Community Care and charges

bll78

Ah I didn't know she was just on benefits, I couldn't find anything specific on what her income is.
Thanks Cattermole

cattermole

bll78 wrote: »

Ah I didn't know she was just on benefits, I couldn't find anything specific on what her income is.
Thanks Cattermole

No you are right she hasn't actually said that as such only referred to husbands income and didn't say otherwise in response to my post about benefits and couples benefits being disregarded. So I could be wrong.

You information was very helpful in regard to couples as it could be relevant if the income is not from benefits alone.

sueturnersmith

Thanks for the advice. My income is from DLA, a works pension, and some (not full) state retirement pension. My husband only receives carers allowance and a very small works pension, as he is not yet of retirement age.

bll78

cattermole wrote: »

They are from the fairer charging guidance so it is standard.

It applies really when the service user is the person with the largest income (not from benefits) and allocating of assets, housing allowances and is supporting the spouse..

Yes it can be a joint assessment so I explained that badly but it really only applies if the service user has the main income from non benefit sources. Any joint assets are automatically split 50/50. There also could be a situation where the non service user has assets which could be considered 50% the service users.

.

In which case bearing in mind Cattermoles comment amount it being standard and mine about rules if the service user has the main income, then you need to ask them to look at it again quoting these rules, if your pension makes a large difference. Unless and it's one thing we've not covered you have lots of assets i.e money in the bank, second property etc... This will make a difference

Which council are you under?

sueturnersmith

I come under Guildford council, and have no assets or savings except for the house we live in.

bll78

I can't find Guildford guidance but the national policy Cattermole refers to may help
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fairer-contributions-guidance-2010-calculating-an-individuals-contribution-to-their-personal-budget

bll78

This may help too, have a look at section 3.9

http://www.ageuk.org.uk/Documents/EN-GB/Factsheets/FS46_Paying_for_care_and_support_at_home_fcs.pdf?dtrk=true

cattermole

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

The above is the main document for Fairer Charging Guidance 2012

What varies from authority to authority is what benefits they charge on I have explained that part in quite a lot of detail on another thread here.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/4885591

This is Surrey's Fairer Charging Policy which would cover Guildford I think?

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/__data/assets/file/0005/241259/Fairer-Charging-Policy-2009.pdf
From their website here:

http://www.surreycc.gov.uk/social-care-and-health/adult-social-care/paying-for-adult-social-care/paying-for-adult-community-care-services#bottom

Interesting! They automatically disregard £20 for DRE although you can claim more.

It also says they don't charge carers for services.

They offer a joint assessment and do which is most favourable for the client.

Have you managed to speak to anyone yet Sue to find out what is going on ?

cattermole

Additional Information:

The Surrey policy document is quite old but it is off their website so I assume it's current.

There is one error in it because they fail to mention mobility allowance which has always been disregarded by the general guidance in Fairer Charging see point 32 in first link. They should really make this clear
as all other Council policies I've seen do.