1st April 2007

Residential Care Subsidy : Calculating 5 year period

The 5 year period is based on the 5 years prior to the date of application
(rather than the financial year or calendar year).

For example if a client applies for Residential Care Subsidy on 12 February 2000,
Work and Income would ask for details of how assets have been disposed for the
period 13 February 1995 to 12 February 2000.

Residential Care Subsidy : Example - gifting

Example 1

A client applies for Residential Care Subsidy in 2000.
They had gifted $15,000 in 1996 and $30,000 in 1998.
Gifting of $5,000 for each year would be allowed in 1996,1997,1998,1999 and 2000

Calculation:

Example 2

A client applies for Residential Care Subsidy in 1999.
They have gifted $35,000 in 1997.
Gifting of $5,000 for each year would be allowed in 1997, 1998 and1999.

Calculation:

Total gifting in 5 year period, $45,000
less exemption ( $5000 per year $25,000
Assets to be included in assessment $20,000

Example 3

A client applies for Residential Care Subsidy in 1999.
They have gifted $3,000 in 1995 and $30,000 in 1998.

Gifting of $3,000 in 1995 would be allowed.
Gifting of $5,000 would be allowed in 1998 and 1999.

Calculation:

Total gifting in 5 year period, $35,000
less exemption ( $5000 per year $15,000
Assets to be included in assessment $20,000

Residential Care Subsidy
: Example - extraordinary gifting

The following examples give two clear extremes of gifting programmes
- one extraordinary and one that is considered ordinary or normal.

They also illustrate that factors, other than only the dollar value of the gifting,
have been considered in order to see the whole picture.

Note that the examples are not definitive, but rather an attempt to show
how to apply policy to a practical situation.

Example 1 - Extraordinary Gifting

Client owns business assets of $1,000,000 in 1992.

Client sells business assets to trust on 01 November 1992 for $1,000,000,
executes an Acknowledgement of Debt and commences an accelerated gifting plan.

Gifts made (forgiveness of debt)

Total gifting in 5 year period, $33,000
less exemption ($3000 for 1st year $5000 per year for 2nd and third year) $13,000
Assets to be included in assessment $20,000

The client applies for residential care subsidy on 01 December 2000.
No gifts have been made in the 5 years prior to application.

Taking into account all the factors, particularly the amount involved,
the accelerated gifting and the nature of the original assets,
Work and Income could consider the gifting extraordinary and
investigate beyond the 5 year period.

Example 2 - Non-Extraordinary Gifting

Client owns a family home in 1992 valued at $180,000.
Client sells home to trust on 01 November 1992 for $180,000,
executes an Acknowledgement of Debt and commences a gifting plan.

Gifts made (forgiveness of debt)

01/11/1992 $250,000
01/11/1993 $250,000
01/11/1994 $250,000
01/11/1995 $250,000
Total gifting $1,000,000

Residential Care Subsidy : Example - extraordinary gifting

01/11/1992 $27,000
01/11/1993 $27,000
01/11/1994 $27,000
Total gifting $81,000

The client applies for residential care subsidy on 01 December 2000.
Total of gifts made in the 5 years immediately preceding application is $72,000.

The gifting programme of the family home above would not be considered as extraordinary.
There is no need to investigate beyond the 5 year period,
and only the $72,000 would be taken into account for the financial means assessment.

Residential Care Subsidy : Recognition of care

If a client has not gifted the maximum allowable at the time of application
for Residential Care Subsidy, they can make a further gift in recognition
of high level care if they have:

As long as the client has received at least one year of high level care,
then they can retrospectively gift up to a maximum of $5,000 for each year
of high level care received, up to a total maximum of $25,000 (minus any gifting that has already taken place).

Note if the older person has received any Home Support (such as household
management, domestic assistance or personal assistance), or Meals on Wheels
or other Ministry of Health home-based assistance
then this means that the client cannot gift in recognition of care.

Receiving Career Support (formerly Aid to Families, Respite Care, Alternative Care
or 28 Days Relief Care) does not disqualify the older person
from gifting in recognition of care.

For more information see:on the www.workandincome.govt.nz and use the directory

Residential care subsidy

Introduction

Qualifications

  • Payment to partners where Residential Care Subsidy is not payable
    Changes and reviews
    Returned mail
  • Who should carry out the internal review
  • Effect of the outcome of internal review
  • Time standard for internal review
  • Report for the Benefit Review Committee
  • Benefit Review Co-ordinator
  • Who is the Benefit Review Committee
  • Benefit Review Committee hearing
  • Notification of decision
  • Time standard for Benefit Review Committee decision
  • Appeal Authority Process
  • Application out of time

  • 01/11/1995 $27,000
    01/11/1996 $27,000
    01/11/1997 $27,000
    01/11/1998 $18,000
    Total gifting $180,000
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