A short-term break in a residential or nursing home is any stay that has not been confirmed as being long term. For financial assessment purposes it would be unlikely that a single continuous respite stay would exceed four weeks, Although there may be several short-term breaks during the year which total more than four weeks.

If you are considering a short-term break, and would like a copy of the booklet called 'Paying for your care home' please contact your local Gateway to Care:

The booklet explains how Adult Services assess and charge people for their care home for both long term and short stays.

The general rule is that if you have capital (such as savings or investments) of more than £23,250 you will pay the full charge of your accommodation. If your capital is less than £23,250, you will pay an assessed charge which is based on your capital and income including Social Security benefits and pensions. This will normally be less than the full charge.

There are some important differences between the assessments for temporary and long term stays. These are set out below. We take these differences into account when we assess you for your short term break in a care home.

• Income Support/Pension Credit - Local Authority Home - if you intend to stay in a Local Authority home, any Income Support you are already receiving may be reduced. So it is important that you tell the DWP about your respite stay. Please note that we only take into account the actual amount of benefits that you are entitled to receive.
  
  
• Income Support - if you are under 60 and don't have savings above £16,000, you should apply for Income Support to help pay for your stay. It is important that you inform the DWP before you begin your stay to make sure the additional benefits start from the first day of your stay.
  
  
• Attendance/Disability Living Allowance & Housing Benefit - if you are receiving any of these benefits they will not be included in your assessment.
  
  
• Your own home - The value of your own home is not taken into account as part of your capital.
  
  
• Costs at Home - We also make allowance in the assessment for certain household costs that you still have to pay, for example rent and some insurance premiums. Full details of these are shown in section 7 of the Personal Financial Statement form ("PFS") that you will be given to complete.
  
  
• £20 per Night Payment Option - if you prefer, instead of an assessed charge, you may choose to pay £20 per night for up to the first 7 nights of each of your short term break stays. Please indicate in section 3 of your PFS if you wish to take advantage of this option.

When your care needs are discussed, your Social Worker will notify Client Financial Affairs to arrange for a Visiting Assessment Officer to contact you or your representative to arrange for a financial assessment to be completed at a mutually convenient time and location.

The Visiting Assessment Officer will tell you the weekly charge at the home you have chosen and we will inform you in writing of your weekly contribution towards this charge and how it has been worked out, when the assessment has been completed.

You can pay direct at some of our Local Authority homes either before or after your stay. They will work out exactly how much your stay will cost.

Otherwise, you will be invoiced for your stay, based on your assessed charge after your stay has ended. This may take a few weeks depending on when we receive all the necessary information about the date of your stay and your assessment details.

April 2003 saw the introduction of NHS funded care in Care Homes providing nursing care. Should you need a nursing home for your care and are not liable to pay the full cost of the care home, this will have no effect on the amount you are asked to pay. But the NHS, rather than Adult Services, will be responsible for funding the care you need from a nurse. If you have been assessed as having to pay the full cost of the Care Home, the part of this cost is due for nursing care will also be funded by the NHS.

For general enquiries contact Gateway to Care or fill in the Gateway to Care enquiry form.

If you have any queries about your financial assessment or about any financial matters relating to your respite care, please contact our financial assessment staff at:

Client Financial Affairs
Oakmead
1c Lidget Street
Lindley
Huddersfield
HD3 3JB

Telephone contacts:
01484 416795