Care Funding Information
How to navigate local authority funding for home care with Airmid Staffing.Financial considerations can be daunting for many people at the best of times, especially when combined with the need for care services. We have put together some information to help guide you.
Financial considerations can be daunting for many people at the best of times, especially when combined with the need for care services. We have put together some information to help guide you.
Advice & Support / Local Authority Funding
Local Authority Funding
A financial assessment determines how much you will pay towards your care if it is arranged by your local council. Home care organised by your local authority is generally not free and you will normally be expected to contribute to some of the costs.
The financial assessment for care is also known as a means test and looks at your income and capital. The test is conducted after or at the same time as your care needs assessment, which determines your social care needs and gathers information to construct a care plan.
If your local authority decides you are eligible and provides you with support, they must look at your financial circumstances. The financial assessment for care at home decides whether you have to pay for some of the costs or receive care services for free.
Generally, the more money that you have, the more you will have to pay. There are capital limits, which vary from country to country.
For example, in England, your council will generally help you with care costs if you have less than ÂŁ23,250 in savings.
How the financial assessment works
During the test, a Financial Assessment Officer from your local council will visit you to ask about your income and your capital.
If you are receiving care in your own home as opposed to living in a care home, the value of your property will not be included.
What does the means test for home care involve?
To calculate how much you will have to contribute towards your care, the financial assessment looks at:
- Earnings
- Pensions
- Benefits
- Savings
If you receive home care, you may be entitled to a variety of benefits. Some types of income, such as payments from the mobility part of Disability Living Allowance, will not be considered.
The assessment officer will assume you are receiving all benefits you are entitled to even if you are not currently claiming them.
If you receive income as part of a couple, only your share will be taken into account. The assessment will also ignore the value of your possessions and any life insurance policies.
How much will you have to pay for your care?
How much you need to pay yourself, or if the care and support will be provided for free, depends on where you live in the UK and how much money and assets you have.
England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different capital limits and ways to determine if, and how much, you will have to pay.
What steps do I take to see if I can access funding from my local authority?
There are a series of steps involved in securing social care funding:
- You will need to discuss your care needs with your local GP or health consultant. If you are eligible for funding, you will be recommended to contact the adult services department.
- Adult services will arrange an assessment for your care needs and request a GP report to feed into this process. They will produce a detailed report based on your care and health needs.
- A financial assessment (means test) will be undertaken to determine your ability to pay the cost of the care you need. Savings, income and assets are all considered in the process.
- Depending upon your means test and how it aligns with social funding thresholds, you will be deemed eligible either for full or part social care funding, or ineligible for any financial assistance from the local authority.