Interest charge on money owed.

[Tilly2]

I am in contention with my Dad's care home over the rise in fees and the top-up I have to pay. To cut a very long story short, I currently owe them around two hundred pounds which should have been paid on July 1st. (in advance)

As we are still 'discussing' the fees, I have not paid this amount. Yesterday, I got a letter from them saying, among other things, that if I have not paid by Monday 9th July, they will start charging interest on the unpaid amount. Can they do this?

[cathfromsaron]

it was different for us because my granddad was sectioned, and we didn't pay towards his nursing or accommodation, but i don't think that they can force rellies to contribute, let alone fine them!

i think you need better advice!

(((hugs)))

[factor-fiction]

Yes, good luck. If he has got savings though are you sure he wouldn't prefer you to use them now for his care than see them sitting dormant while you battle over what you can currently afford

[Tilly2]

Thanks everyone. I'll try to answer everyone's questions
I have a meeting with a social worker at the home on Tuesday. She is going to look into the NHS funding situation. The disputed amount of money is the extra top-up which I am withholding.
We are still in discussion but they are threatening me with having to pay interest.

Dad does have savings but as he is already paying for part of his care on a weekly basis, the rest of his money cannot be used for top-up, according to social services.

Nightmare!

[EDDIE51]

tilly2 Try to get some advice from AgeUK or the CAB before you meet the social services person.
There have been dozens of cases reported on AB recently where the social services have tried to ''persuade'' relatives to fund care when the elderly person is entitled to 100% funding. There are actually very few situations where relatives are legally obliged to pay for care.
My brother is the senior housing finace manager for a large London council and he admits that the council/ social services are instructed to try everything they can to ''presuade'' relatives to fund care, they have major cutbacks at present and they are trying every thing they can to reduce costs . You need to get a legal view point on this and hold out for everything you and your Dad are enetitled to.

[Tilly2]

Eddies, she has suggested to me that Dad might be eligible for funding. She has been allocated to Dad in order to look into the difficulties we are facing with the home. I won't have time to get back to Age UK but I think it will be o.k.

[factor-fiction]

That is happening often, Eddie, I'm sure,and Till needs to pursue it- but I think one difference here may be that Tilly has chosen some form of room or service upgrade, I recall.
Tilly, I can't understand why he isn't allowed to use his savings to pay top-ups. What's the point of having savings if you can't spend them. Can he not give you the money so you can afford to pay for thecare you want for him?

[Tilly2]

Factor, I think it's because when his savings reduce to £14000, the Social services will pay for all of his fees. (but not the top-up)
So, if I start using his saving, it will decrease very quickly and they will have to start paying his full funding.

Believe me. If I could use his money, I would.

[factor-fiction]

Okay, Tilly, thanks. I don't understand that but I'll opt out as it's not an area I know enough about

[bednobs]

lol @ eddie. For "dozens of cases reported on ab" read " 1 person with dozens of usernames making stuff up on ab"
I can see why SS don't want him to pay for the top up if it'll reduce his savings quickly till they have to pay it all. Remind me what the top up is for?

[factor-fiction]

It just seems silly if someone has savings but isn't allowed to spend it on their care when there is no chance of the saver ever needing it for anything else so the savings just lie unused to be passed on to beneficiaries

[Tilly2]

Well, factor, that will be me but it doesn't help at the moment.

[Tilly2]

Bednobs, the top up is the difference between what s.s and my dad pay together and what the home charges. So simply it might be:
S.S. £ 220 per week, Dad £220 per week =£440 per week.
Home charges £560 per week, therefore, the difference= £120. That is the top up and a relative has to agree to pay that.

When I agreed, eight years ago it was £16 per week.

[factor-fiction]

I assume your dad isn't allowed to pay the whole £560 then as SS know his money will soon run out and they'd have to pay more thereafter.
Is the £560 for facilities over and above what could be provided- hence the need for the top up as you have opted to pay extra. In other words if you ran out of money would they move him to a cheaper room?

[Tilly2]

If I ran out of money they would probably ask the Older People's Team to move him into a council run home.
They are already 'threatening' to put him into a room without an ensuite. That will be £530 per week.

[bednobs]

i take it his savings are very near the limit then?

[Tilly2]

Yes, that's correct bednobs.

[bednobs]

well then i guess situation could change soon anyway then - if he's paying part of it himself that will take him below the savings threshold and he'll have to 4move anyway???

[cathfromsaron]

hope i didn't cause offence! i didn't mean he was retaining his money from you in a mean way, i just think that it should be covered by other means!

[Tilly2]

No offence taken at all, cath. My Dad has been sectioned as well and I believe that the NHS should be paying his fees.

[ubasses]

Hi, not sure I can be much help but can only let you know what happens at Mum's care home. They always write each April to advise that the fees will increase by the maximum guideline 'due to increased costs' which is usually £7 per day. This equates to over £200 per month. From what I have read the Social Services contribute about £450/£500 per month which only ever seems to increase by inflation meaning they only pay about £25 per month more making the top up gap even bigger.
I was recently looking at this sight,
http://alzheimers.org...ad_info.php?fileID=75
when you click on the PDF it may help you to find out a bit about continuing care under NHS.
Whilst I object to the fact that as a self funder Mum has to pay extra to subsidise people who are funded by social services, I think those that are in need should get a decent contribution.
Good luck.