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HELP THE AGED OFFERS GUIDANCE
IT IS
estimated that around 1.3 million people over the age of 65 provide
informal care for a close friend or relative, often a spouse or
partner. For some, this can occupy as many as 50 hours a week, and
for others involve round-the-clock care. In some cases, care
needs become too demanding, both physically and practically, and the
couple is faced with the emotional, practical and financial demands
associated with one of them moving into a residential or nursing
care home.
The care funding system in the UK is notoriously complex and many
people are also unaware of their rights. Therefore, for families in
this situation, the Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service is
offering the following guidance:
· If 1 partner enters
care, the local authority will carry out a financial assessment to
ascertain how much the person in need of care can afford to
contribute to the cost. The local authority does not, however, have
the right to financially assess the spouse left at home. This
assessment is limited to personal assets and a 50% share of joint
assets belonging to the person in need of care.
· This assessment will take into account joint assets including
savings of over £42,000. Couples in this position, or with more
savings may wish to consider splitting their joint accounts into 2
separate accounts so that the £21,000 eligibility limit for
financial help can be reached earlier.
· The value of a property is disregarded from the assessment if a
spouse/partner continues to live there. However, if that home is
sold to buy somewhere smaller for the remaining spouse/partner, then
that of the sale value not used to purchase the smaller property
could be taken into consideration by the local authority.
· From April 2007 local authorities will not be permitted to pursue
a husband or wife for a contribution towards their spouse’s care
costs. Local authorities have been given additional funding to
bridge the gap until this legislation comes into effect.
· If the person entering care receives income from a pension (either
occupational, personal or a retirement annuity) their spouse/partner
is still entitled to 50% of that pension.
Philip Spiers a spokesman for the Help the Aged Care Fees Advice
Service comments:- “A spouse or partner entering care can be a
hugely emotional upheaval for a couple, particularly for those that
have lived together for many years. On top of that, there are the
practical and financial considerations to sort out at the same time.
With help from the local authority, social services, family and
friends, suitable care options can be found. But the question of
funding care is a notoriously complex area, and it is here that the
Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service can be of assistance.”
The Help the Aged Care Fees Advice Service provides face-to-face
impartial advice and information to all regardless of means, on the
best ways to pay for care. The Service combines specialist financial
advice with information on the many associated issues, such as local
authority charging procedures, health authority responsibilities,
benefits and legal matters.
For further information call freephone
0500 76 74 76 |
POP
IDOL STYLE COMPETITION
(NORTH WEST REGION)
THE Liverpool
to Yorkshire, Manchester to Blackpool area competition will be held
on Saturday 25 November 2006 at 12 noon to 6pm.
This will be the only
audition before the 3 qualifying heats. All singers, 16
to 50+ yrs also groups, need to attend all auditions to qualify for
the finals in September at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Aquaduct Rd,
Ewood, Blackburn. 200yds from Football stadium.
Heats January, March and June. Finals to be held on
Thursday 20 September 2007 to Saturday 22 September 2007.
The ultimate prize will be a New Car, a Recording Contract, Money
prizes and a lot more.
To reserve your place and for an instruction pack.
Tel 07856243921 or 07752985745.
WORK SMARTER IS ADVICE FOR SAVING THE PLANET
CAMPAIGNERS
for smarter working offered an immediate answer to some of the
problems of the environmental impact of human activity on the globe:
the world needs to reform the way it works. The advice comes
in the wake of the Stern report which predicted environmental
apocalypse if action is not taken now. Published today, the report
anticipates that 200 million people will become refugees and a
global recession worse than that in the 1920s and 1930s will result
if current CO2 pollution levels are unchecked.
The widespread introduction of smarter working practices will
significantly reduce the need for travel, both commuting and travel
for business, making a huge impact to the levels of CO2 emissions
from transport sources. Enabling more home working, more flexible
working, better remote and mobile working, all have the impact of
reducing the need to travel, and staggering the required travel
patterns, which will also reduce peak time congestion, in itself a
major contributor to pollution levels.
Phil Flaxton, chief executive of Work Wise UK, said:- “The
need to work from 9 to 5, 5 days a week, is an anachronism in this
modern 24/7 global world: there is no need for it. The realisation
of the damage our working patterns are causing the environment
further underlines the need for us to have a workplace revolution so
that we can minimise the impact of human activity on the
environment. This will probably be one of the least costly,
and most effective steps that companies could take to make their
contribution to reducing emissions. Adopting smarter working
practices is a win-win situation: not only will it help reduce
emissions, it will also provide staff with a better work-life
balance and make them more productive.”
Work Wise UK is running Commute Smart Day on Wednesday, 1 November,
to promote flexible working, staggered journeys and part home
working, to alleviate the need for commuters to have to travel to
and from home in the dark, adding to the already burdensome average
eight hours commuting per week. Additional benefits here, which will
be true for all smarter working, are a fall in peak time congestion
and overcrowding, and a reduction in seasonal accident levels.
Further information about Work Wise UK and Commute Smart Day can be
found at
www.workwiseuk.org. The website
includes guidance and assistance for those wishing to implement
smarter working as part of Commute Smart Day.
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