Charging and financial assessment for care and support in a care home on a temporary basis – short-term placement (excluding respite care)
10.1
The Council will charge for care and support delivered in a care home on a temporary basis (short-term placement).
10.2
Following an assessment of an adult’s eligible care and support needs, a decision may be taken that the adult would benefit from a temporary stay in a Care Home. A temporary resident is defined as an adult whose need to stay in a Care Home is intended to last for a limited period of time and where there is a plan to return home. The adult’s stay should be unlikely to exceed 52 weeks, or in exceptional circumstances, unlikely to substantially exceed 52 weeks.
10.3
Where an adult’s stay is intended to be permanent, but circumstances change and the stay becomes temporary, then the Council will assess and charge as a temporary stay.
10.4
Adults that have a temporary stay that becomes permanent will be assessed for a permanent stay at the date permanency is confirmed and the Care and Support plan is amended.
10.5
The Council will financially assess all adults having a temporary stay in a Care Home and will charge from the date of admittance.
10.6
The financial assessment for temporary stays will completely disregard the adult’s main or only home where the adult intends to return to that home.
10.7
The financial assessment will treat income and capital in the same way as if the customer was entering a Care Home on a permanent basis with the following exceptions:
- Where the adult is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance, these are completely disregarded from the financial assessment;
- Where the adult receives Severe Disability Premium or Enhanced Disability Premium, these payments cease when Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance ceases
10.8
The Council will ensure that where a spouse or partner resides in the same residence as the adult, that the spouse/partner will have an income of at least the basic level of income support or pension credit, to which they would be entitled to in their own right.
10.9
The Council will ensure that where Housing Benefit is paid, this is disregarded. The Council will ensure that payments made by the adult to keep and maintain their home, such as rent or insurance premiums are disregarded at the rate of £20 per week. In exceptional circumstances, where the payments are more than this amount, the Council will consider disregarding a higher amount but will request evidence to support the decision. Contributions are payable from the date care commences. A new financial assessment will be required in each financial year where an adult requires temporary accommodation in a Care Home.