assessment including income and what can be disregarded.

For more information about care fee funding, please click here.

There are a variety of reasons why you must be very careful if you want to make large gifts at a time when you might be in need of care. We can explain the risks involved to prevent repercussions in the future.

The average long term care is currently around £50,000 per year

a) Lasting Powers of Attorney

b) Wills

c) Tax planning

Being prepared for the future is key. We can help advise you on making your Will but can also advise on and prepare Lasting Powers of Attorney to ensure that your finances can be dealt with if you are incapacitated. For those who have a larger estate we can also advise on tax planning either through your Will or through lifetime giving.

In certain circumstances, a property belonging to someone who has entered care can be disregarded but there are strict rules around this. We can tell you whether or not your home would be included within a financial assessment.

Unless you pay for your own care, you will generally rely on financial assistance from the local authority. In some instances it may be necessary for a friend or relative to make a contribution to your care costs.

If your capital falls below £14,250 the council will fully fund any short fall after taking into account what you can contribute through your income. Depending on the care contract and care provider there could be issues with your care continuing at that care home.

This is the term used to explain a deliberate act in which assets are transferred or given away to prevent them from being taken into account when assessing liability for care fees. To find out more, please click here.

Unlike the seven year rule with inheritance tax, there is no set period after which gifting of assets is “safe” from being classed as a deprivation of assets. The local authority will carefully look at any such transactions and will look at the reasoning behind this gifting. If they believe that this has been done to avoid care home fees then the onus is on you or your family to prove otherwise.

We are specialists in elderly and future planning with a long established reputation in Wiltshire.

Our specialist team includes lawyers belonging to Solicitors for the Elderly who are also Dementia Friends or Dementia Champions.