Claiming back costs of residential care for my late Mother - before the deadline- can anyone help?

Well, will you look at that! I left some broken links here, last night, and the Elves have around and fixed them for me. Thanks, guys. The Bros Grimm live!

chris and Gradgrind I have fixed those links for you.

www.paullewis.co.uk/archive/saga/2012/20120601Works.htm

www.paullewis.co.uk/archive/saga/2010/201005Works__Care_Home_Costs.htm

It looks like they were archived somewhere else.

Good luck, both of you.

Ps - ticking the tick box below the message box before you postit will blue links and convert them automatically.

Once you have done what GradGrind suggests and filed your claim go and speak to Age UK. Their staff will be able to give you all the help you need.

The Radio 4 programme on Thursday 13 September had a long item on reclaiming care home fees and I seem to remember, on balance reckoned you did better if yoy used a solicitor. It also advised on an acceptable level of the repayment for the solicitor you use to take for his fees.

Personally I would ignore any of the 'ambulance chasing' type solicitors who advertise, especially on broadcast media. DD is making a compensation claim after being seriously injured in a road accident and we googled local solicitors and reviewed them thoroughly online before deciding to use a sizeable local firm with a specialist personal injury department. We have not regretted our choice. We decided to take the risk of paying fees rather than no win no fee, but that is an entirely personal decision.

Hi Chris - me again. I really should go to bed but your letter has made very angry.

I've found 2 more links to advice on reclaiming care home fees; this time from Paul Lewis (no relation to Martin but both men offer help and support to consumers on financial matters).
Paul's 2 links are http://t.co/f0crRdlB AND http://t.co/8J1IDQSG.

I'm struggling a bit with these links; they don't seem to work.
Try http://goo.gl/rXSqB AND http://goo.gl/6JDzK.
No, those don't work either.

If your on Twitter, follow @paullewismoney and look for Paul's tweet to @mjCurnow on 14 September. Those links do work and will take you to a SAGA magazine site, giving more info on care fees.

If you don't follow Paul and Martin, @MartinSLewis, you really should do.

I'm definitely Orf to bed, now.

Hi Chris - I found that link. http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/family/care-home-costs-reclaiming

Read through it but only AFTER you have sent in your claim letter

I, too, am new to GransNet and have also just sent my claim to my local PCT, though my claim is for a lot less money than your's.

Stay in touch and swap notes?

Hi Chris, it's me again. I hit ENTER accidently and my letter got posted before I had finished.

To continue, there is a web site called 'Money Saving Expert', run by Martin Lewis, who has been covering this topic recently. I'll try to find the links to it in the morning and post them here.

Chris - If you have not done so, yet, you should write immediately to your local Primary Care Trust (PCT) and lodge your claim for a review of your mother's charges. ( be aware that the dead-line is 30 Sep 2012).

In the 1st instance, just your mum's name and address, DoB, and the name of the home where she died, will suffice. The PCT will send a claim form and it all seems to take a long time BUT GET THAT CLAIM LETTER WRITTEN AND POSTED NOW!