Care Fees Guide
Care Fees Advice in Teesside
The cost of care can be a major concern when you or a family member needs long-term care. Understanding who is responsible for paying, how much you may need to contribute and what financial support may be available can be difficult.
Clive Barwell provides professional care fees advice for individuals and families across Teesside and surrounding areas.
Whether you are planning ahead for later life, arranging care for a parent or relative, or are already facing care costs, Clive can help you understand your financial position and the options available to you.
How Can Care Fees Advice Help?
Care funding is often complicated because the rules surrounding income, savings, property and other assets can affect how much someone may be expected to contribute.
Clive can help you understand:
- How care fees are assessed
- Local authority means testing
- The treatment of savings and investments
- How your home may be treated
- The difference between social care and NHS-funded care
- Potential sources of financial support
- Deferred payment arrangements
- Attendance Allowance
- The potential impact on your estate
- Care fees and wider later-life financial planning
The right approach depends on your individual circumstances, which is why personalised advice can be valuable before making significant financial decisions.
Care Fees Advice in Teesside
Clive Barwell specialises in later-life financial and estate planning and provides care fees advice to clients in Teesside and surrounding areas.
His approach is to understand your individual circumstances before discussing potential solutions. Every family’s financial position is different, so there is no one-size-fits-all approach to paying for care.
The focus is on providing clear, practical advice so that you can understand your options and make decisions with greater confidence.
Download the Care Fees Guide
- Eligibility for Care: Support depends on having “Eligible Care Needs” and meeting criteria related to daily living activities.
- Means-Testing: Capital thresholds are £14,250 (lower) and £23,250 (upper). Above the upper limit, individuals are classified as self-funders. Tariff income applies between thresholds.
- Home Ownership: Principal residence is disregarded for 12 weeks or if occupied by qualifying relatives. Deferred payment schemes allow equity release via local authorities.
- Deliberate Deprivation: Transferring assets to avoid care costs can lead to penalties; timing and intent are critical.
- Policy Landscape: Dilnot’s proposals for higher thresholds and a care cost cap remain unimplemented due to cost concerns.
- Funding Options: Immediate Needs Annuities can provide guaranteed income for care costs. Pre-funding options exist but are unpopular.
- Estate Planning: Strategies include severing joint tenancy and using Family Trusts to protect assets legitimately, while avoiding pitfalls like Asset Protection Trusts that may trigger tax issues.
- Additional Support: Attendance Allowance is underclaimed and offers non-means-tested benefits for those with significant care needs.
Download the Care Fees Guide
Contact Me
Your initial consultation is at your convenience, at my expense, and without obligation. Consultations will generally be conducted online via Microsoft Teams or Zoom. After a preliminary conversation, if you live in or near Teesside, I can provide an at-home service if you prefer.