Charges and benefits

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Fact Sheet No:  FS22
Name of Service: Charges and Benefits
Abbreviation:
Service Type:  Advice and Information

Residential Services (including nursing home care)

In accordance with national policy you are expected to pay for this type of service in accordance with your ability to pay as determined by Financial Assessment Regulations.

Non-Residential Services (this would include care at home, day care, equipment, etc)

Unlike residential services there is not a national policy where you are expected to pay for such services. However, if a local authority decides to charge for these services it has to follow national guidelines in the way it determines what you can afford. Wiltshire Council has decided to charge for certain services (see below).

Benefits

Depending on your age and/or disability you may be entitled to benefits from the Department of Work and Pensions and in order to ensure you are receiving all you should be, the council has a joint team with the Pension Service (part of the Dept for Work and Pensions) called the Financial Assessment and Benefits Team. This team as well as being trained to undertake welfare benefits checks on referrals from the DWP or the council, also complete the financial assessment necessary to determine any charges for residential care and care at home. These welfare benefit checks and financial assessments are generally carried out in your home.

Charging for Residential Care

Savings

If you have more than £23,250 in saving/capital (including the value of your home or other property) you will normally be required to pay the full cost of your care, be advised to make your own arrangements and will not be entitled to financial assistance from the council (see below regarding property)

If you have saving/capital below £14,250 this will be disregarded but if you have savings between £14,250 and £23,250 the council will add £1.00 per week to your income (called tariff income) for each £250.00 or part thereof between these amounts (ie £15,000 savings would attract a tariff income of £3.00 per week as this is £750 over the disregarded savings)

Income

Generally all of your income (including benefits) is included in a financial assessment in accordance with the charging regulations to determine the contribution you will be asked to make towards your care home fees. Some income is disregarded from the financial assessment, such as mobility allowance, as is a figure for your personal allowance presently £23.50 per week.

Temporary Residents

If you are only going into a care home for a short period of up to eight weeks (called respite care) and your savings/capital (excluding your home) is less than £23,250 the council applies a standard charge depending on you age without the need for a financial assessment (you can request a financial assessment if you feel the standard charge is too high):

Age	Standard Charge
Under 25	£63.10 per week
25-59	£77.85 per week
60+	£119.20 per week

If you are a temporary resident but the period cannot be determined at the start or is going to be longer than eight weeks a financial assessment will be undertaken taking your income and savings between £14,250 to £23,250 into account but allowances to maintain your home will be included in any assessment.

Choice

If you qualify for financial assistance from the council you will be given details of care homes that provide care at an ‘agreed price’ that the council is prepared to pay or the council will indicate this ’agreed price’ in order for you to choose a care home that suits you. However if the care home you choose charges a fee above the ‘agreed price’ you will need to find a ‘third party’ ie someone else, to meet the shortfall. Any contribution that you are asked to make towards your care will go towards the ‘agreed price’ the council determines. You cannot meet any shortfall yourself.

Property

If you own, or have an interest in, more than one property it is very likely that your capital assets are more than £23,250 and therefore would be expected to pay the full cost of your care and would not be entitled to financial assistance from the council. If you only own the home you live in, this is normally regarded as an asset but can be disregarded in the following circumstances if it is occupied by a:

• spouse
• relative aged over 60
• disabled relative
• dependent child under 16
• carer who does not fall into one of the above categories, the council has discretion to disregard your home.

If you own your home only (or have an interest in it valued at more than £23,250) but you have savings of less than £23,250 you can be entitled to financial assistance from the council for up to 12 weeks initial funding by the council to assist with your care home fees. At the end of the 12 weeks, although you will then be liable to meet the full cost of your care, you can ask the council for a loan to help meet care fees pending the sale of the property.

If the property is on the market the council will offer a loan by means where your solicitor dealing with the sale will agreed to repay the council on completion of the sale. If you do not wish to sell your property immediately the council can still offer a loan which is termed ‘a deferred payment’ whereby the council will place a legal charge against your property to secure the loan. In both instances you will have to make a contribution towards the full fee based on a financial assessment of your income as indicated under ‘INCOME’ above and the council will loan the difference to make up the full cost of your care fee.

• Paying for residential or nursing care where people own their property.

Payment/Contract Arrangements

Once a care home has been identified, placement date agreed and contributions determined, the council will draw up a contract for your care to include the care home provider, the council, yourself and any third party. All parties will sign up to the contract of care which sets out care standards, fees etc and a copy will be provided to you. The contribution you are asked to make should be paid direct to the care home and the council will pay its share direct to them as well.

Charging for non-residential services

These services are not provided or funded by the council if you have capital/savings in excess of £23,250 but this would exclude the property you live in)

Care at Home

This would include Direct Payments as an alternative to provision of services by the council.

Savings

The council applies the same principles for savings as indicated above under residential care, only the house you live in is disregarded as an asset. If you have savings in excess of £23,250 or own a second or more properties valued at more than £23,250 then you are generally required to make your own arrangements for care at home services.

Income

The council generally applies the same principles for income as indicated above under residential care but any earnings are also disregarded.

Disability Related Expenditure/Housing Costs/General Living Allowance

When the council undertakes a financial assessment to determine what it believes you can afford to contribute towards your care at home the expenditure you incur as a consequence of your age/disability will be offset as would costs to maintain your home. These costs would need to be evidenced for the council to allow them. There is also a general living allowance disregarded based on 25% above Income Support/Pension Credit basic amounts that you are allowed to retain before any charges are applied.

Financial Assessment

The total of your income plus tariff on savings is added together and disability related expenditure/housing costs/general living allowance are deducted and the council only expects 80% of what is left, if any, to go towards your care at home costs.

Payment/Contract Arrangements

Once the service is set up a contract will be drawn up by the council to include the Service Provider, the council and yourself. A copy will be made available to you. Any contribution you are asked to make should be paid direct to the Provider and the council will pay its share direct to them as well.

Day Care

There are no charges for attendance at a day centre but if you meet the eligibility criteria for transport to be arranged for you by the council a charge of £3.60 per day is required. If the day centre provides meals you may be asked to make a contribution towards the meal.

Equipment/Adaptations

The council applies no charge for equipment nor is there any charge for minor adaptations costing less than £1,000. For adaptations costing more than £1,000 you will be directed to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant.

Last updated: 19 April 2012