This practical book will guide practitioners through the thorny issues that can arise in relation to residential care subsidies. It includes commentary on the following topics:
- thresholds for means testing
- deprivation and gifting
- notional income
- applications by couples and singles, and the effect of death, divorce or separation, and new relationships
- how far back gifting limits go
- life interests
- trust reversals
- residential care loans
- how debts are treated for means testing purposes
- post-application windfalls or inheritances.
The book includes ten question-and-answer chapters (containing more than 140 questions and answers) as well as useful appendices containing relevant legislation and eight practical case studies with worked examples and sample correspondence.
Questions-and-Answer chapters cover:
- Application for care
- Cost of care
- Financial means assessment
- Gifting and deprivation
- Spouses and partners
- Life interests
- Trust reversals
- Residential care loans
- Rights of appeal and reassessment
- Miscellaneous
Case studies include:
- Undertaking a trust reversal
- Negative trust equity
- Will my mother qualify for a subsidy?
- Succession planning issues to consider before going into care
- Resolving issues regarding recalcitrant trustees
- Disposal of the family home by the trustees
- Advising the MSD of an inheritance
- The Bridgford case
