Independent publishes guide to navigating the care system

The Independent’s website has published a brief guide to navigating Britain’s care system to help people get the financial help that they are entitled to. The article gives an overview of the key problems that people face when trying to obtain care funding, such as the ‘postcode lottery’, lack of PCT and local authority resources and the difficulties of obtaining the correct information. It then explains the difference between personal care and nursing care and when these will be paid for by the local authority or PCT. The article gives a description of the care needs assessment carried out by a local authority when a person enters a care home as well as mentioning benefits that people with care needs are entitled to, such as attendance allowance. It then stresses the importance of taking advice on how to fund any necessary fees and includes a case study entitled ‘I’m glad I took advice.’ The article is followed by commentary from The Independent’s Personal Finance Editor, James Daley, who uses the experience of a close relative to expose how ‘complex and unfair’ the current care system is.

For more information on care funding, care home assessments and benefits, please see Cheselden’s Factsheets 7 and 8. If you feel that you have been unfairly assessed as not qualifying for continuing care funding, please click here to contact us about your case.