Long Term Care in Scotland

 

Domiciliary Care (care at home)

 

If you are over 65 and have been assessed by the Social Work Service department of your Local Authority as needing care at home, they will provide it free of charge, although you will still need to pay for non personal care such as;- cleaning, day care, laundry, meals on wheels etc. yourself. This doesn't affect your entitlement to Attendance Allowance or Care component of Disability living allowance.

 

If you are under 65 it is means tested and each local authorities apply different criteria as to who they will help dependent on need.

 

Residential Care

 

In Scotland the cost of residential care is broken down into three constituent parts.

1. “Hotel” or accommodation Costs
2. Personal Care
3. Nursing

The Scottish Government on the face of it is more generous than in England as providing your needs have been assessed by the Social Work Service department of your Local Authority, they will make flat rate contributions towards the Personal and any Nursing Care you may require, based on need and not financial means. A Financial means test is only carried out to determine whether you have to pay the Hotel or accommodation cost.

 

£163 per week Personal Care contribution
£74 per week if Nursing Care is required

 

However closer inspection is required. The Personal Care contribution is only made if you are over 65 and then if you take it you do lose your entitlement to Attendance Allowance or the Care Component of the Disability Living Allowance, which doesn't happen in England. Either of these represent £77.45 per week at the higher rate or £51.85 per week (2012/13) at the (lower rate – if Attendance Allowance) or (middle band if Disability Living Allowance).

 

Means Testing

 

Means testing in Scotland is only done to see if you would also qualify for help towards “Hotel” or accommodation costs.

 

Those with personal capital assessable assets (and ½ of any jointly held assessable assets) exceeding only £24,750 (2012/13) have to pay for all of their accommodation costs.

 

Only those currently below: £15,250 (2012/13) Qualify for the maximum Local Authority budget, often known as the standard rate or contract rate. This rate varies from one local authority to another. This contract rate may not even be sufficient to pay for some local authority run homes.

 

Even where you do qualify for the maximum local authority funding, they will take all your income bar your Personal Expenses Allowance (£23.50 per week 2012/13) and if over 65, £5.65 per week (if single) or £8.45 per week (if a couple) (2009/10) Pension Savings Disregard, away from you as contributions towards their funding.

 

Those whose capital falls in between the upper and lower capital thresholds will have the value of any capital exceeding the Lower limits theoretically converted into “income” at a rate of £1 extra “notional income” for every £250 worth of capital exceeding the lower limit.

 

This is then added to any actual income received or you would be eligible for, if you claimed it, e.g. benefits. The total is then compared to the actual cost of care. If your combined weekly income figure exceeds the cost of care, once again you would need to pay for your own care until your capital reduced to such a level as the “income” didn't meet the cost of care. If the combined income, however, falls short of the required care costs, the local authority would fund only the difference.

 

Clearly then should your assessable capital exceed £24,750 (2012/13) and you want to try and ensure such care can continue to be paid for indefinitely, professional care fees planning will be essential.

 

If you would like us to help, please complete our online enquiry form.