‘Top up stealth tax’ forced on older people entitled to free care A new report has revealed that the families of a quarter of care home residents whose care is supposed to be free are being forced into paying top up fees.
When a person is moving into a care home they take the means-test to decide whether they are able to pay for their own care or whether the council should pay. To qualify for state-funded support, they must show that they have modest assets - which currently can only be up to the value of £23,250.
In its latest 'Behind the headlines' report, Age UK has revealed that even those who have met these strict conditions to pass the means test are now being made to pay ‘top up fees’. These fees are paid by the care home resident to supplement the council’s payment of their care.
When a person is moving into a care home they take the means-test to decide whether they are able to pay for their own care or whether the council should pay. To qualify for state-funded support, they must show that they have modest assets - which currently can only be up to the value of £23,250.
In its latest 'Behind the headlines' report, Age UK has revealed that even those who have met these strict conditions to pass the means test are now being made to pay ‘top up fees’. These fees are paid by the care home resident to supplement the council’s payment of their care.
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