How much will I pay for services?

If your needs are such that you require a service that we charge for, in order to make sure you pay only a fair and reasonable amount, we offer everyone a financial assessment.

What is a Financial Assessment?

A financial assessment is undertaken by the Financial Assessment and Benefits team or, where you are moving to a care home, by your key worker or social worker.

We ask questions about your income, savings and capital assets, plus any expenses you have, then we calculate what your contribution will be.

Generally if you have over £23,250 in savings/capital you will be asked to make the maximum contribution towards your services - please see below.

We only count your income, not that of your spouse or partner, and some of your income will be disregarded - for example if you have a partner at home we will disregard half of your occupational pension.
There are also various expenses we can take into account, for example rent or council tax, and expenses you incur because of your disability or illness.

The rules we follow are different depending on whether you are receiving services at home or in a residential care home. Please see the Adult Charging Policy 2011 and Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance 2011 (weblinks tab).

The assessment will usually take be undertaken by means of you completing a form sent in the post
If you need or would like someone to help you with the financial assessment process we positively encourage help from friends, family and carers.

Do I have to have one?

No, but if you choose not to disclose your financial circumstances, you will be asked to pay either the chargeable cost or the maximum charge for any care and support at home, and you will asked to fund your residential care home yourself.

How much might I have to pay?

The maximum you will be asked to pay towards care and support at home is either your assessed contribution or the full chargeable cost of your support service or the maximum charge (currently £250 per week), whichever is the lower

Most services are charged at a subsidised rate i.e. not the full market cost. However in many cases, if you are assessed as having to pay the full chargeable cost the amount of subsidised service you receive may be minimal.

The most you will have to pay towards residential care home fees is the full contracted fee.

In some cases you may not have to pay anything at all towards care and support at home, but if you move to a residential care home you will always have to pay something towards the fees unless you meet the criteria for Continuing Health Care funding (please see document in the downloads section).

What if I have savings?

If you have £23,250 or more in capital /savings you will not qualify for help with residential care home fees and will be asked to pay either chargeable cost or the maximum charge for any care and support at home.

Certain forms of capital are disregarded, for example some investment bonds and trust funds. You will need to check with us whether they should be counted or not in your particular case.

Normally your home will not count as a capital asset. However if you move to a residential care home permanently then your former home may be treated as a capital asset and depending on its net value may bring your total savings and capital assets above the capital limit. Please see ‘Twelve Week Property Disregard’ and ‘Deferred Payment Agreements’.

If you have between £14,250 and £23,250 in capital /savings you will be treated as having an assumed income from savings of £1 per week for each £250 you have above the lower figure.

Savings and Capital assets below £14,250 do not affect your financial assessment.

Twelve Week Property Disregard

If your former home is included in your financial assessment for residential care but your other capital is less than £23,250, and your income is not enough to meet any care home fees, the council will help with the cost during the first 12 weeks of permanent care provided that you meet the eligibility criteria.

Deferred Payment Agreements

After the twelve week property disregard period, any financial help from the council towards your care home fees will be charged against the value of your former home and recovered once your house has been sold. A legal charge will be placed on your house, and there will be some legal costs incurred in the set up of the agreement. It is important to seek independent legal and financial advice in these circumstances. Deferred Payment Leaflet.

However, the council may limit how much they pay and it may affect your entitlement to pension credit if your property is not seen to be on the market and becomes treated as capital by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP).

Please note this capital limit usually changes every April.

Running out of money

If you are currently self funding but your capital is likely to reduce to £23,250, you must let the Council know well in advance as they may help with your care home fees, if you meet the eligibility criteria.

The council will complete an assessment of your situation and will make a contribution. If the home you have chosen charges more than the council would fund, you must pay or find someone to help pay the difference - this is called a third party ‘top-up’ payment.

Understanding your rights before moving into care is essential. There are a number of financial products and specialist companies who may be able to help. It is important to seek advice before committing yourself.

What if I have joint accounts?

If you have joint savings we would normally count 50% as your savings. .

Can I claim benefits to help me?

The Financial Assessments and Benefits Team (FAB) can offer you a full benefits check as part of a financial assessment and refer you to the Department for Work and pensions to help you to claim any benefits you may be missing out on. For example, if you are assessed as needing care and support at home you should consider claiming Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance. Eligibility for these benefits is not affected by your income or capital.

Attendance Allowance

This is a non-means tested, non taxable benefit from the DWP paid per week at the lower rate of £49.30per week for those needing care by day or night, and at the higher rate of £73.60 per week for those needing care both during the day and night. For further information link to Directgov.uk or follow this link.

What will happen next?

Someone from Lincolnshire County Council will contact you to carry out an assessment. Following this, if you do receive practical help from us we will arrange a financial assessment. We try to make this as simple as possible. We welcome help from your carer, friends or representative if you feel you would like someone to help you.

Remember:

• If your partner still lives at home, they will not be means-tested.
• Your assessment will be made up of two elements, a care and financial assessment.
• If you are choosing a care home with nursing, it will generally be more expensive than a care home offering personal care only.
• If you are moving into a nursing home, you may be eligible for NHS Nursing Care Contribution - currently £108.70 per week.