Care and Support Charging and Financial Assessment Framework

Contents

• 1. Summary
• 2. Legal context
• 3. Principles of this framework
• 4. Care and support services provided free of charge
• 5. Chargeable care and support services
• 6. Care and support financial assessment policy
  • 6.1 Capital
  • 6.2 How is a financial assessment carried out?
  • 6.3 Deprivation of assets
  • 6.4 Delays to the financial assessment process
  • 6.5 Financial assessment reviews
  • 6.6 Change in circumstance and use of financial information
  • 6.7 Debt recovery
  • 6.8 Debt Management and Relief
  • 6.9 Financial assessment and charging for care home accommodation
  • 6.10 Financial assessment and charging for non-residential care and support
  • 6.11 Annual Review
  • 6.12 How to pay your charges for care and support
• 7. Section 117 and social care packages of care
• 8. Mental capacity to manage finances
• 9. Residence when moving to accommodation outside Bath and North East Somerset Council
• 10. Deferred Payment Agreements (DPAs)
• 11. Interim funding policy
• 12. Choice of accommodation and top up payments
• 13. Funding agreement
• 14. Direct Payments
• 15. Equality Impact Assessment
• 16. Reviewing the Charging and Financial Assessment Framework
• 17. Appeals
• 18. Annex A
• 19. Annex B
• 20. Annex C
• 21. Annex D
• 22. Annex E
• 23. Glossary of terms

6. Care and support financial assessment policy

This Financial Assessment Policy sets out the national and internal local Council rules that we use to work out how much an individual can afford to pay towards the costs of the Care and Support services provided to them. It has been drawn up in accordance with the Care and Support (Charging and Assessment of Resources) Regulations 2014 and the Care and Support Statutory Guidance which are issued under Section 17 of the Care Act 2014.

Information that applies to all financial assessments for all care and support settings

What is a financial assessment for care and support?

A financial assessment is a calculation of the charge you will be required to pay towards the costs of your care1 .

If you have capital assets above the Upper Capital Limit2  you will be required to pay the full costs of your care and support.

If your capital assets are below the Upper Capital Limit or the Council cannot identify the level of capital you hold we will carry out a financial assessment and ask you to tell us about:

• Your income – how much money you have coming in
• Your capital assets – your savings, investments, land and property 

We then work out how much you can statutorily keep for personal use3 .

We use this information to calculate your Assessed Weekly Charge. This is the most you would be asked to pay towards your care and support and is subject to review. If your care and support costs are less than your Assessed Maximum Weekly Charge you will be required to pay the full costs of your Care and Support. 

Your Assessed Weekly Charge will change when your financial situation changes, for example if your income or savings change. We will review your financial assessment in line with any changes in your circumstances.

If the service you receive is an after-care service under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 you will not require a financial assessment.

If your care and support service is fully paid for by the NHS under Continuing Healthcare you will not require a financial assessment.

• 1Section 14 of the Care Act 2014.
• 2See Annex B Capital Limits.
• 3See Annex B Calculating Your Charge.