Housing & benifits - MIL discharged into care

I work in the health care sector. In my experience (both professional and personal) the families who get the most support are the ones who do very little and expect others to do the running. Whether this is by accident or design you never know, but if its by design then they are being very canny!
There is a government fund called 'continuing care' which is rarely mentioned. The social worker will know if your MIL is eligible but as others have mentioned before me do not agree to pay any top ups.
It is a minefield but my top tips would be:

Do not be too eager to volunteer any information, especially financial. Answer questions to the best of your ability as they arise but don't volunteer more information than necessary.

Allow others to do their job, especially the social worker. Don't volunteer to make phone calls or follow stuff up for others. Agree only if you want to and feel confident.

Feign ignorance, or simply say 'I don't know'.

You will get push back from care professionals. Agree to nothing.

It will seem like everything is happening all at once at the moment. Do not let this situation overwhelm you. Give it time to settle, give yourself time to be clear in your head about what needs to be done, when and by whom.

If you are happy with your MIL's care at her current placement do not be in a hurry to change things. She is safe and being looked after. Everything else will simply take the time it takes. It's not a race, even though others may make you feel it is.

It sound like things are beginning to fall into place. Wishing you all the best.

CrazyladyC: you don't mention whether there are any of your MIL's own children to deal with this? Are you next of kin? If not leave it to others.

SuperTinny

I work in the health care sector. In my experience (both professional and personal) the families who get the most support are the ones who do very little and expect others to do the running. Whether this is by accident or design you never know, but if its by design then they are being very canny!
There is a government fund called 'continuing care' which is rarely mentioned. The social worker will know if your MIL is eligible but as others have mentioned before me do not agree to pay any top ups.
It is a minefield but my top tips would be:

Do not be too eager to volunteer any information, especially financial. Answer questions to the best of your ability as they arise but don't volunteer more information than necessary.

Allow others to do their job, especially the social worker. Don't volunteer to make phone calls or follow stuff up for others. Agree only if you want to and feel confident.

Feign ignorance, or simply say 'I don't know'.

You will get push back from care professionals. Agree to nothing.

It will seem like everything is happening all at once at the moment. Do not let this situation overwhelm you. Give it time to settle, give yourself time to be clear in your head about what needs to be done, when and by whom.

If you are happy with your MIL's care at her current placement do not be in a hurry to change things. She is safe and being looked after. Everything else will simply take the time it takes. It's not a race, even though others may make you feel it is.

It sound like things are beginning to fall into place. Wishing you all the best.

Good advice thank you. I’m just trying to sort a care home for my mum, currently in hospital. It’s definitely a learning curve.

Contact your local social services office ASAP and also get a community social worker to help with all these financhal things...
Its very important for you to do it asap..to get things rolling i was in a similar situation with my mother 14 years sgo...get all the advice you can. Its a pity theres not a power of atorney.. as it makes everything so much more easy...its stressful enough...
I wish you well xx

SuperTinny, what you don't say is that the NHS do not volunteer the information about CHC and will try to dissuade you from applying. Social Workers are also very negative about applying. I was told that unless you were in end of care, you won't get it. That is NOT what the law states. You have to fight for it in many Health Authorities and you absolutely shouldn't have to. It is a disgrace.