Financial Assessment Process
Any service user who receives a "chargeable service" will be assessed to determine how much they can afford to pay towards the cost of those services they receive; this is called a financial assessment.
The care and support provided will always be based on assessed eligible need and a contribution towards the cost of care and support based on the practicality of an individual's ability to pay that contribution.
The council will ensure, as part of the financial assessment process, that an individual is receiving maximum entitlement to any benefits/income.
A service user's ability to contribute towards the cost of their care will be based on their available weekly income and capital held. An officer from the council may be required to visit an individual at home to undertake a financial assessment. The officer is required to have proof of all income and capital held, therefore any Pension or Benefit statements, and bank or savings books relating to financial affairs should be made available for inspection
If the financial assessment process is refused an individual may be liable for the full cost of their care and support, less any free personal care element.
How will contributions be calculated
To determine the amount of contribution towards an eligible care and support plan, a calculation is performed as outlined below:
| Total Assessed Income |
| Less Disregarded Income, Personal Allowance and Applicable Housing Costs |
| Equals excess income |
A taper of 65% is applied to a service user's excess income to calculate the maximum amount each user of non-residential social care services can be asked to pay, this is known as the maximum weekly contribution.
User's will be required to contribute the maximum weekly contribution that has been assessed, or the actual cost of their care and support plan, whichever is the lesser amount.
