<prompt> Human: My mother-in-law has recently assisted her mother to go into a care home. She is still sorting out the finances with the local council, but she will be self-funding at the end of the 12 week disregard period as her mothers property sale is going through.The care home owner has requested that the top-up fee is paid in cash. Does this sound really dodgy?I have advised her to sign something with the owner to clarify the fees payable per week nothing has been written down so far. Any other advice?  <response>: Sounds pretty dodgy, yes. If everything was legal and above board, then why in this day and age would you need cash. I cannot see any situation where a care home owner couldnt receive funds in a bank account and then, if necessary, get some cash from a cash machine for any purchases that cant be made with a bank carddebit cardcredit card. Definitely write everything down, and if I were your mother-in-law I would insist on paying by bank transfer. Take it or leave it :- 