Charging and financial assessment for care and support in an adult’s own home, including supported living
12.1
North Tyneside Council will charge for care and support delivered in other care settings including a person’s own home.
12.2
Adults requiring care and support in their own home or other care settings, such as Extra Care Housing must initially satisfy an eligibility assessment for care and support. Only where an adult has an eligible care and support need will a financial assessment be required.
12.3
Where an adult has an eligible care and support need, the Council will calculate how much the personal budget might be using its Resource Allocation System (RAS). Once the indicative budget is known, the care support planning process, taking into account the adult’s desired outcomes, will determine the agreed personal budget.
12.4
Adults will have the option to take their personal budget as: a council commissioned services; an Individual Service Fund; as a Direct Payment; or a combination of any of these options. Adults who take their personal budget as a Direct Payment may purchase alternative types of care to meet their care and support needs as defined in Sections 31 to 33 of The Care Act 2014
12.5
The Council has specific ‘Direct Payments Guidance’ that sets out the criteria for care and support being managed through Direct Payments available on our My Care website. https://mycare.northtyneside.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/help/facts
12.6
The Council will undertake a financial assessment to determine the amount an adult can contribute towards their care and support costs. The financial assessment will be based, as a minimum, on income, capital, housing costs and Disability Related Expenditure (DRE). Adults with capital in excess of the higher capital limit will be responsible for meeting all of their care and support costs. Evidence will be required to substantiate fully an adult’s financial circumstances. Please refer to Appendix A of this policy for Guidance in relation to DRE.
12.7
Where an adult has capital in excess of the higher capital limit and is therefore classed as ‘self-funding’ they can choose to make their own arrangements and pay privately to meet their needs. Alternatively, they can request that their services are arranged by the Council. They would then be considered ‘full cost client’ and would be required to pay the full cost of their care and support. The Council will charge an ‘arrangement fee’ for doing this. The annual fee is set out in Appendix B Schedule of Charges. This schedule will be reviewed and updated annually.
12.8
The Schedule of Charges will be managed under the Council’s Delegated Responsibilities and will be reviewed annually. This will include charges for support being met through technology.
12.9
The Council will ensure that adults retain at least the ‘Minimum Income Guarantee.’ As set out in Appendix C General Living Allowance This retained income level is designed to promote independence and social inclusion and is intended to cover basic needs for ordinary living expenses such as food, light and heating, after housing costs have been taken into consideration. Direct housing costs will only be considered where the adult is liable for such costs, i.e. holds the tenancy agreement or is party to the mortgage. The ‘Minimum Income Guarantee’ is set out under The Care Act and is confirmed each year by Department of Health and Social Care.
12.10
The financial assessment will refer to the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 for all disregards in respect of income and capital when making a determination of the adult’s financial resources.
12.11
When the financial assessment has been concluded, the adult will be informed in writing of the weekly amount they must contribute towards their care and support costs. Adults will not be charged more than the amount determined by the financial assessment. Contributions are payable from the date that care and support services commence. Adults who require services to be arranged by the Council will be invoiced on a four-weekly basis in arrears for their care and support costs. Adults receiving their care and support costs through a Direct Payment will receive payments weekly, inclusive of their financial contribution. They will then receive an invoice for their financial contribution which will be paid to the Council. Adults who receive their care and support through an Individual Service Fund, ISF, will be invoiced on a four-weekly basis for their assessed contribution.
12.12
The Council will aim to review all financial assessments with the adult or their financial representative on a regular basis.
12.13
The Council will back date any uplifts in charges based on the uplift in benefit rates which occur each April.
12.14
Adults who receive their care and support through an Extra Care schemes may be liable for a core charge, for maintenance and 24 - hour concierge support. The amount will be disregarded from their financial assessment and separate invoices raised on a 4-weekly basis. If the person is not in receipt of care and support from the Council, they would still be liable for the core charge.