Financial assessment – non-residential care and support - Print version

Care and support services are not free. Most people have to pay something towards their own care and some will have to pay for all of the costs [http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/funding-your-own-care-self-funder.aspx].

Your local authority may cover some or all the cost of care, however this is means-tested. This depends on how much money you have, and what level and type of care and support you require.

Download and print our Charging for non residential care services leaflet [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/downloads/file/34985/adult_social_care_charging_for_non_residental_care_services_leaflet]

If we consider that you need support that we can provide, we may also carry out a financial assessment [http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/Pages/local-authority-funding-for-care.aspx#financial-assessment]. This assessment will determine;

• whether the local authority will meet all the cost of your care,
• or whether you will need to contribute towards your care cost,
• or whether you will have to pay the full cost.

You can choose to have the care services arranged by adult social care or receive a payment called a Direct Payment [file:///C:/directpayments] to enable you to arrange the services yourself.

Services covered by non-residential care services funding

The following services are covered by non-residential care services funding:

• home support (domiciliary care) [/info/78/care_and_support/2448/types_of_support/2]
• day opportunities [/info/78/care_and_support/2448/types_of_support/4]
• incontinence laundry service [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/care-support/continence-care/2]
• telecare [/telecare]
• home meals [/info/80/help_to_live_at_home/1310/home_meals_service] and day care meals
• transport to day opportunities

If the assessment concludes you require care services, you will be sent a BetterCare online financial assessment link including guidance on how to complete.

We will need to see details and documentary evidence of your current weekly income as well as any savings, investments or other forms of capital.

About assessed charges

Exemptions from paying an assessed charge

You will not be asked to pay any assessed charges if you receive certain benefits such as Income Support [https://www.gov.uk/income-support], Pension Credit [https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit] (Guarantee element), Housing Benefit [https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit] , means tested Council Tax Support [https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction] (no single occupancy reduction) and are not in receipt of  Attendance Allowance [https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance], Disability Living Allowance Care Component [https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-dla-rates] or Personal Independence Care Payment [https://www.gov.uk/pip].

You will also not be asked to pay any assessed charges if you are subject to an order under Section 117 of the Mental Health Act [https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/health-service-ombudsman-report-provision-of-section-117-aftercare]

If you are exempt from the assessed charge, you will still have to pay any flat rate charges for meals and transport.

Assessable income

Assessable income is the income that we consider when calculating the charge. Some types of income such as those listed below are disregarded when we calculate the charge:

• Disability Living Allowance Mobility Component [https://www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-dla-rates]
• Personal Independence Payment Mobility Component [https://www.gov.uk/pip]
• War Pensions [https://www.gov.uk/war-widow-pension]
• Wages

If you receive Attendance Allowance [https://www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance] or the care component of Disability Living Allowance [https://www.gov.uk/dla-disability-living-allowance-benefit] or Personal Independence Payment [https://www.gov.uk/pip], the financial assessment only takes into account the higher rate if you have night-time care. If you do not receive night-time care, only the lower rate of Attendance Allowance or the middle rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance or Personal Independence Payment will be considered.

Allowances

When we have calculated your assessable income, we then consider a series of allowances that can be made against your income. These include:

• Allowances for daily living expenses - This is an individual allowance based upon the basic Income Support/Pension Credit allowances and premiums.
• Allowances for disability related expenses - You will be asked about any expenses directly relating to a disability or illness you may have. An allowance will be made for any reasonable expense you incur, however you may be asked to provide receipts to verify expenses.
• Housing costs allowance - If you pay rent or have a mortgage, an allowance will be made for any costs not covered by Housing Benefit [https://www.gov.uk/housing-benefit], Council Tax Benefit [https://www.gov.uk/apply-council-tax-reduction], or Income Support [https://www.gov.uk/income-support]/Pension Credit [https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit].
• Housing maintenance and buildings insurance costs allowance - If you own your property, a standard allowance, of £15.89 during the financial year 2023/24, will be made in the assessment towards housing maintenance and buildings insurance costs. This allowance may not reflect your actual expenditure. 

When charges will start

Charges apply from the date that care and support services begin. If the financial assessment visit takes place after that date, charges will still apply from the date the services began.

If the financial assessment is not completed within a reasonable timescale, we will assume you have enough funds to pay the maximum charge for your services and you will be charged accordingly. You will be sent an invoice every four weeks in arrears. This invoice will show any amendments to the weekly charge.

Payments can be made by Direct Debit or over the phone by calling 024 7683 4884 (option 1) or via our online payment system [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/onlinepayments].