If you are receiving any of the following social care services you will be assessed to see if you should pay a charge towards the costs of the services:

• Personal Care at Home
• Supporting People
• Respite Care
• Residential Care
• Nursing Care
• Transport
• Day Care

Financial limits and charges for residential/nursing care apply from April 2012.

Financial assessment

As part of your financial assessment we will need to ask questions about any assets you have or have recently disposed of as there are regulations which all councils have to consider. Deprivation is a term used when someone knowingly gives away assets such as income, property or savings, or sells them at less than their market value in order to qualify for council funding for their care costs.

You may not have to pay a contribution but the decision on how much you pay is based on your financial assessment.

Full costs for 2012/2013

Day Care - £3 per hour up to maximum of £18 per day

Meals at day centres - £2.50 per meal

Transport - £4 per journey (one way)

Personal care - £16.00 per hour

Warden Call - £4.25 per week

Local authority residential care  - £485.03 per week

Frequently asked questions

What will I have to spend on myself if I move into a care home?

Everyone in a care home is left with a Personal Expenses Allowance of £23.50 per week. 

Would the charge be different if I go into a Local Authority home rather than a private one?

No, the charge will be the same if the council is helping with the costs. However, if you are paying the full costs yourself this may be different as there are varied costs for private homes. 

What if my financial circumstances change?

A reassessment will be done each year but we recommend that you tell us as soon as your financial circumstances change.  Failure to do so may result in us charging you too much or you owing the council money.

What if I want to go into a Care Home which costs more than the council will normally pay?

Before making a decision please talk this over with someone from the council. You can have financial help from someone other than your husband or wife and we will not count that as your income, provided that you use it to:

• pay for something extra that the council would not normally provide
• meet the costs of a more expensive care home than we would normally pay for 

What happens if I have moved into a care home and my capital falls below £23,250?

If you are already living in a care home and your capital falls below £23,250, you can ask for an assessment of your needs. If we agree that your needs can be met by the home and the home will accept the fees set by the council, we may help with the cost.