Charges and financial arrangements

The recent guidance from the Department of Health emphasises that residents should be allowed to exercise choice.

These choices will include a choice to enter our residential care, as well as the choice to enter care homes where the fees are higher than assessed by us, but relatives or carers wish to pay the difference.

From April 2009, residents who have more than £23,000.00 in savings/or capital assets (this will include the proceeds from a house which they have sold) will be responsible for paying their own fees. This rate is usually reviewed each April. However, for the first 12 weeks of permanent residential care any property owned is disregarded for charging purposes.  

Residents who have savings under £23,000.00 will be eligible for an assessment of their means and where necessary financial assistance from us to meet the fees up to an agreed level.

Following your financial assessment you will be able to retain some money for your personal use. The amount of this Personal Expense Allowance is determined annually by the Government. This is currently £21.90 per week.

Everyone is obliged to use their income and capital to maintain themselves. A husband has the duty to maintain his wife, and a wife her husband. There is no legal duty on sons or daughters towards their parents or parents to their sons or daughters, even when they are adults.

If you own a property this may be taken into account when determining how much you have to contribute towards the cost of your accommodation. However, there are various government initiatives and schemes which may be available to you whilst you consider selling your property. If this applies to you, you should seek the advice of Adult Care in order that your circumstances can be considered.

Quality Premium Payments

We operate a scheme to reinforce quality standards in care homes.

Each home that we contract with, has been given the opportunity to apply to become a quality premium provider. Any home that has qualified has been asked to demonstrate that it meets standards in staff training and competence, including NVQ training; moving and handling; availability of single rooms; and payment arrangements. An additional payment is then made by the council to homes that have attained quality premium status.

People who need to choose a home would be advised to check if the home is a quality premium provider.

Top Ups

You can also choose a more expensive home if there is someone else, like a relative or friend, willing to pay the extra cost, but be sure that this arrangement is likely to last or you may have to move again later.  These are commonly referred to as ‘top ups’ or ‘third party payments’.

A third party is someone who agrees to pay a top up to enable a relative or friend to go into a home that charges more for care than Social Services can support. The top up is in addition to the amount that the service user is asked to pay from his/her own income and savings.

The amount of the 'top up' is agreed at the time the service user goes into the home, but can be reviewed by the home as long as they give notice.

Self Funders

You may be self-funding your own care because your income and savings are too high to get help from Adult Care, or because you have arranged care in a home by yourself.

If you are living in a residential care home, you will have to pay the whole cost. 

If you are self-funding in a nursing home, you may be able to get help with part of your care costs through your Primary Care Trust (PCT). They will make a determination of your nursing needs and decide which level of payment should be made for you. These payments will be made directly to the home and may mean that you have to pay less from your money.

You can claim Attendance Allowance/Disability Living Allowance as long as you are responsible for the full cost of your care. This applies even if you are getting some help from Adult Care whilst you wait to sell your house.

You are entitled to Income Support if your savings are under £16,000 and you are under 60 and your weekly income is under the levels set by government.

Pension Credit can be paid if you are over 60 and your weekly income is under the levels set by government. There is no ceiling on the amount of capital you may have.

Savings Credit can be paid if you are over 65 and you meet the criteria set by the Government.

You may also like to find out more about direct payments.