What a financial assessment is

What this means for you

• You understand that a financial assessment will be necessary to work out if you need to contribute towards the cost of your care and support, and to also ensure that you do not experience financial difficulties. You will be involved in the entire process and feel confident that you know what is going on and why.
• You are charged a reasonable and affordable amount that is not more than what the council would pay to meet your needs and outcomes.

What this means for Kirklees Council

• We work with the person (or their representative) to complete the financial assessment process transparently, making sure that we use clear and appropriate language and checking in each step of the way, to confirm that they are comfortable with and fully understand what is happening.
• We offer sufficient information and advice to help the person understand how we have worked out any contributions they are required to make and we provide guidance on methods of payment and any support that is required to manage direct payments.
• We are reasonable and compassionate in applying both national and local charging policies and we treat every person with dignity and as an individual, not as a cost. Council staff will need to ask about the income and savings of the person with the care and support needs, to work out if financial help can be given. We will also take other expenses into account, to make sure that the person has enough money to cover these costs. This process is called a financial assessment.

A financial assessment is completed at Better Off Kirklees: Financial assessment

Note: Currently, if you have savings above £23,250 then the council cannot offer financial support. Those who need to pay for the full cost of their care are known as self-funders.

Income

Income includes:

• All pensions.
• Guarantee Credit (Pension Credit).
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
• Armed Forces Independent Payment.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA) care component.
• Attendance Allowance (AA).
• Constant Attendant Allowance.
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP) daily living component.
• Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
• Universal Credit.

Capital

Capital includes:

• Savings.
• ISAs.
• Property you do not live in.
• Premium Bonds.
• Shares in companies.

Expenses

Expenses include:

• Food.
• Clothing.
• Utility bills.

The expenses we disregard are known as your personal living allowance and this is dependent on your personal circumstances, such as your age; disability etc. The amount of the personal living allowance is decided by the Department of Health and Social Care, not by Kirklees Council. As part of the financial assessment, the council will ensure that you have sufficient money to make rent/mortgage payments, and council tax, known as the housing allowance. If you do not want us to do a financial assessment, an assumption will be made that you are able to meet the full cost of any support you need, without financial assistance from the council and therefore you will not be able to have a direct payment.

Policy and guidance

We've updated our direct payments policy and guidance - this will be introduced as user agreements are updated from Summer 2026.

• Direct payments guidance
• Direct payments policy