Services at home and in the community
In November 2001 and February 2002, the government issued statutory guidance to local authorities which said that, from 1
st October 2002 we could no longer charge fixed or flat rate charges for non-residential services, unless they are to pay for meals.
Based on the governments suggested way of calculating the charges for non-residential services, our charging policy is as follows.
Day Centres and Day Services
There is a meals and refreshments charge of £4.60 per day
Services which include home careapart from the home care servicealso includes:
- Extra Care Housing
- Direct Payments
- Adult Placement Scheme
- 24 hour supported group care
- community living service
- home sitting service
There is no charge for Reablement Care at home or in sheltered housing.
The amount you pay (if any) for these care services will depend on your financial circumstances.
a) If your capital assets (excluding your home) are worth more than £25,000 you will be asked to pay the maximum charge. This is
· £14.24 per hour
· Up to a maximum of £142.40 per week
b) You will receive a free service if your total income is below an income disregard. The amount of the income disregard is the same as the basic rate of income support for your age plus 25%. For example
· A single person under 60 will have an income disregard of £107.94
· A single person over 60 will have an income disregard of £155.06
c) If a) or b) do not apply your weekly charge will depend on the following.
· Your total weekly income which includes state benefits (apart from Disability Living Allowance mobility component) and pensions, but does not include earnings; and
· Your capital if this is more than £13,500 and below £25,000. We will work out a 'tariff income' charge of £1 a week for each part or complete £250 you have over £13,500. Capital means money held in cash, bank or building society accounts, premium bonds, stocks and shares. It does not include the value of your home.
In addition to the income disregard of basic income support plus 25% you will be able to keep the following.
· Your property related expenses such as your rent, council tax, water rates, buildings and contents insurance.
· Your disability related expenses if you receive Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance Care Component or Pension Credit which includes an additional amount for severe disability. These are the extra expenses you may have to incur because of your age, illness or disability. Examples of these include the costs of extra washing, extra heating and alarm systems.
You will not be asked to pay any more than the maximum charges of £14.24 per hour and £142.40 per week
Home care service
Home Care is intended to help an individual to remain independent in their own home. A Home Care worker will visit an individual at their home for a specified number of hours in a week depending on need. Personal care is provided such as dressing and washing.
Maximum Charges:
Hour £14.24
Week £142.40
Direct payments
A Direct payment is money given by the Council to people who are eligible to receive social care services and who want them as an alternative to having services arranged for them. The money is used by people to arrange services for themselves to meet their social care needs.
If you receive your care from a home care provider, the maximum charges are £14.24 per hour and £142.40 per week
If you are employing a personal assistant, the maximum charges are £10.00 per hour and £100 per week.
Extra care housing
Extra Care housing provides the security and privacy of a person's own home, with range of facilities on the premises and 24 hour care services available, if required
The maximum weekly charges are:
Mid dependency level: 1 to 10 hours £108.96
High dependency level: Over 10 hours £185.87
Adult placement scheme
Specially approved Adult Placement Carers provide day care and short or long term care, usually in their own homes. They can also give short term support in a person's own home and local community.
The charges are:
Day Care and Floating Support
Daily Charge £ 4.60
Long stay care - the maximum weekly charges are:
Hour
£14.24
Week £142.40
Short stay care
Daily charge £9.20
24 hour supported group care
This relates to the resettlement of individuals with learning disabilities into ordinary housing in the community normally in groups of between 3-5 people.
Maximum Charges:£14.24 per hour and £142.40 per week
Additionally, any Housing Benefit received by service users will offset the housing provider's costs. Similarly, any council tax received will offset council tax levied by the relevant district council.
Community living service
The Community Living Service helps people with disabilities to live with support in the community. The aim of the Service is to enable independence, rather than just provide care. Help may also be given to fund ordinary housing where necessary that enables people to move out of residential or hospital care or from a parent's home to an independent lifestyle.
Maximum Charges:£14.24 per hour and £142.40 per week
Home sitting service - for children with disabilities and for adults
This is a service provided by MENCAP to provide support or respite to assist service users in their own houses.
Maximum Charges:£14.24 per hour and £142.40 per week
Day centres
Day Centres are establishments where elderly, at risk people can meet socially, take part in activities and have a meal. These centres are non-residential and a charge is made to cover the provision of a meal and/ or refreshments. Some day care is also provided in residential units and if in an emergency there was a requirement to stay overnight an additional charge would be made.
Meals and refreshments charge is £4.60 per day
Day services
Day Services (formerly Adult Training Centres) are provided as part of a Community Care package which relates to the National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990. Day Services are provided at centres for clients who may have Learning Disabilities or Mental Health needs.
Meals and refreshments charge is £4.60 per day
Independent living accommodation
Accommodation is provided in unstaffed County Council premises for people with Disabilities. Charges for this accommodation are as follows:
£weekly
Basic Units £112.64
Bedsitter/Double Flats £168.95
These charges are made up of the following costs.
Basic Bedsitter/
Unit Double Flats
£weekly £weekly
Rent (usually covered by Housing Benefits) 91.65 135.30
Heating and lighting 16.46 26.74
Water charges 2.20 3.43
Cleaning charges 2.33 3.48
Service Users may also receive support from the Community Living Service.
Supporting people
If you receive a support service from a housing provider, which has a Supporting People contract, and you are not entitled to housing benefit and you have under £25,000 in capital, you may be able to get financial assistance. You will need to speak to your housing provider to find out how you can apply.
Meals on wheels/luncheon clubs
This is the provision of a meal to an individual's house or at a designated place known as a "Luncheon Club". This service is available to people who are housebound and unable to provide a meal for themselves or to provide social contact at a Luncheon Club for isolated people unable to provide a meal for themselves. The charges are as follows:
Meals on Wheels
Hot delivery service, per meal £2.30
Dinner only £1.50
Pudding only £0.80
Frozen delivery service, per meal £2.20
Luncheon Club attendance £2.80
Blue Badge - issue and renewal
Charge £2.00 and is valid for 3 years.
The Blue Badge Scheme provides a national arrangement for parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties, who travel either as drivers or passengers, and for registered blind people and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who regularly drive a vehicle but cannot handle a steering wheel by hand. It allows badge holders to park close to their destination. The Blue Badge scheme has replaced the Orange Badge Scheme.
Where can you get further information?
For further information and eligibility criteria of any of the services mentioned, please contact your local area office.
"Staffordshire County Council is not responsible for any of the content of external websites linked from this page."
If you want independent advice on charging you can contact:-
The Citizens Advice Bureau or Age Concern
Last Modified:
18/11/2008 09:50:09
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