Vik54

nice one Will

Folks - I need your help please. We require 100,000 signatures on a petition for a subject to be raised in parliament. My family has exhausted all routes of enquiry with HMRC and local MP and this seems to be our last resort. This is not a petition against elderly folk paying for their own residential care once it becomes necessary. The petition highlights the need to address a PFI health provision loophole that means that some elderly people with dementia end up paying VAT on their care. Most care homes charge fees that are exempt from VAT - as per European and UK law. The law states that "the provision of care, treatment or instruction to promote the physical or mental welfare of elderly, sick, distressed or disabled persons..." should be VAT exempt. In addition, "all care and treatment services provided within a regulated residential care home.." should be VAT exempt. However, in a few cases, because of a business loophole, elderly residents, many of whom are suffering from dementia, are being charged VAT. For some, who still have assets above the threshold of £23250 (having been forced to sell their homes) this loophole means that, not only are they being charged income tax on their small pensions, but they are also being charged VAT on the residential care services they are purchasing. My gran pays over £120 a week in VAT alone. HMRC and Government officials and ministers say that there is no law being broken. How quick they are to shout "foul" when large companies find loopholes to avoid paying tax, and yet our Government is "unable" to stop this immoral and unfair VAT charge. The unfairness is exacerbated by the fact that when placed in care by Local Authority as their assets are below threshold their care is not subject to VAT as the authority is exempt. Private individuals do not have this ability. Dementia is a mental illness - it is not recognized as such, and does not entitle the sufferer to continuing care funding. This VAT charge, although it only affects a small minority of dementia care residents, is immoral. It also means that elderly people will reach their asset threshold sooner, and then become completely reliant on state funding (once assets fall below £23k) surely an example of the Government shooting itself in the foot as individual assets will be depleted much more quickly? Please sign the petition and share with your friends - I guarantee you if you don't have someone in your family affected by dementia you will know someone who does. http://epetitions.di...petitions/47719

and I would take such a discussion over to Mumsnet FFS!!! How many times have we had something along this thread - am sure Hugh has done it about a billionty times

Couldn't agree more superstu - I do wish folks would check their facts before spouting off. Perhaps even go do some independent reading / research before regurgitating tabloid crap. @ KyleR - nobody can simply waltz into the country and claim benefits I take it seeing as I am white born and bred British and have spent the last seventeen years working on the frontline in the community ( the last four supporting young people into employment) having paid my own way through uni - taking on student debt to do so - not having had a pay rise in seven years - had my pension obliterated - it is ok with the keyboard warriors as of today to go and try to claim some benefits having been made redundant for the second time in two years? I would add that in the last four years having worked with a few hundred young people aged 16-19 who have left school and not gone into education employment or training NOT A SINGLE ONE WAS FROM A MINORITY, ETHNIC OR IMMIGRANT BACKGROUND....

to the forum - happy zedding

£600!!!! - shop around and mention the forum

A-V-O-I-D these at all costs - I'd rather eat one of Gary's socks

I hadn't seen that before either Irfan - made me cry with laughter