Financial assessment for care and support at home

We will assess your finances to work out how much you need to pay towards care and support provided outside a residential or nursing home. This may include home care, day support, short breaks and direct payments.

• If you have less than £23,250 in savings and other capital, you may be eligible for help with care costs. You may still need to contribute.

• If you have more than £23,250, you will usually need to pay the full cost of your care.

Your main or only home is not included as capital while you live in it. Other property, land or assets may be included.

A financial assessment officer will contact you or your representative.

We may ask for information and evidence about:

• income, including pensions and benefits

• savings and other capital

• rent, mortgage, Council Tax and water charges

• regular essential spending

• extra costs caused by a disability or medical condition

• bank statements, bills and receipts

We may already hold some information from the Department for Work and Pensions.

We will need evidence that you can manage the person’s finances. This may include:

• lasting or enduring power of attorney documents

• Department for Work and Pensions appointee documents

• a Court of Protection order

We take your weekly income and any tariff income from savings, then deduct the amounts the rules allow you to keep or claim. These may include:

• the Minimum Income Guarantee

• eligible housing costs

• agreed disability-related expenses

The amount left is your net disposable income. You will not pay more than the cost of your care. If your net disposable income is less than £5 a week, you will not be charged.

• Below £14,250: not included in the assessment.

• Between £14,250 and £23,250: we add tariff income of £1 a week for every £250, or part of £250.

• More than £23,250: you will usually pay the full cost of your care.

These are reasonable extra costs you have because of a disability or medical condition. You can choose a standard allowance of £10 a week or ask us to assess your actual costs. You will need to provide evidence if you ask for a full assessment.

Examples can include extra heating or laundry, special diets, disability equipment, a community alarm, disability-related transport, bedding or clothing, and private care that meets an assessed social care need.

We do not usually allow payments to family members unless there are exceptional reasons.

We will send you a letter explaining your assessed weekly charge and how we calculated it. It will also tell you how to pay. Check the letter and contact us if any information is wrong.

We usually review your financial assessment each year. Tell us as soon as possible if your income, savings, household, property or other financial circumstances change.

You can challenge your charge if you think we made a calculation error or did not consider important information. Include evidence with your request and use the contact details on your assessment letter.