Care fees: should councils chase people who give away assets? Under current rules residential care costs are strictly means-tested. If someone needing care has assets (including their home) valued at above the threshold, currently £23,250 (£22,000 in Wales and £24,750 in Scotland). No-one knows how widespread the practice is. But experts in the field think councils are likely to check more in future as pressure on their budgets intensifies. Financial advisers warn against trying to dispose of assets in this way. Stephen Womack, of David Williams Chartered Financial Planners in Northampton, said: "Be very wary of trying to give money, shares or other assets away to try and slip under the care fees threshold. In particular if you dispose of assets while in poor health and with care a possibility, then be prepared for a battle with the local authority. Should local authorities chase people who give away assets to avoid paying for care? Along with other organisations including charity AgeUK, he warns against companies offering ways of "beating the system." Mr Womack cautioned: "There are some will-writing firms marketing care protection trusts where you sign over your home into a trust so that care fees need not be paid. Be very, very sceptical. It is questionable that a trust created specifically to deprive the local authority of your assets will be bullet-proof against a sustained legal attack. He said people selling such arrangements "are relying on apathy and ignorance in local authorities in not spotting and challenging such trusts and other gifts. As council budgets get tighter this may be wishful thinking. Apart from the legal position, there are other issues to consider - such as the choices open to those needing care. Disposing of assets is likely to limit choices, AgeUK warned. It has published a guide on the subject here. Put your question to our experts by emailing moneyexpert@telegraph.co.uk