Unacceptable care costs

Can anyone help clear up my confusion

after a recent hospital stay I wasn’t allowed home without a care package organised, this worked well for about 6 weeks until the county council sent around their been counter to do a financial assessment. The bad news arrived recently whilst I am back in hospital they want £309 pounds per week for my care, I don’t know how they got that figure as its only slightly less than my weekly income, ps I don’t have any savings either. I am now trying to get back home but again the hospital team is trying to arrange care needed at home. I have tried to apply for NHS continuing care but the assess ore think I will just fail this test.

what are my choices if I cannot pay for the care I need? Help wanted thanks

Hi Andrew,

just a thought , i had a similar issue when my mother had to go into a care home . The letter frm the county council at first read indicated we would have to pay around £450 per week . After reading it a few times i work out that what they were saying was this (£450) was a total of the benefits she received and they would now have to go to them.

If you don’t have assets above £22k ( i think but check) you will not pay anything , but as i say above they will take all your benefits ( except mobility if you get this ) and will leave you spending money of around £ 20 per week . it is complicated as you will still get paid by the dwp and the county council will bill you for them.

I would recommend you contact someone like citizens advice .

good luck

As I understand it, a Section 2 Discharge (applies to almost everyone) covers “care” for up to 6 weeks; after that thye local authority (LA) take over and charge if you have more than £23,300 in savings.

If you were out for more than than 6 weeks, it is possible that the care contract was taken over without you being informed, and just passed from the NHS to the LA as paymasters with the care agency not being bothered as long as they get paid. Some care agencies are very ethical (the one covering my wife has reported that she did not need their services, and the local NHS stopped the care right away. (One “caring” for me a couple of years back were almost impossible to stop, until one of the local District Nurses came and watched me shower, dry,and dress by myself without any help).

Like Hopper suggests get thee to Citizens Advice, with as much paperwork, dates, etc as you have.
if you are still back in hospital, ask for someone from PALS to come and see you.

Geoff

Thanks Geoff, I have a meeting on Monday with my Drs nurses OT? And social worker will see what happens

It’s a nightmare. We’re still paying a mortgage. It has 3.5 years left to run. We also have a bank loan for my wet room. With all our outgoings versus our income, I am not liable for any charges now.

BUT, when our mortgage is paid off, I’ll have £230 a week to pay towards my care.

That is MORE than the mortgage and wet room put together, according to the figures given in the link above!

How the hell we’ll manage I don’t know!

Same as you, Andrew, these figures are unacceptable!!!

Pollsx