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There are several options for paying for home care these vary depending on your assessed need (which can include specific illnesses), your chosen need and whether you live in England, Scotland or Wales.
In England and Wales, those who have assets of more than the upper capital limit will not be entitled to receive free home care from their Local Authority and therefore are, generally, required to fund the cost of care from their own resources. In addition, those in England whose income after paying for care, is more than the Department of Health's guidelines will be expected to meet their own costs and charges.
Subject to individual circumstances, there may be an entitlement to additional benefits (e.g. Attendance Allowance and Pension Credit) which may offer some financial assistance in meeting domiciliary care costs. Further details of these benefits can be obtained through official Government sources.
Paying for care in your own home
To qualify for financial support, you must have less than £23,000 (England), £22,000 (Wales) in savings and investments (not including your home). If you hold these jointly, you will be assessed as owning half their value. If your spouse or civil partner has savings in their name alone these will not be taken into account. You pay for care on a sliding scale, depending on your income after housing and disability-related costs.
Personal Budgets
This is an allocation of funding given to those in need of care after an assessment which should be sufficient to meet their assessed needs. Those in need of care can either take their personal budget as a direct payment or leave Local Authorities with the responsibility to commission the services - or a combination of the two.
Direct payments
These are cash payments given to those in need of care in lieu of community care services they have been assessed as needing, and are intended to give those in need of care greater choice in their care. The payment must be sufficient to enable the service user to purchase services to meet their needs, and must be spent on services that users need. Like commissioned care they are means-tested so assume that, in many cases, people will contribute to the cost of their care.
Individual budgets
These differ from personal budgets in covering a multitude of funding streams, besides adult social care e.g.: Supporting People, Disabled Facilities Grant, Independent Living Funds, Access to Work and community equipment services.
Shaw Community Services provides care to individuals who are both privately and Local Authority funded. Please contact your local branch for further details.
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