Funding the cost of your non-residential care and support
Social care and support services are not free. Unless you qualify for financial assistance, you will be liable to pay the cost of your care and support.
To work out how much you need to pay, and whether you can receive financial assistance, please complete a financial assessment.
Non-residential social care and support services
These are adult social care services provided outside a care home setting. There are many different types of services. Some people have a mixture of services, but some people may only have one type of service. One or more of these services can help you remain independent in the community.
Chargeable Service types
The amount you pay for chargeable services will depend on the outcome of your financial assessment. The services which count as chargeable include:
- Home Care
- Residential College
- Day Services
- Community Support
- Supported Living
- Assistive Technology e.g. Carephones
- Shared Lives
- Mental Health Day Services
- A direct payment for you to arrange your own services
You may need to pay: all of it; some of it; or none of it. The exact amount you pay will depend on your circumstances.
Cost of social care and support services
Different services cost different amounts, depending on the cost of providing them. You will never be charged more for social care and support services than they actually cost, Councils will never make a profit from these services.
Care and support services are chargeable to help provide and develop services to a high standard. If care and support services were not strictly means-tested, there would not be enough money to fund the services required by all those who need them.
Financial assistance for all types of services
You can apply for financial assistance for most services, however there are some services for which you cannot claim. These are:
- Transport
- Meals
- Low level equipment
If you have a Carephone or other telecare equipment alongside other services, any financial assistance you may be entitled to will include this cost.
Pay all your own social care and support costs
There are some exceptions but in general, everyone getting a social care or support service is liable to pay their own costs unless:
- Your services have been arranged and are provided under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983.
- You have Creuzfeldt Jacobs Disease (CJD).
- You are receiving reablement support services for a period of up to 6 weeks. However, if it is decided that you need long term support before 6 weeks has lapsed, you will become liable to pay your care and support costs from the date of that decision. This can be stressful but completing a financial assessment will help you to get the support you need.
- You qualify for NHS Continuing Health Care Funding (CHC).
CHC funding is dependent on your medical circumstances, not diagnosis. If your circumstances change, this may affect your funding and you may be asked to pay for your care and support costs from the date the funding is withdrawn or reduced. Again, this can be stressful, but completing a financial assessment will give us the information we need to determine how much you may need to pay.