Who can apply for deferred payments
Find out if you're eligible to apply for deferred payments.
Before you apply
To apply for the Deferred Payment Scheme you must:
- have capital of less than £23,250 - excluding the property
- be professionally assessed as requiring permanent care in a registered care home
- own or have part legal ownership of a property, which is not benefitting from a property disregard
- ensure your property is registered with the Land Registry - if the property is not, you must arrange for it to be registered at your own expense
- have mental capacity to agree to a deferred payment or have a legally appointed agent willing to agree this
Read the terms and conditions
Deferred payments terms and conditions
If you decide to use the Deferred Payments Scheme, you enter into a legal agreement with us by signing an agreement document.
We then place what is called a ‘legal charge’ on your property to safeguard the loan. You will be charged for this expense. The agreement covers both the responsibilities of the council and your own responsibilities, one of which is to make sure that your home is insured and maintained.
If you incur expenses to cover the maintaining of your home, you might be allowed up to £144 per week to help towards the cost, from the amount that you are assessed to contribute from your capital and income.
You can end the agreement at any time (for example if you sell your home). If you end the agreement, you must pay back the loan immediately. Otherwise the agreement ends on your death and the loan becomes payable 90 days later. The council cannot cancel the agreement without your consent.
When the deferred payment is agreed
During the agreement, you'll also need to:
- have a responsible person willing and able to ensure that necessary maintenance is carried out on the property to retain its value - you will be liable for these expenses yourself
- insure your property at your own expense
- pay any client contribution in a timely and regular manner - if you fail to pay the client contribution on a regular basis the council reserves the right to add this debt to the loan amount
- ensure there are no other beneficial interests on the property, for example, outstanding mortgages or equity release schemes, unless this is approved by the local authority