‘About three quarters of us will need some care as we get older, but while about half of us can expect to pay out about £20,000, 1 in 10 people will spend over £100,000.’

‘The Government estimates that when all these changes come in, about 1 in 6 of all the older people who need care, or about 100,000 individuals, will benefit to at least some extent from them by 2025.’

(Source: Age UK)

Welcome to the spring issue of Care matters. This edition highlights some of the ways CABA has been supporting carers over the last six months and looks at ways CABA might be able to support you in future.

Some of the information in this newsletter directs readers to the internet for more details. If you don’t have internet access, please give us a call and we can provide printed information through the post.

We hope you find this issue both interesting and useful and that the information here will help you in your caring role.

Sara Buswell, CABA Carer Support Officer

Care matters

caba.org.uk

There are currently variations across local councils when assessing care needs. Last year the government announced that a national needs test would be introduced by 2015 – which means that standard eligibility criteria for social care will apply to everyone across the country, wherever they live.

In February this year, the Government also provided details about how they intend to implement recommendations to fund social care long term.

For individual’s that meet the eligibility criteria, there will be three main changes from April 2017:

1. A lifetime cap on social care costs will be introduced. This means that the maximum amount an individual will be expected to pay towards social care over their lifetime will be limited to £75,000. This means that those receiving care at home or within a care home will build up contributions that will be ‘metered’ by their local authority. Once the meter reaches £75,000, the state will pay care costs for the rest of that person’s life.

2. ‘Hotel’ costs (for board and lodging) if living in a care home, will still have to be

paid by the individual but will be limited to £12,000 per year for everyone.

3. There are also plans to increase the upper level of the means-test threshold for residential care from £23,250 to £123,000, which will mean more people will be eligible for financial help. Currently, any capital and savings below £14,250 are disregarded by the Government when means-testing for social care; this will be retained under the new scheme.

If you have between £14,250 and £23,250 in capital and savings, the council currently subsidise your care costs on a sliding scale, if you have capital and savings above £23,250 you currently have to fund all of your own social care. Under the new scheme, anyone with assets between

Social care costs to be capped from 2017

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Support: it’s here when you need itWe may be able to offer support with respite breaks, equipment or home adaptations, short-term financial support or just a friendly listening ear when you need a chat.

Whether you need help, advice, or just someone to talk to, call Cathy or Sara on +44 (0) 1788 556 366. CABA can help if you are a current or former ICAEW chartered accountant, a relative or friend caring for a chartered accountant or their spouse or life partner. You can also access CABA’s 24-hour legal and counselling helpline call freephone* 0800 107 6163.

8 Mitchell Court, Castle Mound Way,

Rugby, Warks CV23 OUY

caba.org.uk

* Some mobile operators may charge you for calling an 0800 number.

Dates for your diary

Parkinson’s Awareness Week 15-21 AprilRaising awareness of what life is like for people affected by Parkinson’s and the work of Parkinson’s UK. Visit parkinsons.org.uk

Bowel Cancer Awareness Month 1-30 AprilGet involved by helping to raise awareness of bowel cancer, a disease that affects around 40,000 people every year. Find out what’s happening in your area by visiting bowelcanceruk.org.uk

Get Walking Week (England & Scotland) 4-11 May Take part in the Ramblers’ short walks festival throughout the week (or during

the weekend of May 4-6 for the Big Welsh Walk if you live in Wales). Visit ramblers.org.uk to discover more.

