Paying for community care

Services which help to keep you independent while you live in your own home are called community care. These services could include:

• a direct payment for you to arrange your own care
• home care
• day care services
• community supported living
• mental health support
• shared lives services

How much will I have to pay? 

Following your care needs assessment, if you want to request financial help toward the cost of your care, you will need to complete a Financial Assessment form. This form will ask for details about your income, including any pensions and state benefits you receive, as well as any assets you own.

The financial assessment will work out the maximum amount you can afford to pay towards your care needs based on your personal finances. We will cover any care costs over this amount within your agreed personal budget. 

You can use your personal budget to fund the care and support you need, in one of the following ways:

• by receiving services commissioned or arranged by us through a Council managed budget.
• as a direct payment. This means that you will be able to purchase your care and support yourself within your allocated personal budget.