Supporting People Charges Information 2006/07

Charges for the Service

Charges for the Supporting People Services are based on a financial assessment of a Service User’s income and expenditure. If you do not wish to be financially assessed or disclose your financial details you can elect to pay the full cost charge.

Those having substantial levels of capital

Where a Service User has capital, currently over £21,000 excluding the property in which they reside, they are automatically required to pay the full cost charge. In the case of couples where their savings jointly add up to £21,000, the charge will also be at the full cost rate. A tariff rate of income applies to capital between £21,000 and the current lower limit £12,750 this is explained below. Capital below £12,750 is ignored other than any interest received from it.

The Financial Assessment Process

Unless you have chosen not to complete the Financial Assessment and Supporting People Claim Forms, the following information is required and taken into account in your financial Assessment.

All your weekly income including: interest on any savings and, for capital between £21,000 and £12,750, a sum of £1 a week for every £250 (or part thereof) above £12,750; Pensions and disability allowances (eg Attendance Allowance) other than mobility allowance are all added together. From this total we deduct actual weekly expenditure such as rent, mortgage payments, council tax and water rates.

In addition we then deduct the appropriate living allowances and premiums applicable to you PLUS 25% of that value. If, after these deductions, you are left with a sum of money, this will become what we call your Maximum weekly assessment for Supporting People Services. Depending on any other services you may be receiving from Social Services and any reduction you might be entitled to due to your disabilities (see further details below entitled ‘Disability Expenditure Assessment’), we will arrive at the Maximum weekly charge for your Supporting People Service.

Non-completion of Financial Assessment Form

A Supporting People Claim Form received from the Provider of the service and a Service User declines or is unable to complete the Financial Assessment Form once the service has commenced, they will be charged at the full cost charge regardless of their financial circumstances. Once the Assessment Form has been properly completed, the charge will be reassessed and an adjustment to the charge made accordingly.

Disability Expenditure Assessment

The Council has recently reviewed its charging policy to bring it into line with new Government guidance. From October 2002 claimants became entitled to a Disability Expenditure Assessment (DEA). This assessment is separate from the Financial Assessment since it picks up extra costs you might incur due to the effects of any disabilities you may have. Such additional costs might be:

· Additional laundry and/or heating costs;
· Care services privately arranged, paid by Service User;
· Other personal costs not covered by service;
· Maintenance of garden.

The assessment will be carried out either at the same time as your service requirements are agreed and a Financial Assessment Form is completed or at a later point in time. You will be asked to provide evidence of these extra costs in certain circumstances and it will be subject to review or time limited depending on the circumstances.

If you choose to pay the full cost charge and not request a Financial Assessment for your service then a Disability Expenditure Assessment will not apply. If your financial assessment indicates you have nothing to pay for your service, similarly a Disability Expenditure Assessment will not be offered. A Disability Expenditure Assessment will not result in the Local Authority paying you an additional sum, but it may reduce the amount you pay for the service as determined by the original financial assessment.

Changes to Circumstances

Service User’s and/or their representatives are reminded that it is their responsibility to inform the Council of any changes in their circumstances, particularly income/benefits, as this may affect their charge. In certain circumstances eg award of attendance allowance, an increase in the charge will be backdated.

Benefit Advice

It is the Council’s policy to make Service Users aware of all applicable benefits. If Service Users and Carers are unable to make an application then one of our officers, with the applicant’s permission, will assist in making the application.

If you require this leaflet in Braille, translated, audio or other format or assistance is required, please contact the Financial Assessments Team on 020 8303 7777 ext 2440/1/2/6/7.