How we decide what you pay

The Council charges for care and support services where the law allows. We must also consider what you can afford to pay.

Financial assessment rules

The Government sets the rules that councils must follow when they work out how much someone should pay towards their care.

The amount you pay depends on your income, savings and assets. It can also depend on whether you receive care at home or live in a care home.

There are two capital limits used in the financial assessment. These help decide whether you need to pay the full cost, contribute, or receive financial support from the Council.

As a general guide:

Getting an estimate of what you may have to contribute

We have a Financial Contribution indicator built in to our online form this will give you an estimate of what you might need to contribute to your care.

Completing your financial assessment

We will complete a financial assessment with you to work out how much you may need to pay towards your care and support.

You will need to complete a Statement of Financial Circumstances. You will also need to provide evidence of your:

• income
• savings and capital
• spending
• expenses

The Financial Assessment Team can help you complete the form. A Financial Assessment Officer may also visit you if you need extra support.

Once we have your information, we will tell you what, if anything, you need to pay.

Flat-rate charges

Some services have a fixed charge. These may include:

• laundry
• day centre meals
• alarms
• telecare sensors

You may need to pay these fixed charges as well as any contribution from your financial assessment.

• Charging and Financial Assessment Charging Policy
• Financial Assessment and Charging for Care and Support leaflet

Choosing a more expensive care home

If Adult Social Care agrees your needs are best met in a care home, you can choose accommodation that costs more than the amount the Council will pay.

What a Top-Up payment is

The difference between the care home cost and the amount the Council will pay is called a “Top-Up” payment.

Who can pay

A Top-Up payment can be paid by:

• you, but only in limited circumstances and where the law allows this. This is called a “first party top-up”.
• a family member or friend. This is called a “third party top-up”.

What you need to agree

Top-Up payments are optional. Before anyone agrees to pay, they must:

• understand how the arrangement works
• be confident they can continue paying, including if care costs increase
• apply to the Council for approval
• sign a written legal agreement

What is a deferred payment arrangement?

A deferred payment arrangement is an agreement with the Council that may help you pay care home costs if you own your home but have limited savings.

Who may be eligible

You may be eligible if you meet all the following criteria:

• you are ordinarily resident in the local authority area, and the local authority has agreed it will, or would, meet your care needs under section 19 of the Care Act if asked to do so
• the local authority considers that your needs should be met through a care home placement
• you have £23,250 or less in assets, not including the value of your main or only home
• your home is not disregarded under the regulations on charging for care and support

These statements are based on statutory guidance, but they are not an exact statement of the law.

How it works

• The Council helps pay your care home bills on your behalf.
• You can delay repaying these charges until you choose to sell your home, or until after your death.
• The Council charges interest on the amount owed and a fee for setting up the arrangement. These charges are set to cover the Council’s costs and not to make a profit.

You can find more detail in our Deferred Payment Arrangements section.

Independent legal and financial advice

You are advised to get independent legal and financial advice including welfare benefits advice in order to understand how financial assessment and charging may affect you.