Paying for residential care and support

What if you do not receive services for a while?

You will only pay for services you receive. If you do not receive any services for a while, for example, if you are in hospital, then you do not pay. It is important that you notify your social care worker if you are not receiving a service to ensure you are charged the correct amount.

What if you cannot afford to pay?

If you cannot afford to pay, please contact your local benefits, assessments and charging team

How do you pay for your care?

We will send you an invoice every four weeks for the services you receive. Charges are usually six weeks behind. This is because we need to wait for information from your provider regarding the services you have received and then work out your charge. We will print the dates of the care you are being charged for on your invoice.

Will you qualify for assistance with funding your residential care?

The value of your home is included when assessing capital unless one of the following still lives there:

• Your partner.

• A relative who is over 60 or incapacitated.

• A child under 16 who you or a former partner maintain.

If you have capital or savings exceeding £23,250, arrange for an assessment with us to define your care needs.

If, apart from your property, your savings are less than £23,250, we can help with your care costs for the first 12 weeks. After this time, any money from us will be regarded as a loan and will need to be repaid once your house is sold.

If you have capital or savings of less than £23,250, we will share the costs with you.

To work out how much we will pay and how much you will pay, a meeting will be arranged with a benefits and assessments officer following your initial assessment.

The benefits and assessments officer will review your care needs as laid out in your initial assessment and will assess your financial situation. If you have capital and savings between £14,250 and £23,250, you will be expected to contribute £1 per week for every £250 you have above £14,250 in addition to your assessed contribution from your income.

Whatever your circumstances

Remember, if your partner still lives at home, they will not be means-tested. If you have a private pension, only half will be considered when you are assessed if you are passing this on to your partner. However, you will need to consider the effect this would have on any benefit claim your partner makes, as it may affect their entitlement to other financial help.

Remember to claim:

• Universal Credit (if you are under pension age).

• Pension Credit (if you are over pension age).

• Savings Credit (if you are over 65).

• Attendance Allowance (if you are over 65).

• Disability Living Allowance or Personal

Independence Payment (if you are under 65).

As part of your financial assessment, the benefits, assessment and charging team will help you to claim these, if you are eligible. This will help you to pay towards any care and support you receive.

Moving into a nursing home? You may be eligible for the NHS Nursing Care Contribution (NCC) – see page 54.

You may wish to seek independent financial advice to guide you through your financial options.

There may be several solutions to retaining your capital whilst paying for care (further information is available in the following section).