The Scandal of Care Home Fees (Published 07/07/05)

When I was a young law student my elders & betters taught me all about inheritance tax and how to dodge it. It was all good stuff, which has stayed with me ever since, and has enabled me to help many a client to save a few bob. What they never taught me anything about however was care home fees.

I have lost count of the number of clients who, having reached a certain age, want to try to make sure that their hard earned brass goes safely to their families and not to the government. And what do we find? That if they are unlucky enough to need to go into a care home they could well lose the lot to the government before their nearest and dearest get a sniff at it.

Look at the facts: Inheritance tax is charged at 40%, care home fees are charged to the resident (most of whom have paid their taxes all their lives) at 100%. With inheritance tax you get to keep £275,000 tax free. With care home fees its £13,000. With inheritance tax they will wait until you die for the money. With care home fees they want it NOW, and they will take your pension away, sell your house and even bankrupt you if you fail to comply.

To treat our senior citizens and the needy this way is a scandal. That's why at Wilsons we have made a special effort to get fully clued up on all the rules and regulations. We can plan for this eventuality for you, or if you are already going into a home we can battle for you against this injustice.

John Wilson