JC Home Care
Care Funding Options
The cost of care is a subject that is regularly discussed and often misunderstood making it hard to understand the best options.
At JC Home Care we believe we add a lot of value into our care packages with full time and fully trained care staff, a comprehensive software system to monitor the quality of the care and bespoke care packages tailored to each client.
Home Care allows someone to remain in their own home and not have to go into a care home and depending on the package can be significantly cheaper. With well trained care staff home care is a very viable alternative to a care home and also means the care you receive is one on one and in your own setting, which is very appealing to people.
You may be entitled to certain care funding options, but the Local Authority will only help you pay for your care if following a means test you are deemed not to have sufficient funds and assets to cover the cost of the care yourself.
We have broken down the different options available below. However if you do require any further information please contact us directly on 01677 460341.
You may be eligible for any of the following funding support options from the Government or NHS:
Attendance Allowance
Most state benefits are means-tested, however, Attendance Allowance is a non-means tested, tax-free state benefit, payable to all individuals over the age of 65 who have needed care (defined as help with essential daily tasks, such as washing and dressing) for longer than six consecutive months, regardless of whether or not they are in a care home.
Attendance Allowance is available at two rates: a lower rate, for those who need help during the day or the night and a higher rate, for those needing care during both the day and night.
The current weekly figures are £72.65 lower rate and £108.55 for the higher rate. Claim forms can be obtained from larger Post Offices, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Age Concern Shops, the Benefits Agency themselves or downloaded directly from direct.gov.uk. Individuals needing care under the age of 65 will still qualify for an allowance, but this is paid in the form of Disability Living Allowance (full details can be supplied on request). During the coming year this benefit is changing to become the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).
Further information on PIP can be found here https://www.gov.uk/pip
NHS Continuing Healthcare
NHS continuing healthcare is a free package of care for people who have significant ongoing healthcare needs. It is arranged and funded by the NHS. You can receive NHS continuing healthcare in any setting outside hospital, including in your own home or in a care home. If you receive care in your own home, the NHS will cover the cost of the support you need from health professionals and the cost of personal care which can include help with washing and getting dressed.
If you would like further information on NHS Continuing Healthcare please visit https://www.england.nhs.uk/healthcare/
Council Tax Support
It is worth looking to see if you are eligible for council tax support as a range of factors can determine how much council tax you pay. We would recommend talking to your local council to understand if you can receive any support with your council tax.
You may be able to get your council Tax paid in full as part of your Pension Credit. For more information on this please visit https://www.gov.uk/pension-credit
Local Authority Funding
As it stands today, your local authority will only help pay for your care needs if you are deemed to have insufficient assets to meet these care costs themselves. A “Financial Assessment” is used to gauge this which looks at both your capital (property, savings, investments) as well as your income (usually pensions and benefits). As a rule of thumb, if you own your own home, and a spouse isn’t still living in it, you are likely to be deemed a “Self-Funder” and will receive no help from your local authority.
When determining an individual’s assets, if his / her capital is less than £14,250 then the local authority will pay for all care costs; if his / her capital is between £14,250 and £23,250 then the local authority will contribute towards care costs; if his / her capital is above £23,250 then the individual will be deemed a Self-Funder and the local authority will make no contribution towards care costs.
Note that if an individual’s capital is less than £23,250, but his / her income is more than the cost of their care plus the weekly expenses Personal Allowance of £22.60, the local authority will make no contribution towards care costs.
For most people it is the value of their home that pushes them above these stringent thresholds. There are however certain circumstances in which an individual’s home is disregarded in the Financial Assessment:
If a spouse, partner or another relative aged 60 years or over is living there.
If the individual’s care needs are classified as “temporary”
If the value of any other assets, excluding the home, are worth less than £23,250, then the local authority will pay care costs for an initial period of 12 weeks. However, should the cost of care purchased be greater than the equivalent local authority rate then the individual will be asked to pay the difference during this period.
In the event that local authority funding is received, an individual may top-up these payments in order to meet the full cost of the chosen care provider if this is greater.
For further information on Local Authority Funding please use this guide from Symponia http://www.symponia.co.uk/sites/clubsymponia/files/library/CS_LAF_Care-at-home.pdf
Source Used: Symponia (symponia.co.uk)