Will I have to pay for services?

If you are looking to purchase care and support services you should always ask us to assess your care needs and those of your carer. If you meet the criteria for support, the services you receive are usually chargeable but the council may be able to pay all or part of the charges or fees for you.

If you would like help with these charges or care home fees we can undertake a financial assessment to determine a fair and reasonable contribution. The amount of financial help we can provide will depend on your income, savings/capital assets and qualifying expenses.

Generally, if we are supporting you in a Care Home the amount of financial help and the rules relating to the financial assessment are different from those that apply if you need care and support to help you stay at home. The rules covering financial assessments for residential Care Homes are national rules which all local authorities must follow; whereas those applicable to services provided to help you stay at home are set locally but have to follow national guidance and best practice. For further information please see Charging for Residential Accommodation Guidance 2010 and Fairer Charging Policy 2010.

If you do not meet the criteria for help with care and support costs or fees, or the amount of financial help available is minimal and you have decided to fund your service yourself, please see the FAQ’s ’What is a self funder’ for more help and advice.