Frequently Asked Questions
- By what authority do we
charge for care?
- What happens if I choose
not to disclose my finances?
- If I have to pay towards
the service I receive, will the actual cost of providing that
service be passed on to me?
- How much will I have to pay for my care?
- How is my disposable income
worked out for community services?
- How is the Financial
Assessment carried out for couples?
- When will I know how much I
will have to pay?
- What will happen if my
financial circumstances change?
- How do I pay for my
care?
- Who pays the agency for
my Community Care bill?
- If I want to reduce my
Community Care Package, how do I do it?
- If you are taking my
benefits into account, how can I make sure that I am receiving the
full benefits I am entitled to?
- What if I want to give my
savings away or transfer property to someone else?
- What can I do if I am not
happy with the Community Care Charge?
- What if I think the
Financial Assessment has been calculated incorrectly?
- Why do I have to pay for
nursing care?
- What happens if I own my
own home and I am going into a residential/nursing home
permanently?
- What happens with my
Community Care charge, if I go into hospital or respite
care?
- What happens with my
residential care charge if I go into hospital?
- Who are the Financial
Assessment Officers and why have they made an appointment to visit
me?
-
What happens when my child becomes 18
years old and receives services from the Social Services
Department?
1. By what authority do we charge for care?
Community Care
Guidance is given from the Welsh Government on fairer charging
policies that are reasonable, fair and consistent. There is also
the implementation of the Fairer Charging Policy by Vale of
Glamorgan Council. Please, refer to the Charging
Policy.
Respite/residential/nursing
There is a national set of regulations and guidelines which set
out the rules upon which charges are calculated. Please refer to
Charging for Residential Accommodation Guide (CRAG), a copy of
which can be found on the Welsh Assembly website at http://www.wales.gov.uk/health
2. What happens if I choose not to disclose my finances?
Where a service user fails to respond to an invitation a local
authority may impose the standard charge for the service that has
been offered, or which the service user is receiving subject to the
maximum charge. In these circumstances we will, of course, not be
able to provide comprehensive advice on welfare benefits.
3. If I have to pay towards the service I receive, will the
actual cost of providing that service be passed on to me?
Clients with savings of more than £23,250 (2012/13) are
expected to pay subject to the maximum charge. The limits are set
according to the standard residential care charge. This savings
limit will increase in line with government guidelines for
residential care. Otherwise a Financial Assessment will be
undertaken to calculate your weekly assessed charge.
4. How much will I have to pay for my care?
Community Care
Each individual’s financial circumstances are taken into account
and how much you will pay depends on:
- Your disposable income (the money you have left each week after
an allowance for day to day livings costs).
- The cost of the services you receive (worked out at a weekly
rate).
You will pay whichever of the above is the lower figure.
Respite/residential/nursing
If you are moving into a care home with help from community
care, you will be expected to pay towards the fees. The amount you
pay will depend on your financial circumstances. You will be
expected to pay something out of your regular income. The rest will
depend on your savings and assets.
Please contact the Financial Assessment Officers if further
clarification is needed.
5. How is my disposable income worked out for community
services?
See a copy of the Charging Policy or contact the Financial
Assessment Officers for further clarification.
6. How is the Financial Assessment carried out for
couples?
Community care
In the case of couples, the financial situation of both
individuals will be taken into account when carrying out a
Financial Assessment. The assessed charge will be halved and the
resulting figure charged to the client. This is stated in the
Fairer Charging Policy. Also this will enable the Financial
Assessment Officers to undertake a full welfare benefits check.
Respite/residential/nursing
In this case the financial situation of the client going into
respite/residential/nursing care will need to be provided. The
spouse/partner staying at home does not need to provide their
financial information, but the Financial Assessment Officers will
be unable to make sure the spouse/partner is financially cared for
in the community.
7. When will I know how much I will have to pay?
We will write to you with details of your weekly charge and
explain how your charge is worked out.
8. What will happen if my financial circumstances change?
If there is a change in your circumstances, for example, if you
start getting a new benefit, please let us know straight away to
enable us to carry out another Financial Assessment and then we
will review your charge. Contact the Financial Assessment Officers
who will arrange a visit.
9. How do I pay for my care?
Community Care
An invoice will be sent out every four weeks and can be
paid at the Civic Offices or any of the Council’s payment centres
situated throughout the Vale. Also you can phone using a debit
card, pay by post or set up a standing order.
Respite/residential/nursing
This will be paid directly to the home, unless staying in a
Local Authority home, then the same procedure will apply as
Community Care.
10. Who pays the agency for my Community Care bill?
The Local Authority pays the agency directly and then we will
invoice you every four weeks for your contribution. If self
funding, then the agency could invoice you directly.
