The Tory manifesto pledge to pay for care by selling people’s homes after death would make it hard for families to leave property to a loved one with a learning disability.
So says expert Julie Schwarz, director of the Mencap Trust Company. She questions whether it would ever be viable to pass on property under the Tory commitment.
Inheritance bombshell: Julie Schwarz says the Tory policy of paying for care by selling a property after death will make it difficult to leave a home to a loved one with a learning disability
The Conservatives have said homes worth more than £100,000 will be sold on after death. This would recoup any costs if people have had care at home or in a residential setting.
Prime Minister Theresa May later said her party would impose a limit on the amount people pay. However, she has not specified the level of the cap.
‘A lot more difficult’ under Tory commitment
Schwarz has considered whether the Tory commitment would make it more or less difficult for families to pass on property. Her opinion is: “It has to make it a lot more difficult because there’s less money, so the financial viability of it is going to be much harder to achieve.”
A spokesperson for the Tories said they would look closely at how the policy would impact families leaving property to a loved one with a disability.
They would, of course, need to win the June 8 general election in order to bring in the policy.
Other parties’ proposals
Meanwhile, Labour said it would introduce a lifetime cap on care costs. It also said it would increase the asset threshold and put an extra £8 billion into social care.
The Liberal Democrats have pledged to raise income tax by a penny. They say this would generate an extra £6 billion for the NHS and social care.
Schwarz said the safest way to pass on property to a loved one with a learning disability is to leave it to an independent trust.
Under trust law, the trustee has ownership. There is, however, an obligation to benefit people named as beneficiaries.
For further information visit: www.mencap.org.uk/mencaptrustcompany
Published: 29 May 2017
