Completing a Financial Assessment

Understanding the outcome

Once you submit your form, our Financial Assessment team will review the details. And confirm in writing the outcome of your financial assessment.

How we calculate your contribution

We review all the information you have provided to calculate your contribution.

If you have more than £23,250 in savings or assets you will be responsible for paying the full cost of your care. This also applies if you choose not to share your financial details with us during the assessment.

We look at your income and your expenses as part of the assessment. This is to make sure you always have enough money to live on. This a protected amount is called the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) if you are cared for at home, or the Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) if you live in a care home.

  The calculation
Consider your capital
  • we start by checking your savings and assets (your capital).
  • if your savings are between £14,250 and £23,250, we count a small part of them as extra weekly income. For every £250 you have in savings, we add £1 to your weekly income total. This is known as the capital tariff.
  • if you have less than £14,250, your savings are disregarded completely.
Calcultate your total income 
  • we calculate your total income such as your benefits and any occupational pensions. 
  • where applicable, we also include any capital tariff income calculated from your savings.
Deduct any disregarded income
  • some income and benefits are ignored for the purposes of calculating your charge. These are not included in our calculation.
Deduct any allowances
  • we take away a protected amount for your daily living. This is the Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) if you receive care at home, or a Personal Expenses Allowance (PEA) if you are in a care home. 
  • this ensures you have enough money to live on.
Deduct any expenses
  • this only applies to those receiving community care.
  • we take away any allowed expenses such as housing costs (mortgage, buildings insurance, or any rent and Council Tax not covered by benefits)
  • we also consider any relevant disability related banding or expenditure.
Net assessible income 
  • we calculate your Net Assessable Income (NAI)
  • this is done by calculating your total income and subtracting any disregarded income, allowances and expenses.
Your contribution
  • we compare your NAI to the actual cost of your care. You will always pay whichever amount is lower. 

If you and a partner both receive care, we will assess each of you as individuals. This ensures that you both have your own separate weekly charge based on your personal finances.

We will provide a full breakdown as part of the outcome. Along with guidance to give more detail on our calculation.

For more information on how we calculate your contribution. Please review our Care charges and charging policy.

Will my charges change

Your contribution will change every year and may also change dependent on any change in services you receive. For more information, please see our information on change of circumstances.

If you cannot afford your care charge

Your financial assessment works out how much you can afford to contribute towards your care and support. It's individual to you, based on your personal circumstances. The assessment ensures your contribution is within your means. It also leaves you with the guaranteed minimum level of income set by the Government.

If you cannot afford the contribution, you can get independent advice on budgeting and managing your finances. It can also help you check that you are getting all the benefits and support you can.

You can visit our Help and Advice section to find more information about organisations that can offer support.

If you are not satisfied with the outcome

If you feel that your assessment is incorrect, you can ask for your financial assessment to be reviewed. 

You will need to complete our contact us form and select the option to request a review of an assessment outcome. 

  • we will check the original assessment and make sure that it has been done correctly. 
  • you will need to tell us why the decision needs to be reviewed. If you have any new information to provide, you will be able to include this and upload any documents too. 
  • we will review the case and contact you with our decision. 

Contact us

How to complain

If you are not happy with the review of your case, talk to the staff member you have been working with. They will help you understand the results and listen to your concerns. They will work with you to find a solution.

Should you not feel the situation has been resolved you can also contact the Customer Relations Team. They are independent of operational services and will guide you through the complaint process.

Make a complaint

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