HC Deb 29 April 1993 vol 223 c536W
Mrs. Fyfe

To ask the Secretary of State for Scotland whether elderly home owners who enter residential care are expected to sell their property to pay part of their care costs.

Mr. Stewart

All client groups who require public support are expected to contribute towards the cost of residential care they receive. The National Assistance (Assessment of Resources) Regulations 1992 require that the value of a permanent resident's former dwelling should be taken into account in assessing ability to pay unless it is occupied by the resident's spouse, or a relative who is aged 60 or over, or who is incapacitated. Local authorities do, however, have discretion to disregard property from the financial assessment in other circumstances where they consider it reasonable to do so.