Charging for Non Residential Care & Disability Related Expenditure

cattermole

Following on from a thread in Benefits I thought it might be helpful to start a thread on the above topic as I haven't seen that much about it on the forum, apologies if this is incorrect.

Charging is quite a complicated one and it varies considerably from LA to LA as I'm sure many of you know.

There is however standard underlying guidelines that LA's need to follow if they decide to charge for their non residential services.

A financial assessment should always be carried out on the individual prior to charging. It will be looking at maximising benefits as part of the assessment as well or should be. The assessment is done by a separate department of the Council (not the SW) and can be done by a 3rd party working on their behalf i.e. Serco. No charges should be made until after the assessment has been carried out.

All LA's must have a Fairer Charging Policy and you can ask to be sent a copy of this. They have to following the Fairer Charging Guidance which has recently been updated by the Gov. (they seem to be updating everything at the moment!)

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/208323/Fairer_Charging_Guidance_final_2013-06-20_rc.pdf

They should not take your income below what the government says you need to live on plus 25%. They can include AA/DLA in the income (they cannot include the night time element if they do not supply night time services). Mobility element is not taken into income assessments. They disregard Pension savings credits as well. The person(s) doing the assessment will tell you what this figure is if you ask.

You should be given the opportunity to give your Disability Related Expenditure which is then deducted from your assessible income.

Examples of DRE can be gardening, shopping, window cleaning, non prescription medication, transport costs (only if you are not receiving DLA Mobility)

The assessment is made on the person receiving the care and their income (rules similar to Residential care apply to couples when it comes to capital and savings).

The above is a brief outline of the basic guidelines.

Whether the care package is delivered direct i.e. they arrange the care for you or you receive a Direct Payment to arrange your own care or you have a personalised/individual budget. The charges should be the same. BUT it could mean that they give you less into your budget and you have to make up the difference to fund the care.

Savings limits can be applied as they are with Residential Care which means all charges would be payable until below the limit.

Example:

Mrs A aged 79 living alone receives 3.5 hours care per week 1/2 an hour a day from a Care Agency arranged by the LA. savings are £2000.

The LA's standard charge for Home Agency care is £13 per hour so her total charges are £45.50

Income counted for assessment is £260.35 (this is excluding night time AA and pension savings credits) includes everything else including small private pension.

The amount they say is the minimum for her to live on (taking age etc/disability into account) + 25% is £181.75

This leaves income eligible for charging of £78.60

Her weekly Disability Related Expenditure is :

Cleaning & Shopping 2 hours per week @ £11 per hour = £22.00
Taxi & transport costs (including using a local disabled ring and ride scheme which charges = £24.50

Gardening which is averaged out over a year allowing for winter months when no mowing etc. = £15.00

Window cleaner = £1.33 (averaged out over year)

Medication not on prescription = £7 per week

Total DRE is £69.83

Her charges weekly are therefore £8.77 a week.

(please note it is advisable to have receipts/proof of expenditure available at the time of the assessment)

Sandra reading your posts about your Husband's care on the other thread I'm assuming he has a personalised budget ?? As I'm still a little unclear because you call it an allowance.

So if for example he is being paid £100 per week into his budget to meet his care needs, is that the figure after charges have been applied? Because it sounds as though possibly it is. Has he ever had a Fairer Charging Assessment? Does your authority charge for care ? Although unless someone lives in Scotland this is very unlikely.

I don't really understand the way the figures are working with the hourly rate either.

One of the reasons for getting charging right from the offset is that if care needs increase then unless there is an income change or DRE change, extra hours as you can see in the example above will make no difference to the charges incurred.

SandraScarlett

Hi, the assessment was carried out and it was eventually decided by the Powers That Be that he should have 2 days of 5 hours at a club, in order to have social interaction with other people, and for me to have a break.


He used to attend this club as an ordinary member, at £1.50 a day, but as he became more confused, the club decided last year that he had to be a Day Opportunities member, which is £9 per hour.


I've really battled to get his hours increased, but as I said, he goes for 4 hours daily, and I pay the extra £90 weekly, as I need some time in the day to catch up on my sleep.


I've asked for another assessment, and that's being carried out next month.


xx

cattermole

Ok I'm glad you are having another assessment next month.

From what you say though it doesn't sound as though he has had a financial assessment (this is totally separate from the care assessment) whilst the care assessment does ask some financial details it is not the same thing.

So they are paying the full ten hours (he was assessed as needing) i.e. £90 a week? But they are not charging for this? I do find that strange.

The extra you are topping up is obviously what you need to get assessed in to his hours (which is a separate thing).

Regarding the care assessment you clearly need this for your rest. It is still a very cheap option for the LA at £180 minus any charges that might be due. Plus it benefits him tremendously to go and that you are refreshed it is in his "best interests" that you are able to carry on caring for him at home. Use that term every other sentence during the assessment!

I know it can be hard because obviously you want to provide as much care as you can personally and you are doing an amazing job, but say you have to have the respite you and he need to carry on caring for him in his own home which is clearly in his "best interests". They should assess his needs as though you are not there to provide the care and then see what care is available that you are able to provide and make up the difference. The reality is though this invariably does not happen.

Is having a night-sitter in the house something you would feel comfortable with as well? I know from experience going without sleep night after night even with catching up in the day is very very draining indeed. And it must give you little or no time to do much else. Any help you need preparing for the assessment please feel free to pm any time. x

Indie_Kid

Thanks for this. A few questions, if you don't mind:
- If someone is saving up for equipment, (I don't know if SS would supply it. It's rather expensive) is this taken into account when working out how much DLA someone needs to contribute to their care?
- How does it work if someone has to buy a certain item (ie, wet wipes) on an as and when basis? So there's none of this "every week I spend £2". It's purely when they need to.

Thank you.

cattermole

Hi Indie

The wet wipes if they are related to the disability yes would be fine or should be.

With the equipment, it is allowable but I'm not sure how they would view saving for it. After you had bought it, then yes they would, it may depend on whether SS would normally provide it though.

Is it something that could be rented or leased for example? Or is it worth asking Social Services whether they would provide it first?

There are grants for example for certain equipment from Charities as well....

Indie_Kid

Thanks. I don't know if it can be leased and I'd be surprised if SS would supply it. Forgot about the grants.

cattermole

What is it if you don't mind me asking?

Might be able to point you in the right directions re grants.

Indie_Kid

It's a desktop magnifier. I already have something similar; but can't use it to fill in forms - because there's no room for me to write underneath. I think the RNIB did (or do) grants. Will chec them again later.

cattermole

Hubby says it's more or less impossible to get grants at the moment.

He asked what you wanted if for...anyway he says the Cobolt system is better and much cheaper you need a mouse magnifier £54.95 and a mouse magnifier stand £64.95.

https://secure.vvhosting.co.uk/cobolt/store/eric_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?idCategory=28

Indie_Kid

Thanks. Had a look at RNIB grants and they don't offer them for what I'm after.