Calculating your financial assistance

Income and capital

If you have savings or investments worth £23,250 or over (the value of your home is ignored) or if you choose not to disclose your financial information, you will be charged the full cost of any care you receive plus £250 per year for the council to arrange the care on your behalf.

The Government tells us that we have to ignore some of your income to allow for general costs of living such as food, clothing, utility bills, telephone bills etc.

This is called your personal living allowance, the amount we ignore depends on your personal circumstances such as your age, disability etc. The personal living allowance is decided by the Department of Health and Social Care, not the Council.

If you qualify for extra benefits but choose not to claim them we still have to include the money you could claim in the financial assessment.

Please note that any personal debt cannot be taken account of in your financial assessment. We can refer you to an organisation that can help you to manage your debt.

Capital

Qualifying for financial assistance

If you have savings and investments of £14,250 or less, they will be ignored completely. If you have savings of above £14,250 but below £23,250, £1 per week will be counted as additional income for every £250 you have between £14,250 and £23.250; this is known as tariff income.

Qualifying for assistance if you have more than £23,250 in savings and investments

If you have savings and investments over £23,250 you will not qualify for any financial assistance and you will be liable to pay the full cost of your care and support services.

Savings shared with your partner

Your partners' savings are not taken into account if they are held separately. If you have savings in a joint bank account between you and your partner, only 50% of these will be included in your financial assessment.

Money you pay out

Some money you pay out can also be taken into account which may increase the level of financial assistance you qualify for, decreasing the amount you are liable to pay.

• Weekly rent or mortgage (less any Housing Benefit or any other eligible housing support)
• Buildings insurance (where mortgage payable on property)
• Council tax (less any council tax support)

Proof of these costs will be required. Please note: Equity release repayments and personal debt are not taken into account. If you have extra expenses directly due to your disability, these may be taken into account, your Social Worker will let us know about these.

Maximum amount you have to pay towards your care

Based on your financial circumstances, we will work out the maximum amount you can afford to pay each week for your care and support services.

You don't always have to pay the maximum amount you can afford each week. It depends on the level of care and support you receive. Your services might cost less than the maximum amount you have been assessed as being able to afford. If that is the case, you will only have to pay the amount your services cost.

Increased cost of care compared to assessed financial assistance

You will only have to pay the amount you have been assessed as being able to afford each week. You will qualify for financial assistance for the rest of your costs.

Calculating the amount of affordable cost of care

Quite simply, this amount is the difference between the amount of money you have coming in and the amount of money we are able to disregard.

How to check your financial assessment before it is verified by the council

When you complete your application for financial assistance online at Better off Kirklees - Care Financial Assistance application the maximum amount you will have to pay is calculated and displayed for you to see.