Carers Week 10-16 JuneCarers Week 2013 will focus on how the UK’s current carer population is coping and how effectively Government is supporting the growing numbers of carers. To get involved visit carersweek.org

Deafblind Awareness Week 24-30th June Aims to raise awareness about deafblindness and increase support for deafblind people and their families, you can get involved in events and activities across the UK. Find out what’s happening by visiting sense.org.uk

The National TrustCall the National Trust’s supporter service centre on 01793 817634 and ask for an Access for All Admit One Card. The card , sent with a copy of the latest access guide, is issued in the name of the person you are caring for, so different carers can go free on different visits. nationaltrust.org.uk

English HeritageCompanions of the person you care for are admitted free to English Heritage properties. They won’t need to show proof of disability, but a standard letter confirming their companion should be admitted free of charge is available if they would like to take one along with them. Call English Heritage customer services on 0870 333 1181 for a letter and/or for an access guide. english-heritage.org.uk

Have a great day outNeed ideas for what to do and where

to go? Here are a couple of suggestions that won’t break the bank...

£14,250 and £123,000 will be entitled to some financial support according to a sliding scale.

Unlike health care provided by the NHS, social care has never been free, but under the new changes most people will know (subject to eligibility) that they are not at risk of spending more than £75,000 on care during their lives.

If you have internet access you can find lots of useful information for carers by visiting the following websites:

carerstrust.org.ukcarersuk.orgindependentage.orgnhs.uk/carersdirect

For a helpful guide to accessible venues and events across Britain visit accessibleguide.co.uk

To access information on benefits and grants, and for the latest on the Fuel Poverty campaign visit turn2us.org.uk

Weblinks: websites to look out for

If you can’t get online for any reason but would like to find out about issues that affect you, why not give us a call? We’re happy to do the research for you, and can send you the printed results by post.

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I am a single mum. I have three daughters, the youngest is 10 – she has severe learning difficulties and autism. She’s wonderful, but can’t be left on her own for a minute. I work part-time as a chartered accountant when my daughters are at school.

I got in touch with CABA and was allocated a support officer, who has been absolutely brilliant. One great thing about the way CABA works is that you’re not passed around the houses. Instead, I was able to build a relationship with my support officer and she got a real sense of us as a family.

CABA have done so much for us as a family. After they helped with the respite care, my support officer looked at our whole situation. We had recently had my daughters’ application for Disability Living Allowance rejected. I can’t say whether I would ever have found the time and energy to appeal the decision on my own. But my support officer helped. CABA have specialists in benefits, in caring, in occupational therapy – they know what they’re doing. So with a lot of support, I did appeal. Not only did we get several thousand pounds in backdated benefit, but I was able to access the Government’s Motability Scheme on my daughter’s behalf and we could get a desperately needed new car.

It’s like every time I hit a brick-wall, someone at CABA has the specialist knowledge to help me get around it. CABA have also helped fund an iPad as my daughter was responding well to the one she was occasionally allowed to use at school. They also helped us to fund a specially adapted bike that enables me to safely cycle her around so that we can go out on our bikes as a family.

The difference between CABA and other charities is that you’re not just a transaction. They stay in touch and see how you are doing. I can’t tell you how much it means to feel you’re being kept in mind and know that there’s a team of people who care how you are and how you’re managing.

Who’s looking after carers?There are currently over 6.5 million carers in the UK and an estimated 6,000 people take on a caring role every day. Although the majority of carers don’t see themselves playing this role, the responsibility of caring can significantly impact on health, wellbeing and finances.

At CABA we speak to many carers who are juggling home and work responsibilities. However, sometimes it’s not possible to maintain full or part-time employment in addition to ensuring the person you care for is getting the support they need.

One in eight people living in the UK are currently unpaid carers for a partner, relative or friend. This equates to more than 2.1 million people, each providing care for more than 20 hours a week.

While you’re busy caring for others, who looks after you? Financial help is available from the government in the form of benefits and carers credit. There is also practical help available from local authorities.

However, each local authority is different so it’s important to find out what is available in your area.

Some of the help that may be available is listed below:

l Your local social services office can assess your needs and the needs of the person you care for. They may be able to provide help with washing, dressing and getting meals if required

l The person you care for may be able to visit a day care centre or have

The number of hours of care provided by carers in England and Wales has risen by 270,000 in a single year to 1,360,000*(*Source: 2011 Census)

IT’S A FACT

Did you know ?

