Understanding Care Fees: Protecting Your Assets

Understanding Care Fees: Protecting Your Assets

A Guide for UK Domiciliary Care

Introduction

Arranging care for yourself or a loved one brings emotional and financial challenges. This guide demystifies care fees and asset protection, helping you navigate domiciliary (home-based) care funding with confidence whilst protecting your family's financial security.

How Domiciliary Care Fees Work

Local authorities assess your income, savings, and assets to determine your care contribution through financial assessment:

• Above £23,250: You fund care entirely yourself ("self-funding")
• £14,250-£23,250: You contribute based on resources, with local authority covering shortfall
• Below £14,250: Contributions based solely on income, with increased council support

Expected Costs

Hourly domiciliary care: £15-£40 per hour, varying by location and care complexity.

Live-in care: £900-£1,600 per week for round-the-clock support.

Local authority support: Available through council-arranged services or direct payments if you meet eligibility criteria.

Asset Protection Strategies

What Counts in Assessments

Assets typically included: Most savings, investments, stocks, shares, and some property interests.

Joint assets: Half the value is typically attributed to you.

Your home: May be disregarded if your spouse/partner continues living there or other qualifying circumstances apply.

Legitimate Protection Methods

Asset Protection Trusts: Family Asset Protection Trusts can ringfence property and assets, protecting them from care assessments. Must be established properly with professional advice to comply with regulations and avoid "deprivation of assets" challenges.

Professional guidance: Early engagement with financial planners or solicitors is essential for preserving wealth legally.

Deprivation of Assets Warning

Simply giving away or transferring assets primarily to avoid care fees can be investigated by councils. All financial planning must be transparent, well-documented, and have legitimate purposes beyond avoiding care costs.

Additional Support Measures

Benefits Available

Attendance Allowance: For over-65s needing personal care help due to illness/disability. Not means-tested.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP): Available for under-65s in similar circumstances.

Both benefits are yours regardless of financial circumstances and significantly help care budgets.

Flexible Payment Options

Deferred Payment Schemes: Allow care fees to be deferred until property sale, preventing forced rushed sales.

Property rental: Renting your home can provide ongoing care funding income, with part of rental income protected.

Domiciliary Care in Enfield

Local Authority Approach

Enfield operates within the national framework with structured, fair, and transparent charging and financial assessment processes.

Right at Home Enfield Excellence

Right at Home Enfield provides bespoke, client-centred care that respects quality of life and asset security. Our experienced team offers:

• Transparent cost information
• Support navigating funding landscapes
• Tailored care matching NHS and council best practices
• Guidance through local authority procedures

We enable older adults to maintain independence and dignity whilst helping families make informed financial decisions for sustainable, high-quality care.

Your Action Plan

Start early: Plan care and seek professional advice whilst still independent for maximum options.

Understand assessments: Know which assets are included and how fee calculations work to maintain control.

Avoid risky shortcuts: Only use fully compliant asset protection strategies with qualified professional advice.

Choose reputable providers: Select transparent agencies like Right at Home Enfield with deep local authority procedure knowledge.

Seek professional support: Financial advice, legal guidance, and expert help save money and stress long-term.

Key Takeaways

Care fee planning needn't be overwhelming. With early planning, professional guidance, and reputable care providers, you can protect family finances whilst ensuring compassionate, quality care.

The system is complex but manageable with proper support. Start conversations before crisis hits, work with qualified experts, and choose providers who understand that peace of mind equals quality care delivery.

Planning for care preserves choice, maintains dignity, and ensures care provision works for your family. Right at Home Enfield exemplifies this approach, combining genuine compassion with regulatory compliance, enabling families to face the future with confidence rather than concern.

Remember: Effective care planning protects assets whilst ensuring access to quality support that respects independence and family values. Early action and professional partnerships create the best outcomes for everyone involved.