This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/business/8005402.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Families 'misled' over care fees | Families 'misled' over care fees |
| (3 days later) | |
| Families of vulnerable elderly people are being misled over possible help with care home fees, says a charity. | Families of vulnerable elderly people are being misled over possible help with care home fees, says a charity. |
| Age Concern & Help the Aged says some people struggling to sell a home to pay fees are not being offered council no-interest schemes they are entitled to. | Age Concern & Help the Aged says some people struggling to sell a home to pay fees are not being offered council no-interest schemes they are entitled to. |
| About 60,000 people a year must sell their home to fund care, but sales are taking longer in the current recession. | About 60,000 people a year must sell their home to fund care, but sales are taking longer in the current recession. |
| The Local Government Association says councils in England that cannot afford the schemes do not have to offer them. | The Local Government Association says councils in England that cannot afford the schemes do not have to offer them. |
| Every year about 170,000 people need to go into care, and for one in three the only way they can afford the fees is to sell their home. | Every year about 170,000 people need to go into care, and for one in three the only way they can afford the fees is to sell their home. |
| Local authorities are supposed to offer deferred payment schemes, which give people the option of not paying for their care until they sell their home or after their death. | Local authorities are supposed to offer deferred payment schemes, which give people the option of not paying for their care until they sell their home or after their death. |
| 'Good option' | 'Good option' |
| However, Kate Jopling, senior policy manager at the UK's largest charity for elderly people, Age Concern & Help the Aged, says it has been contacted by a growing number of people who say they have not been told about this option. | However, Kate Jopling, senior policy manager at the UK's largest charity for elderly people, Age Concern & Help the Aged, says it has been contacted by a growing number of people who say they have not been told about this option. |
| Every council - and there are 150 councils - has to look at their own budgets, their own priorities and their own resources Richard Kemp, LGA | Every council - and there are 150 councils - has to look at their own budgets, their own priorities and their own resources Richard Kemp, LGA |
| "We are unfortunately hearing from an increasing number of people whose local authority are not mentioning the scheme or who are encouraging them to go for a different product, a commercial product," she says. | "We are unfortunately hearing from an increasing number of people whose local authority are not mentioning the scheme or who are encouraging them to go for a different product, a commercial product," she says. |
| "We do need local authorities offering, universally, this scheme as it's a good option for many people." | "We do need local authorities offering, universally, this scheme as it's a good option for many people." |
| The Department of Health has recently issued new guidance for councils in England about the scheme. | The Department of Health has recently issued new guidance for councils in England about the scheme. |
| It states that health ministers "expect councils to offer deferred payment agreements in appropriate cases and draw deferred payments arrangements to the attention of prospective residents." | It states that health ministers "expect councils to offer deferred payment agreements in appropriate cases and draw deferred payments arrangements to the attention of prospective residents." |
| Regulation-bound | Regulation-bound |
| But according to Richard Kemp, from the Local Government Association (LGA), authorities are also bound by regulations over how they spend their budgets. | But according to Richard Kemp, from the Local Government Association (LGA), authorities are also bound by regulations over how they spend their budgets. |
| He warns that if councils cannot afford to offer the interest-free option, they do not have to do so. | He warns that if councils cannot afford to offer the interest-free option, they do not have to do so. |
| "Guidance is guidance and every council - and there are 150 councils - has to look at their own budgets, their own priorities and their own resources," he says. | "Guidance is guidance and every council - and there are 150 councils - has to look at their own budgets, their own priorities and their own resources," he says. |
| "Even if it's a loan, if it's a short term thing, that money has to come from somewhere." | "Even if it's a loan, if it's a short term thing, that money has to come from somewhere." |
| Councils in Wales and Scotland do not have that leeway and have to offer the deferred payment scheme. | Councils in Wales and Scotland do not have that leeway and have to offer the deferred payment scheme. |
| In next week's Budget, the government is expected to announce the publication of a Green Paper which could propose that no-one will have to pay care home fees until they die. | In next week's Budget, the government is expected to announce the publication of a Green Paper which could propose that no-one will have to pay care home fees until they die. |