Care Fees & Deprivation of Assets - Key Issues Explored

Introduction

Care fees are increasing and with an ageing population requiring longer-term support, many individuals are becoming concerned about how these costs may impact the inheritance they wish to leave to their families.

Eligibility for local authority funding depends on a person’s financial assets. As a result, some individuals may consider reducing their assets, sometimes deliberately (‘deprivation of assets’), to limit their contribution towards care costs. However, local authorities, under growing budget pressures, actively review financial histories to ensure funding is only provided where it is genuinely required.

Incorrect or deliberate deprivation of assets can lead to serious consequences, including financial hardship, refusal of funding, recovery action by the local authority and potential legal issues. Additional risks may also arise for deputies or attorneys managing a person’s property and financial affairs.

This short webinar will guide you in advising clients on appropriate and lawful steps when considering gifts or asset planning, helping them avoid future complications while ensuring care needs are properly met with confidence and minimal stress.

What You Will Learn

The webinar will cover the following:

• Overview of the local authority financial assessment process
• Key legislation and legal framework
• Current trends and developments in care fee funding
• What may constitute a deprivation of assets
• How deliberate deprivation is identified and evidenced
• Circumstances in which deliberate deprivation may be inferred
• Key considerations for property and financial deputies and attorneys when making gifts
• Potential consequences of a finding of deliberate deprivation
• Options for challenging a local authority’s decision on deliberate deprivation

This pre-recorded webinar will be available to view from Thursday 17th December 2026

Alternatively, you can gain access to this webinar and 2,400+ others via the MBL Webinar Subscription. Please email webinarsubscription@mblseminars.com for more details.