If you go into care but before this you shared your home with any of the following, the Local Authority is legally required to disregard the value of your home: 

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• a relative over the age of 60; 

• a dependent child under 16; or 

• an incapacitated relative. 

 

The first two exceptions are, of course, easy to identify.  There can be more difficulty in proving that a relative under 60 is incapacitated, and medical evidence of this may be required. 

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Your home is therefore safe if you have to go into care, but only as long as the relative or dependent child lives in your home.  This may not be for very long.  How long, for example, would a dependent child even be allowed to live there if you were not there to look after them?  Or would an incapacitated relative need to move somewhere else if you could not look after their needs?  Or what if the elderly relative passed away? 

It is therefore important to take action now so that if the person you share your house with is no longer there your house is still safe. 

Click here to find out exactly what action to take.