Marion’s story

Q&A Q. What happens when I contact CABA?

A. You will be allocated a support officer who will explore your personal circumstances with you and investigate the options for support. If you wish, your support officer can liaise with any agencies to ensure that you are receiving all of your entitlements.

Q. Can CABA help if the person I care for is unable to access specialist equipment from the local authority?

A. Yes. CABA can arrange for an independent occupational therapist to assess your needs and identify any areas where you may need support. CABA may then be able to help you and the person you care for to buy equipment such as wheelchairs, stair lifts and specialist beds. In certain circumstances CABA may be able to finance adaptations and building works to make your home more accessible.

Q. How does local authority funding work and am I eligible for it?

A. CABA can explain how funding works and talk to you about your eligibility. We can also explain how means testing works and how owning a property and/or having a partner may affect your eligibility for funding. The person you care for may qualify for funding by the NHS if they have high levels of nursing care needs. We can explain all of this and guide you through the process.

Q. My local authority is helping to pay for the care home but I don’t think the ones they are suggesting are suitable, can you help?

A. Yes. Finding a care home can be difficult, we can do some of the work for you by finding out about care homes in your area. We can explain your rights concerning the choice of care home and we may be able to help you negotiate alternatives with your local authority. This also applies if you are currently paying for residential care but think you may need help from your local authority at a later date.

Q. I have a few simple questions I would like answers to, would this be something CABA can help with?

A. Yes. No problem is too big or small. Whether you need clarity around a simple query or you don’t have access to all of the information you need then we can help you. We can either refer you to websites and publications or if you don’t have access to the internet, we can send information in the post or talk it through with you on the phone. Whether it’s a one-off query or on-going support we are always here for you.

If you would like to discuss anything with us or feel we may be able to help please get in touch on +44 (0) 1788 556 366.

Many people who contact CABA for advice and support have previously been apprehensive about approaching us. Having spoken to one of our support

officers however, most wish they had called

earlier. Here’s a few Q&A’s that will help to answer questions you may have about us.

To claim Carers Allowance contact the Department for Work and Pensions on 0845 6084321. Visit your local Job Centre , download or complete an online form at gov.uk/carers-allowance

If you need more information, please call CABA on +44 (0) 1788 556 366

Carers grantsBreaks are crucial for you to maintain your own health and wellbeing. As a carer you may be able to apply for a carers support grant through your local social services. Each local authority is different in terms of how the carers support grant can be spent.

If you are a current or former ICAEW chartered accountant caring for someone, or if you are a carer of an ICAEW chartered accountant, CABA may be able to support respite care costs.

Please call us to find out more +44 (0) 1788 556 366.

Carer’s Allowance is available to people who provide care for at least 35 hours a week. To be eligible, the person you care for must receive either Attendance Allowance or the middle or highest rate care component Living Allowance.

You must also earn less than £100 a week after Income Tax, National Insurance, half of a personal or occupational pension contribution and certain childcare and work- related expenses have been deducted.

l Carer’s Allowance is currently worth £59.75 a week

l Those receiving Carer’s Allowance also get Carer’s Credit, a National Insurance credit that builds your entitlement for other benefits and your state pension

l Carer’s Credit (previously Home Responsibilities Protection) is available to all carers who are caring for more than 20 hours a week, including carers who can’t claim Carer’s Allowance

a sitting service at home. Day care centres are run by local authorities, so contact your social services office for details

l If you need to take a longer break, social services may be able to help arrange care at home or in a residential setting while you’re away, CABA may be able to help with respite care costs

l If you need a chat with likeminded people we can try to find details of carers support groups in your area. Alternatively, you can ask your local council for information or visit The Carers Trust at carers.org which also has a network of carers’ centres around the country. A CABA carer support officer can also provide a friendly voice on the end of the phone

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