11. If I want to reduce my Community Care Package, how do I do
it?
Please contact either your allocated Social Worker or the
Contact and Information Centre, who will appoint someone to speak
to you.
12. If you are taking my benefits into account, how can I make
sure that I am receiving the full benefits I am entitled to?
When the Financial Assessment Officers carry out a Financial
Assessment, they will check to make sure you are getting your full
entitlement to benefits. If you are not, they will help you to make
a claim for the benefits you are entitled to. Contact the Financial
Assessment Officers if you wish to have further benefits
advice.
13. What if I want to give my savings away or transfer property
to someone else?
Please contact the Financial Assessment Officers.
14. What can I do if I am not happy with the Community Care
Charge?
If you feel that not all your financial circumstances have been
taken into account when your charge was worked out and you feel
this could cause you hardship, then you can appeal. See Procedure for
Appeals document
15. What if I think the Financial Assessment has been
calculated incorrectly?
If you think that we have made a mistake with working out what
you should pay towards your Community Care Bill or
Residential/nursing placement, then please contact the Financial
Assessment Officers who will then check their calculations.
16. Why do I have to pay for nursing care?
Unless the Local Health Board has assessed you as continuing
care, then the authority can charge under the National Assistance
Act 1948, for the residential and social care aspect. A
contribution from the Local Health Board will be made for the
nursing element.
17. What happens if I own my own home and I am going into a
residential/nursing home permanently?
If you own your home, we may take its value into account from
the time you become a permanent resident. This depends on
individual circumstances. For example, if your partner or an
elderly or severely disabled relative is still living there, we
will ignore the value of the home whilst they live there.
However, if the value of your property has been taken into
account within your Financial Assessment, the value may be
disregarded up to a period of 12 weeks. In most cases, you will
only have a limited income and you will be required to pay an
interim charge. This is because your property is likely to be worth
more than £22,000 and you would be liable to pay for the full cost
of your care.
At this stage, you will have to apply for assistance under the
deferred payment scheme (deferred
payment leaflet), and if agreed then you will be sent
regular statements of account, showing a balance outstanding. As
this is effectively a loan from the Council, a legal charge will be
placed on the property. You will be notified when this happens.
The Council will then pay the difference between what you are
able to pay and the Local Authority contract price, until the
property is either sold or when the estate is settled.
18. What happens with my Community Care charge, if I go into
hospital or respite care?
Temporary changes will be taken into account when calculating
your bill.
19. What happens with my residential care charge if I go into
hospital?
Whilst the bed is retained in the home, you will be required to
pay your assessed charge to the home.
20. Who are the Financial Assessment Officers and why have I
been invited to undertake a means assessment?
The Financial Assessment Officers have received a referral
from the Social Work Team to carry out a Financial
Assessment, as you are going to receive a community care service.
The officers will invite you to undertake a means test, but if you
require assistance they also provide a free home visit to
assist in completing the financial form and carry out a
full welfare benefits check. They will be carrying identification,
so please ask to see it before letting them into your home.
21. What happens when my child becomes 18 years old and
receives services from the Social Services Department?
On the date your child becomes 18 years old they become an adult
and they then become subject to different legislation with regard
to services provided by the Social Services Department (Paying for
care services at 18 years old leaflet)
Other useful contacts
Financial Assessment Officers/Benefits
Advisors:
01446 704890 or 704747 or 704706
Contact and Information Centre:
01446 731 100,
Email: CIC@valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
There are a number of organisations that are there to help
people if you would like independent advice. These are:
Age Concern
A registered charity who are concerned with the needs and
aspirations of older people. They can offer advice, information and
advocacy services.
Age Concern Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan
Unit 1, Commercial Street,
Llantwit Major,
Vale of Glamorgan
CF61 1RB
Tel: 01446 795632
Fax: 01446 795631
Email: vale.office@age-concern-cardiff.org.uk
Web: www.accymru.org.uk
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
They provide independent advice on a range of subjects, inc.
Debt, benefits, housing and legal matters.
Tel: 0845 120 3756
Web: www.adviceguide.org.uk
Barry Citizens Advice Bureau
119 Broad Street
Barry
Vale of Glamorgan
CF62 7TZ
Tel: 01446 733924 for booking appointments
Cowbridge Citizens Advice Bureau
Rear of 70 Eastgate
Cowbridge
Vale of Glamorgan
CF71 7AA
Penarth Citizens Advice Bureau
Stanwell Road
Penarth
Vale of Glamorgan
CF64 2ZA
Care and Social Services Inspectorate for
Wales
The government body that makes sure that care homes meet the
regulations and standards expected of them. They have the
responsibility to investigate formal complaints when, if it is
felt, these standards are not being met.
Tel: 01443 848527
Web:
CSSIW